Peacock spiders are primarily found in the southern half of Australia. They inhabit a wide variety of environments including coastal dunes, grasslands, scrub forests, deserts, semi-arid and temperate regions, sand dunes, and leaf litter in eucalyptus forests. Some species live in specialized habitats such as mountain tops or under leaf debris of certain plants. One species, Maratus griseus, is also found in New Zealand, likely introduced by humans. Overall, these spiders are native chiefly to Australia with a range extending from coastal to inland areas depending on the species.