It is pretty funny before we make the move to Australia our lovely friends who are already here regularly tell us about the big crazy spiders in Australia.
Only to leave us checking our shoes and adding to the stress of making a move over.
The reality is the majority of people will see none of these during their working holiday visa in Australia.
But to make you feel even better, I have decided to list five spiders worth knowing, and how worried you should actually be.
Australia’s spider reputation is bigger than its bite: since antivenom arrived for redbacks (1956) and Sydney funnel-webs (1981), deaths have become extremely rare.
The info is from the Australian Geographic magazine so you can read more upon the lovely spiders here.
Okay, brace yourself.
Number 5: Trap door spiders(Idiopidae family)
Danger Level: Medium
This lovely critter is named after their habit of camouflaging the entrance of their burrow to trick their prey into falling inside.
A trap door spider waiting for its prey
Trap door spiders cause only minor symptoms for humans, generally inflicting only localised pain, but sometimes nausea, lethargy and malaise.
The above pictures of the trap door spider don’t freak you out then maybe this video will spark your interest.
*I did warn you*
Number 4: Mouse spider (Missulena sp.)
Danger Level: Medium
There are eight species of mouse spider found all across Australia.
You can find them in burrows, often near rivers or waterways, and can occasionally be found in suburban areas.
Male mouse spider, isn’t he lovely?
No fatalities have been linked to their bites, but they are very venomous.
Number 3: Redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti)
Danger Level: High
I saw quite a few of these doing my regional work a few years ago. You do not want to get bitten by these!
May be life-threatening to a child but is rarely serious for an adult.
There are approximately 2000 recorded redback spider bites each year in Australia, and about 250 receive anti-venom.
Since antivenom arrived in 1956, deaths are almost unheard of.
The main symptom of a redback spider bite is a severe and persistent pain.
Most serious bites are from the female redback spider, which measures about 1cm long (bigger than males) and is recognisable by the well-known red stripe on its back
Cupboard spiders (Steatoda sp.) are often mistaken for redbacks, and they produce similar symptoms, though their venom is less potent. Redback venom is effective against these bites.
Number 2: Other funnel-webs
There are about 40 species of funnel-web spiders in Australia, and several have caused life-threatening bites, so treat any funnel-web bite as an emergency.
Two of the most dangerous include the northern tree funnel-web spider and the southern tree funnel-web spider.
Number 1: Sydney funnel-web (Atrax robustus)
LOOK AT THOSE FANGS!
Danger Level: High
With highly toxic venom produced in large amounts and large fangs to inject it, the Sydney funnel-web is widely considered the most dangerous spider in Australia.
Though just 1.5-3.5cm big, the Sydney Funnel-web has fangs larger than a brown snake’s and so powerful they can even pierce through nails and toenails.
Their venom has a compound that can attack the human nervous system and alter the functioning of all organs and, when coming from a male, can kill.
Not every bite injects much venom, but treat every bite as an emergency. Since the antivenom arrived in 1981, nobody has died from its bite.
If you get bitten
- A big black spider (possibly a funnel-web or mouse spider): call 000. Keep the person still, put a firm, broad pressure bandage over the bite and up the limb, and splint it. Don’t take the bandage off.
- A redback: no pressure bandage. Wash the bite, put a cold pack on it, and get medical help if the pain is bad or doesn’t ease. Bites are rarely life-threatening.
- Anything else: wash it, use a cold pack, and ring the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 if you’re worried.
Never cut the bite or use a tourniquet. And check your travel insurance covers ambulances, because Medicare won’t cover one for Irish visitors. Our Medicare guide explains what is and isn’t covered.
How many of these spiders have you seen in Australia?
Check out the video below if the above five spiders in Australia have not freaked you out haha.
Be sure to Pin this image to your Pinterest boards and give it a share with your friends who are making the move to Oz.
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Sources: Better Health Channel (Victoria), Australian Venom Research Unit, Wikipedia. Last checked October 2026.