You've heard of the land down under? Well it's not just one unique laugh for Australia, but 8 – one for each state and territory.*

When Dr. Madan Kataria's laughter yoga first landed on Australian shores nearly two decades ago, it spread faster than Vegemite on toast. But something fascinating happened as it crossed our vast continent – each state and territory developed its own distinctive laughing style.

After facilitating sessions from Darwin's steamy tropics to Hobart's crisp winters, I can tell you Australians don't just laugh differently from the rest of the world – we laugh differently from each other.

New South Wales: The competitive laughers

Sydney sessions feel like the laughter Olympics. "We need to laugh louder than Melbourne," one participant announced before launching into the most enthusiastic appreciation laughter I've ever witnessed. NSW loves metrics – how many minutes, how many exercises, whether we hit the endorphin target. It's the only place I've been asked about "advanced laughter certification."

Victoria: The mindful laughers

Melbourne approaches laughter like fine coffee – with serious consideration for technique. "Is this Stanislavski-based laughter?" someone once asked during warm-up. Only in Melbourne would someone reference acting theory in laughter yoga. But when they commit, they produce the most transformative belly laughs.

Queensland: The relaxed laughers

Up north, laughter yoga feels as laid-back as a Noosa Sunday. Sessions spill outdoors under palm trees, late arrivals get warm smiles, and if someone's phone rings with Waltzing Matilda, everyone just laughs about it. Maybe it's the vitamin D, but Queensland produces the most contagious giggles.

Western Australia: The pioneering laughers

Perth sessions have gold rush spirit. "What if we tried underwater laughter?" someone suggested in Fremantle. We didn't (safety first), but that pioneering willingness to experiment is pure WA. One group of miners created "shift-change laughter" mimicking machinery sounds. Shouldn't have worked, but it was brilliant.

South Australia: The sophisticated laughers

Adelaide brings wine-cellar elegance to laughter yoga. Participants transition from gentle chuckles to hearty guffaws with the smooth progression of a well-planned tasting. During one session, a group spontaneously created a laughter opera. Ridiculous and wonderful.

Tasmania: The authentic laughers

Tassie sessions are refreshingly genuine – no pretense, just honest laughter bubbling up from somewhere deep and real. Tasmanians don't rush; they let each laugh fully develop. Some of my most powerful sessions have been in small town halls where three generations laugh together over grandma's scone recipes.

Australian Capital Territory: The organised laughers

Canberra approaches laughter with characteristic efficiency. "What's the policy on volume levels?" and "Do we need to register our laughter?" are actual questions I've received. But beneath that bureaucratic exterior beats a city that works hard and deserves to play hard. Some of the best stress-releasing laughter happens in those government meeting rooms.

Northern Territory: The robust laughers

Darwin sessions are as bold as Top End weather. Territorians bring frontier spirit to their laughter – big, generous, slightly wild. During one session, someone's snake encounter story led to a brilliant "surprise laughter" exercise we still use today.

The beautiful thing about Australian laughter

What strikes me most is how quickly regional differences dissolve once genuine laughter takes hold. That competitive Sydney executive ends up belly-laughing with the laid-back Queenslander. The philosophical Melburnian and practical Canberran discover they giggle at exactly the same ridiculous things.

Laughter yoga works everywhere because laughter itself is beautifully, messily, wonderfully human. Whether you're in a Perth community centre or Hobart church hall, the moment genuine laughter takes hold, we're all just people being joyfully, authentically ourselves.

And really, isn't that the most wonderfully universal thing about laughter yoga - how it brings us all together.

*Cris Popp is the founder of Laughter Works (https://laughterworks.com.au/). Trained by Dr. Madan Kataria, he has been bringing the joy of laughter to Australian organisations for 20 years. Cris can be contacted via the Laughter Works website. If you're planning a visit to Australia, be sure to get in touch with Cris and say "G'day"*