Australia’s grasslands and savannahs are diverse ecosystems characterized by open landscapes dominated by grasses, scattered trees, and shrubs. These habitats range from the temperate grasslands of southeastern Australia to the tropical savannahs in the north.

Australia has a latitudinal range of 11°S to 44°S, which, coupled with precipitation from 100 mm to 4 000 mm, generates a wide range of grassland environments. The landscape is characterized by vast plains with only limited elevated areas.

Grasslands are dominated by perennial, mostly tufted or tussock-forming grasses and occur on the vast, undulating western volcanic plains, the northern alluvial plains and in Gippsland. They frequently lie over heavy soils which become waterlogged in winter but dry and crack in summer.