Today means different things for Australians around the country. Whether you’re reflecting, protesting or celebrating, what shapes and binds us as a nation is our love for our nature. Our land is like no other, so today we’re honouring its wild and wonderful ways.
Through Google Street View, we’ve been mapping natural landmarks around Australia – from Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef to Victoria’s Twelve Apostles Marine National Park. Today’s Doodle takes us to Western Australia to celebrate the magnificent Fitzgerald River National Park of which the Southern Noongar and Wagyl Kaip people are the Traditional Custodians. The park offers diverse terrains – rolling plains, colourful breakaways, rugged peaks, headlands, stunning bays and inlets. With guidance from Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, today’s Doodle celebrates this unique landscape, as well as the flora and fauna of this spectacular spot.
Fitzgerald River National Park is one of the largest and most botanically significant national parks in Australia. More than 1,800 plant species grow in the park — 75 of these, including the iconic Royal Hakea, cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The park is also home to more than 200 bird species, 41 reptile species, 12 frog species, and 22 mammal species, including the honey possum featured in today’s Doodle. These mouse-sized marsupials, also known as “Noolbenger”, have tails that are longer than their bodies, pointed snouts, and long tongues covered with bristles to help them drink nectar from native flowers like the Banksia (also featured in the Doodle). Tiny but thirsty, the honey possum can drink the equivalent of its body weight in nectar per day! They also help the plants reproduce by spreading pollen as they feast.

Royal Hakea, seen along East Mount Barren

In the background, the Doodle depicts a grand vista of rock formations and the Barrens coastal range, which is perched on the edge of the Southern Ocean. The range is characterised by uplifted and tilted grey quartzite rocks (once sediments on an ancient sea floor) and magnificent multicoloured cliffs of spongolite.

However you spend today, we invite you to explore the trails and jagged coastline of Fitzgerald River National Park. Start your adventure by heading down the Hakea Trail to enjoy the spectacular views at Quoin Head.

Posted by Camilla Ibrahim, Communications & Public Affairs Manager, Google Australia

Singers such as Kaiit, Bene and Didirri, and rappers including the Triple One crew and Kwame, feature in the Top 10 Australian and New Zealand acts predicted to break through in the next 12 months

YouTube Music today released its top 10 Artists To Watch in Australia and New Zealand for 2019. Some are already building impressive reputations locally but we believe all of them have the talent to go significantly further this year, both at home and overseas.
In alphabetical order, the 10 Artists To Watch from Australia and New Zealand in 2019 are:

• Bene (Auckland, New Zealand) 
• Didirri (Melbourne, Australia) 
• G Flip (Melbourne, Australia) - pictured above 
• JessB (Auckland, New Zealand) 
• Kaiit (Melbourne, Australia) 
• Kian (Castlemaine, Australia) 
• Kwame (Sydney, Australia, via Auckland, New Zealand) 
• The Kid Laroi (Sydney, Australia) 
• Triple One (Sydney, Australia) 
• Tyne-James Organ (Melbourne via Sydney, Australia) 

YouTube Music compiled its Artists To Watch for 2019 using factors including YouTube views, engagement from global music fans and YouTube Music analytics.
Melbourne’s all-singing, all-drumming indie firecracker G Flip, real name Georgia Flipo, says she is “stoked” to be one of YouTube Music’s Artists To Watch.
“I think it’s so cool they are championing breaking artists and I'm honoured to be chosen as one of them,” she said.
Her fellow Melburnian, sunny troubadour Didirri, describes his inclusion as “an absolute honour”. 
“I think it’s time we bring some positivity back into the limelight this year,” Didirri adds. “Hoping to bring a bunch of us together and share the music.”
That would include Sydney hip-hop trio Triple One, as they brace themselves for a huge 12 months, saying, “We've come into the new year with something to prove. 2019 will be our biggest year yet and our biggest evolution as a group.”
And when soulful Kiwi Bene heard she had made YouTube Music’s Artists To Watch list, she said, “So much luv, can't wait to show you more of ma shtuff.”
Burgeoning singer-songwriters Kaiit, Kian and Tyne James-Organ, and talented rappers JessB, Kwame and The Kid Laroi round out the chosen ones.
Head to YouTube Music to further explore these Artists to Watch and enjoy a brand-new YouTube Music playlist featuring our top 10 artists and the longlist, as well as an in-app spotlight, featuring audio and video content.

Posted by Ruuben van den Heuvel, Head of Music Content Partnerships (South East Asia, AU/NZ), YouTube