Can You Complete These Australian Nursery Rhymes?

By: Hania Syed
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Complete These Australian Nursery Rhymes?
Image: Jordan Lye/Moment/Getty Images

About This Quiz

We all grow up being familiar with nursery rhymes, from having them sung to us in the crib to learning the words to them in pre-school. Australia's unique culture means we have plenty of nursery rhymes based on our flora, fauna and traditions. From nursery rhymes that are sung to babies, to classic songs that every Aussie kid had to learn at school (or even tunes that adults love to belt out together!), this quiz covers nursery rhymes and traditional tunes alike. Featuring patriotic anthems that bring Australians together, like "I Am Australian," "Waltzing Matilda" and "Home Among the Gum Trees," to adorable songs from shows like "The Wiggles," "Playschool" and "Hi-5," how much do you know about Australian nursery rhymes and songs for children? 

Aside from Australian-specific nursery rhymes, Australian kids also grow up with nursery rhymes that are universally known and loved. Are you on top of these familiar, timeless tunes as well? 

Test your knowledge of all things Australian with this quiz. Why not send it to your mates to see who has the best knowledge of the songs every Aussie grew up with? Be prepared because this quiz gets harder as you progress! 

1 - waltzing matilda
DaniloAndjus/E+/Getty Images
What did the swagman sing as he watched and waited 'til his billy boiled?
"Down came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong"
"Under the shade of a coolibah tree"
"You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me"
"Up rode the troopers, one, two, three"
2 - Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, oi, oi
Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd/DigitalVision/Getty Images
What should you reply with after hearing the chant "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie"?
"Hey, hey, hey"
"Oi, oi, oi"
"Yip, yip, yip"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah"
3 - Botany Bay ship
Pobytov/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images
What line comes after "singing too-ral-li-ooral-li-addity"?
"Oh, we're bound for Botany Bay"
"Farewell to the well-known Old Bailey"
"Singing too-ral-li-ooral-li-ay"
"Or you'll find us in Botany Bay"

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4 - My Boyfriend Gave Me An Apple
Philary/E+/Getty Images
In the classic clapping song, what did the singer's boyfriend give her?
An avocado
An engagement ring
An evening primrose
An apple
5 - Row your boat
Sutthiwat Srikhrueadam/Moment/Getty Images
What is being rowed in the popular nursery rhyme beginning with "Row, row, row"?
A ship
A boat
A dinghy
A catamaran
6 - Home Among the Gumtrees
Chasing Light - Photography by James Stone james-stone.com/Moment/Getty Images
Where did John Williamson want his home to be?
Among the flowers
Among the gumtrees
In the forest
In the bush

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7 - Play School
ABC
What is "in there" in addition to a bear?
A bow in her hair
A mare
A chair
A deer
8 - The Wiggles
ABC Music
What do The Wiggles say after "fruit salad"?
"Yummy, yummy"
"With berries"
"For my honey"
"In my tummy"
9 - Little Grey Bandicoot
4FR/E+/Getty Images
What happens after the "little visitor" visits at night?
"We send no invitation/we do not bid him come"
"And walks about the garden/when the moon is shining bright"
"He hops about/as if he were at home"
"Sometimes we hear his chattering call"

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10 - A Sailor Went to Sea
FatCamera/E+/Getty Images
Why did the sailor go to sea, sea, sea?
"To see what he could be, be, be"
"To help his knee, knee, knee"
"To see what he could see, see, see"
"To flee, flee, flee"
11 - Kookaburras
Andrew Aylett/The Image Bank/Getty Images
Where does the kookaburra sit?
By the water
On the windowsill
Perched on the tree
On the old gum tree
12 - Home Among the Gumtrees
Clea-marie Thorne/Moment/Getty Images
What does John Williamson first cook up in the kitchen in his song, "Home Among the Gumtrees"?
A slice of Vegemite toast
A roast
A storm
A cup of tea

