Australian Salmon have moderately rounded, elongated bodies. Their dorsal fin is much longer than the anal fin and has 9 spines and 15-19 rays. Their caudal fin is forked. Australian Salmon are olive green to steel blue with small dark spots on the back and upper sides, and pale yellow-green to silvery white below. The pectoral fins are bright yellow.
Juveniles are silvery white with several rods of large golden or brown spots on the back and sides.
Australian Salmon are endemic to the Australasian region, and inhabit southern Australian waters and also Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, the north and south islands of New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands. They live in continental shelf waters including estuaries, bays and inlets. They school in shallow, open coastal waters and can move over reefs in depths just sufficient to cover their bodies. Juvenile Australian Salmon are found over soft substrates in shallow and sheltered coastal waters. They are often found over seagrass beds and in mangrove-lined creeks.