We’re pretty sure that most people dream of visiting the country down-under. Australia is a beautiful place, to be sure. Because it’s so far away for most of us, there’s a sense of mystery that surrounds it. It’s also home to a great deal of wildlife and they are creatures that can be found nowhere else on earth. Who doesn’t want to see a kangaroo in the wild once in their life? Australia is also home to the Great Barrier Reef and various famous landmarks like the Sydney Opera House. Unfortunately, it’s also host to a heck of a lot of creatures that could cause you extreme harm. You’d better watch your step. You never know what kind of insect, sea creature, animal, or plant will kill you. We’ve picked out some of the most deadly. And this is only a fraction of what can murder you in your sleep in Australia.

15. Sydney Funnel Web Spider

Some people don’t like spiders at all. Actually, most of us find them pretty creepy. But there’s definitely a reason to be afraid of the Sydney funnel-web spider. The funnel shaped web alone is enough to give us nightmares. These spiders build their webs on the ground so you might find yourself unsuspectingly stepping on their territory and getting bitten. But the scariest thing? They have giant fangs. They’re so powerful they can cut through leather. And those fangs pack a painful and venomous punch. If not treated promptly, a bite can prove to be lethal. Also, these critters live in colonies. You’re welcome for the nightmares.

14. Kangaroo

We’re going to be honest. We used to think kangaroos were cute but then we saw a video of an extremely muscular kangaroo that looked like it could kill us with one swipe and we decidedly changed our minds. Kangaroos are large creatures and they’re big enough to cause some damage to a human. In fact, there have been incidences of kangaroos attacking and injuring people. In January of this year, a woman jogging was smashed into by a kangaroo and her injuries were so severe that she required surgery. The kangaroo that toppled her over actually continued to attack her. Thankfully, she was able to get away and seek help.

13. Irukandji Jellyfish

Look at the little teeny tiny jellyfish! It’s so cute! Except, don’t get too close. The little Irukandji jellyfish is one of the most poisonous animals in the world. The pain that results from a sting is extremely painful. Nearly a third of victims go on to experience heart failure or other serious complications. It’s incredible that such a tiny creature can be so dangerous. The scariest thing about these mini jellyfish? They’re really hard to see in the water. Just because your stung doesn’t mean you’ll die, but the potential for pain alone is a reason to carefully avoid this miniature sea creature.

12. Inland Taipan Snake

There are several species of snakes on this list. Normally, we’re pretty calm around snakes. They’re such fascinating creatures. They move in such an interesting way and many species are completely harmless. The Inland Taipan is not harmless, though. It’s one of the deadliest snakes in the world. Its venom is extremely potent and if it bites you it releases a whole lot of the toxic stuff. We’d try to stay away from this one if visiting Australia. If you want to reduce your risk of dying from a snake bite, stick close to an anti-venom source. That’s really the only way to be sure you’ll survive. It’s sure to make your vacation a bit boring, though.

11. Great White Shark

The most recognizable creature on the list is the Great White shark. It’s likely so familiar to many of you that you probably feel some kind of kinship with the majestic sea creature. They’re extremely large and imposing. You definitely don’t want to go head to head with one of these. And it’s unlikely that these will kill you should you choose to venture into the water while on vacation. They don’t hunt humans. Sure, they have a terrifying set of teeth and powerful jaws, but you’re more likely to be killed by a poisonous insect than a Great White.

10. Common Death Adder

With the words ‘common’ and ‘death’ in the name, it’s hard to figure out whether you should be scared of the common death adder snake. Well, yeah. You should stay away from this slithering creature. You might have a hard time, though. They usually manage to stay unnoticed until it’s too late. They tend to attempt concealment instead of moving away from potential threats. So stepping on them is more likely than with other species. Their venom is very potent and can cause paralysis. Without treatment, a bite from the common death adder will likely prove to be fatal. Yikes!

9. Gympie Gympie

Here’s the first plant on our list! Yeah, a plant can be deadly. But we all know that. When we were kids we were warned many times not to eat delicious looking berries when traipsing through the forest. Basically, plants are evil and want to kill us all. The Gympie Gympie plant looks pretty unassuming and that might be its most dangerous feature. We’d be hard pressed to identify it among other plant life. Touching the tree produces a horribly excruciating pain that’s been said to drive people insane. Even being in the vicinity of the plant can cause extremely uncomfortable symptoms. So here’s your best bet: stay out of the goddamn forest.