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13 - Hey, Diddle, Diddle
ABC Music
Who played the fiddle in "Hey diddle, diddle"?
Bird
Dog
Mouse
Cat
14 - Itsy bitsy spider
Twinkle Little Songs - Nursery Rhymes via YouTube
What did the itsy bitsy spider do?
Make its way through the garden
Crawl down the water spout
Climb up the water spout
Climb over the hose
15 - Vegemites
Bega Cheese
In the famous advert, what do the children sing after "we're happy little"?
Cobbers
Champions
Rascals
Vegemites

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16 - animals
Joao Inacio/Moment/Getty Images
Which one of these animals is first referred to in a nursery rhyme as a cuddly creature?
Koalas
Possums
Kangaroos
Joeys
17 - I still call Australia home
John Crux Photography/Moment/Getty Images
In "The Boy From Oz," what does the singer say after "But no matter how far or how wide I roam"?
"I still know my home."
"I know where my heart is home."
"I still call Australia home."
"I still return to my home."
18 - australia Christmas
David Trood/DigitalVision/Getty Images
In the Australian version of "Jingle Bells," how did the protagonists dash through the bush?
In a sturdy Ford
In the pouch of a kangaroo
In a rusty Holden Ute
On a kangaroo sleigh

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19 - how to make gravy
Justin Paget/DigitalVision/Getty Images
In a classic Christmas song by Paul Kelly, which dish does he ask to be made?
Pavlova
Lamingtons
Gravy
Roast
20 - I Am Australian
Michael Siward/Moment/Getty Images
In a famous patriotic song, what are "you", "I" and "we"?
Together
Indigenous
Australian
United
21 - Hi-5
Nine Network/9Go!
After Hi-5 say "five in the air," what do they sing next?
"There's a smile on my face."
"Let's move side to side."
"Let's do it together."
"Who's in it together?"

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22 - old man
Dean Mitchell/E+/Getty Images
What is the line after "It's raining, it's pouring"?
"Today is so boring!"
"Where are you going?"
"This morning"
"The old man is snoring"
23 - frogs
MarkBridger/Moment/Getty Images
What do the five little peckled frogs do?
Fall in the muddy bog
Sit on a speckled log
Hide from the neighbour's dog
Sit by the bog
24 - kettle
Marissa Powell/Moment/Getty Images
What is said after Polly puts the kettle on?
"Put on a brew."
"Let's have tea."
"We'll all have tea."
"Let's have a brew."

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25 - Little miss muffett
Natasha Sioss/Moment Open/Getty Images
What did Little Miss Muffet do?
Sat on a tuffet
Put her hair in a bonnet
Met Mr. Muppet
Went to the buffet
26 - Jack Horner
Jupiterimages/PHOTOS.com>> / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
What did Little Jack Horner do?
Raced round the corner
Tried to get warmer
Sat in the corner
Was what he was known former
27 - kangaroo
John Crux Photography/Moment/Getty Images
What does Rolf Harris say after asking for help with tying his kangaroo down?
"Please"
"Now"
"Mate"
"Sport"

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28 - Click Go the Shears
Ivan/Moment/Getty Images
What goes "click" in the classic Aussie song?
Lighters
Tools
Shears
Recorders
29 - clock
Ekspansio/E+/Getty Images
What completes the line, "hickory dickory"?
Dock
Clock
Chickory
Yay
30 - teapot
Lesley Magno/Moment/Getty Images
In addition to stout, what is the little teapot?
Hot
Cute
Short
Small

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31 - miss polly had a dolly
ABC Music
How is Miss Polly's dolly?
Cute, cute, cute
Sweet, sweet, sweet
Hurt, hurt, hurt
Sick, sick, sick
32 - mulberry bush
ozgurcankaya/E+/Getty Images
Which bush do we all go around in the classic Aussie version of "Wheels on the Bus"?
Raspberry
Mulberry
Blueberry
Cranberry
33 - Old MacDonald
Noelia Ramon - TellingLife/Moment/Getty Images
What does Old Macdonald have?
A ranch
A farm
An acre
A house

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34 - Kangaroo
Jami Tarris/Stone/Getty Images
What action is the kangaroo doing in the song by Peter Combe?
Jump jump
Hop hop
Boing boing
Skip skip
35 - sleeping bird
Jun Zhou/E+/Getty Images
What type of tree is the little bird asleep in?
Plane
Wattle
Gum
Jacaranda