If there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that winter calls for a nightly Netflix binge curled up in bed, and while we can always rely on the streaming giant to deliver on a great watch, whether it be through its countless dark comedies and psychological thrillers like Dead To Me and Woman In The Window to more lighthearted watches like fan-favourite The Kissing Booth, the platform has something even more exciting planned for our cooler months.
As part of its June 2021 lineup, Netflix has announced that it will finally be offering up some of our favourite Australian classics. From Puberty Blues (both the series and film) to the forever iconic Kath and Kim, we’ll be able to get a much-needed nostalgia hit, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Read on for the best Australian TV shows and films on Netflix.
The Secret Life Of Us
Looks like we’re headed back to the beachside suburb of St Kilda, with Netflix announcing all four seasons of Logie-winning Australian drama The Secret Life Of Us will be arriving on the platform. The series originally aired from 2001 to 2005 and followed a group of 20-somethings who shared the same Melbourne complex, who juggle everything from friendships to career ambitions, romantic endeavours and personal crises.
Puberty Blues (series)
Welcome back the inseparable alliance of Debbie and Sue, as Puberty Blues’ will (finally) be available to watch on Netflix. The coming-of-age series, based on Kathy Lette and Gabrielle Carey’s 1979 book of the same name, is set during the late 1970s and follows the teens as they grow up in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, grappling with growing pains, all while attempting to find an in with the popular crowd.
Puberty Blues (film)
Much like the series, the Puberty Blues film, originally released in 1981, follows the premise of Lette and Carey’s novel, as Sue and Deb attempt to gain a popular social status by ingratiating themselves with the ‘Greenhill Gang’, which of course, consists of the surfers of Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, who have a carefree attitude toward sex, drugs and alcohol, which (usually) lands them in trouble.
Offspring
Asher Keddie’s drama Offspring needs no introduction, following the beloved obstetrician Nina Proudman, her family and friends, as they all navigate the chaos of modern Australian life. Working in the hospital, fans of the series will remember Proudman’s journey as she struggles to balance work, new loves and the unusual life choices of her quirky family. It’s the perfect time to rewatch the iconic series, with all seven seasons of the award-winning drama headed to Netflix in June 2021.
Heartbreak High
Long before we became obsessed with teen dramas The O.C. and Gossip Girl, Australians were enamoured with the lives of those at Heartbreak High, and now we can relive their ups and downs thanks to Netflix bringing all seven seasons to its platform. The series followed the students of Hartley High, a tough high school in Sydney where the fictional characters had to grapple with gritty issues, from drugs to romance and homelessness, and notably starred plenty of well-known Australian faces, including Peter Sumner and Rebecca Smart, and of course Ada Nicodemou. Its resurgence also couldn’t have come at a more apt time, considering Netflix has also announced plans to reboot the series.
Kath and Kim
Two of Australia’s most beloved characters, Kath and Kim, are returning to our screens to provide much-needed giggles this winter. While the series’ premise needs no refreshing, it follows Jane Turner as Kath Day-Knight, Gina Riley as Kim Craig, and Magda Szubanski as Sharon, who all live in the fictional suburban Melbourne suburb of Fountain Lakes. From punchy catchphrases to hilarious fashion and beyond, the series is exactly the rewatch that calls for a girls night in.
Round The Twist
A true Aussie classic, Round The Twist follows the supernatural adventures of the Twist family as they move to a remote lighthouse on the rugged Victorian coast—only, the ghosts that haunt the property keep things interesting fir Tony, twins Pete and Linda and Bronson. The quirky series is the perfect nostalgia hit and is sure to bring back so many memories.