8. Cone Snail

If you’ve ever been snorkelling on some kind of guided tour, you’ll know that you’re not supposed to swim around and touch things willy nilly. This rule is meant to protect the wildlife and your life as well. The cone snail stings its victims with little harpoons. The sting can result in a lot of terrible symptoms including diarrhea and stomach cramps. Some folks can also experience heart trouble as a result of being stung. An encounter with a cone snail isn’t always fatal, but many of the sting symptoms are definitely problematic if you’re in deep ocean water far from land.

7. Stonefish

Huh? It looks like a rock. How could it be dangerous? Just like you don’t want to step on a rock in bare feet nor do you want to accidentally step on a stonefish when swimming in the ocean. The fish that looks like some kind of ocean boulder is one of the most poisonous fish in the world. If you step on one of these spiky creatures, you’ve probably got less than an hour to live. You’ll also likely be in extreme pain. Not a fun way to go. Get yourself to shore quickly, because time is running out!

6. Eastern Brown Snake

The last snake on our list is also known as the common brown snake. These snakes are quick movers and they’re usually pretty pissed off. They have very potent venom and tend to live in heavily populated areas. You don’t need to be exploring the desert in Australia to get bitten by one of these common snakes. Like the common death adder, they tend to not slither away from predators. They fight back readily. The venom acts quickly to paralyze victims and oftentimes those bitten by this kind of snake need several courses of anti-venom to get better. These guys should not be messed with. Run away.

5. Angel’s Trumpet

Here’s another plant that’s super dangerous. It also happens to be lovely looking! The flowers hang down from the plant like little beautiful little bells. Because it’s so beautiful, it’s found its place in many backyard gardens. Unfortunately, all parts of the plant are toxic. If eaten, the toxins found in the angel’s trumpet plant can cause death. In some places, this plant is actually banned because it’s so poisonous. You definitely don’t want to have this plant in your yard if you’ve got young children, pets, or a murderous spouse. If you’re a black widow, though, then you’re all set.

4. Red Back Spider

This spider looks a lot like a black widow, doesn’t it? The red back spider is distinguished by a bright red stripe on the back of its body. These spiders are found all over Australia and aren’t picky about where they live. They’re active at night and their venom is toxic to humans. The fact that they’re widespread means that it’s not hard to encounter one of these nasty creatures. Thankfully, a bite isn’t very likely to kill you. A bite from this non-aggressive creature can cause some uncomfortable symptoms but you’re not going to die a horrible death. Phew!

3. Saltwater Crocodile

Saltwater crocodiles aren’t poisonous and they don’t sting but holy crap these guys are huge. We wouldn’t want to find ourselves face to face with one. These kinds of crocs are the largest in the world. It would be easy for one of these reptiles to eat you whole. They don’t technically have a particular taste for humans but as hunters of opportunity if they’re hungry enough they might decide to chomp on human flesh. While their jaws are terrifying, they don’t normally murder their prey by chewing on it. They subdue their prey by drowning them. Yet another reason to stay out of the water!

2. Blue Ringed Octopus

What a seriously beautiful creature. The fairly small blue-ringed octopus might be a lovely sea creature, but it’s probably best to admire it from afar. It’s another super poisonous creature. Okay, but why is this octopus scarier than the rest of the creatures on this list? THERE’S NO ANTI-VENOM FOR BLUE-RINGED OCTOPUS VENOM. That’s right. None. If you’re maimed by one of these pretty creatures, you’re toast. So maybe put that underwater camera away and stop trying to get closer to get the perfect picture. Take a mental snap and be thankful you’re still alive then swim far, far away.

1. BEES

We bet you’re raring to find out more about deadly Australian bees. Except, we’re about to disappoint you. Bees are actually not endemic to Australia. They were brought there in the early 1800s. Out of all the creatures on this list, they are – according to the numbers – the most problematic. Some experts surmise that because people don’t have the same innate fear reaction to bees, they’re more likely to stay put when encountering them. Stats compiled by the University of Melbourne show that stings from bees, hornets, and wasps were just as likely to send people to the hospital as spider bites. Where’s the bug spray when you need it?