The Best Australian Soap Operas
Heightened drama and ridiculously long feuds keep viewers coming back for more in the best Australian soap operas. The top Australian soap opera shows tell ongoing stories about characters who would do anything for each other - and others who would betray their own families to get ahead. This is a list of the best Australian soap operas, including everything from Home and Away to Sons and Daughters.
What series will you find on this list of Australian soap operas? Neighbours first broadcast on Seven Network 1985 before being scooped up by Ten a year later, who then turned it into one of the longest-running Australian soaps. Focusing on stories about the struggles and triumphs of families in the fictional suburb of Erinsborough, actors on Neighbours have included Kylie Minogue and Margo Robbie.
On a list of all Australian soap operas, there are also shows that weren't favorites. Punishment only lasted three episodes but was full of stars like Mel Gibson and Cornelia Frances. But how many episodes a soap ran doesn't necessarily make it the best. Paradise Beach only had two seasons but was able to gain an audience in the United States.
Do you have a favorite Aussie soap? Vote up the best and add any we may have missed.
- Kerry Armstrong, Betty Bobbitt, Wendy Playfair
- Premiered: February 27, 1979
Prisoner is an Australian soap opera, set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. In the United States and United Kingdom it was billed as Prisoner: Cell Block H, and in Canada ...more - 2
Neighbours
Kylie Minogue, Russell Crowe, Margot Robbie - Sam Neill, Gary Sweet, Damon Herriman
- Premiered: November 15, 1976
The Sullivans is an Australian drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran on the Nine Network on 15 November 1976 until 10 March 1983. The series told the story of an average ...more - Nicole Kidman, Ryan Kwanten, David Wenham
- Premiered: 1981
A Country Practice was an Australian television drama series. It ran on the Seven Network for 1,058 episodes at 7.30 pm Monday and Tuesday nights, from 18 November 1981 to 22 November 1993. It was ...more - Judy Nunn, Danny Roberts, Peter Phelps
- Premiered: 1982
Sons and Daughters is a Logie Award winning Australian soap opera created by Reg Watson and produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation between 1981 and 1987. The first episode aired on Monday, 18 ...more - Wendy Hughes, Chris Haywood, Wendy Playfair
- Premiered: 1983
Return to Eden is an Australian television drama series starring Rebecca Gilling, James Reyne, Wendy Hughes and James Smillie. It began as a three-part mini-series, shown on Network Ten in 1983. ...more