Canberra: A young Italian couple traveling around Australia are surprising strangers across the country by offering impromptu hugs, a media report said on Monday.

Erica Della Mura, 20, and partner Nicolo Marmiroli, 21, draw crowds by standing in busy areas wearing a blindfold and with their arms outstretched, ABC reported.

A cardboard sign and small coin collection tin alerts passers-by to what the gesture means.

"I trust you. Do you trust me? Hug me. The hugs are free but if you want help us travel this beautiful country. Thanks so much," the sign reads.

Della Mura and Marmiroli have been travelling the country together for the past seven months on working visas.

A 30-minute hug session barely makes enough in terms of donations to cover lunch – but it is not about the money, they said.

"We like to do this because it's really, really beautiful," Della Murra said.

"A lot of people say 'thanks'. A lot of people say 'safe travels'. A lot of people say nothing."

So far they have hugged strangers in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Byron Bay and Brisbane.

Over the weekend they took to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast.

(IANS)