About Australia |
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Introduction Australia's biggest attraction is its natural beauty. The landscape varies from endless sunbaked horizons to dense tropical rainforest to chilly southern beaches. Scattered along the coasts, its cities blend a European enthusiasm for art and food with a laid-back love of sport and the outdoors. Visitors expecting to see an opera in Sydney one night and meet Crocodile Dundee the next will have to re-think their grasp of geography in this huge country. It is this sheer vastness that gives Australia - and its diverse population - much of its character. Languages Religion Currency Wide open spaces Lifestyle No two cities are alike, perhaps because of their independent development due to the distances between them. Perth is 3,984 kilometres from Sydney, about the distance from London to Moscow, or Hong Kong to Jakarta. Even the two closest state capitals, Adelaide and Melbourne, are 650 kilometres apart. But efficient transport provides fast links across the nation. Travel throughout the nation is unrestricted. No check is made of people passing from one state to another. People and Culture The Australian love of life shows in our culture. Whether spent appreciating the arts or exploring the great outdoors, leisure time is an important aspect of Australian life. Our multicultural diversity has also influenced our culture, from Chinese New Year to the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Australians are known for their love of life and enjoyment of the great outdoors. Barbeques (BBQ’s) are a renown outdoor dining experience. Communications Climate Customs Medicinal products brought into Australia are subject to strict controls and should be declared on arrival. It is advisable to have a letter or prescription from your doctor describing your medical condition and the medication. Cash and foreign currency Vaccinations Lifestyle New South Wales Sydney Light, bright, cheerful and colourful - Sydney style has an exuberant quality defined by the city's climate, magnificent harbour, luxuriant hinterland and superb beaches. Voluptuous rather than sharp-edged, gorgeous rather than chic, the New South Wales capital dazzles with personality. Sydneysiders love to strut their stuff. They head for the newest really good restaurant, cafe or bar, the grooviest new promenade, or the smartest, nearest beach. They love to meet friends to eat, drink and be merry. There's an energy and boldness here that is irrepressible and uplifting. It's urbane, but fresh and curious. With its wonderful climate and carefree lifestyle, Sydney has inspired some stunning young designers who have taken the multi-layered cultural influences and translated them into fashion. They say that Sydney never sleeps. In daylight hours the city buzzes with life and performances while all-night pubs, cutting-edge dance clubs, and gay reviews on trendy Oxford Street, can keep you out until dawn. Fancy a late-night meal or a final coffee - that's not a problem in Sydney Canberra (The Capital City of Australia) The nation’s capital is home to many of Australia’s most important public buildings, art works and institutions. It’s also a great place to enjoy a well-planned city with its parks, gardens and surrounds. Canberra is a young capital. After the federation of Australia in 1901, Melbourne and Sydney tried to claim national capital status. In 1908, a solution was found by selecting a location somewhere in-between.
Queensland (the Sunshine State) Brisbane It doesn’t seem to matter what time of year it is – there’s always something exciting happening in this vibrant city. You’ll find the best in arts and culture, entertainment and sports events as well as good food, wine and shopping. Gold Coast Surfers Paradise has become famous as one of Australia's most popular holiday destinations. A combination of its beaches, attractions and accommodation makes it an exciting destination for travellers. The sweeping coastline and its stunning array of beaches are a major drawcard. Palm Beach, Rainbow Bay, Mermaid Beach and Surfers Paradise are some of the alluring names given to surfing beaches, all which offer soft golden sand, rolling waves and the opportunity for a perfect suntan Sunshine Coast Pristine coastline and lush hinterland, superb cuisine, action and adventure or just the perfect piece of sand on which to sit and ponder. The Coast begins at Caloundra, just one hour's drive north of Brisbane and extends to Cooloola, the gateway to Fraser Island. It takes in tranquil hinterland including the Glass House Mountains, Blackall Range, Noosa Hinterland and the Mary Valley; as well as more than 100 kilometres of beaches stretching through the coastal towns of Caloundra, Kawana, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Coolum Beach, Noosa and Rainbow Beach. It's holiday central for both couples and families. Activities include a chance to tee off on the Greg Norman-designed Pelican Waters golf course, kayaking in surrounding waterways, rainforest bush walks and plentiful fishing. Smile at crocodile at Australia Zoo, home of the world famous Crocodile Hunter. Family activities include the Aussie World theme park, and the Queensland Air Museum. Cairns Cairns, the prime gateway to Tropical North Queensland is the ideal starting point for travellers wanting to explore the Great Barrier Reef, rainforest, outback and the vast wilderness of Cape York Peninsula. Victoria (The Garden State) Melbourne You'll barely meet a visitor who hasn't fallen in love with Melbourne. Rattling trams, parklands singing with blackbirds, stately architecture and palm trees - it's like northern Europe on the Mediterranean. The influence of decades of immigration from all over the world has made Melbourne a paradise for those who love food and wine. Whole streets are dedicated to food, whether it be Indian, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Greek, or a host of other styles. You can't miss the world-class wines either. The influence of decades of immigration from all over the world has made Melbourne a paradise for those who love food and wine. Whole streets are dedicated to food, whether it be Indian, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Greek, or a host of other styles. You can't miss the world-class wines either. Melbournites take fashion seriously, and nowhere in Australia offers a greater range of shops dedicated to looking good. Whether you're looking for something funky, or a traditional classic with a big-name label, you are sure to find more than you can ever take home in Melbourne's arcades and fashion streets. South Australia Adelaide (the city of churches) Adelaide is compact and easy to walk around. It is known for its refinement and has a charm and grace that shows in sophisticated wining and dining, and beautiful architecture that has been well-preserved Western Australia Perth Western Australia's oldest wine growing region, the Swan Valley is now a bustling tourist area. Award-winning wineries, many family owned, offer alfresco and restaurant meals and cellar door tastings. Of the almost two million people that live in Western Australia, the vast majority reside in the state’s capital of Perth. A sophisticated and scenic city, it is not hard to understand why so many are drawn to this very special and unique corner of the globe. Perth was settled on the banks of the Swan River in the 1800s and to this day remains an uncomplicated and clean city that leaves a lasting impression on all of its visitors. Characterised by numerous waterways, green parks and a compact city centre, Perth’s brilliant blue skies and warm sunny climate must be experienced to be believed From its rough and tumble, romantic pearling history and the cosmopolitan character of Chinatown, to the turquoise waters, red sandstone cliffs and the endless expanse of white sand at Cable Beach -the colours and moods of Broome will capture your soul. You'll never want to leave Tasmania Hobart is shaped by water. The suburbs hug the winding River Derwent and city buildings cluster to the docks. On the sparkling harbour, Antarctic supply vessels and liners mingle with sailing craft. Northern Territory Darwin sits on a harbour twice the size of Sydney harbour and overlooks the Arafura Sea, offering an array of waterfront delights including superb dining, cruising, or wreck-diving Darwin is closer to Asia than Sydney, so it has the vigour and diversity you would expect of a city that is home to 50 ethnic groups. Along with Aboriginal culture, these influences help mould a unique restaurant, market and cultural scene. |
The Commonwealth of Australia has a population of 20.4 million. 86 per cent of Australians are urban dwellers, and 65 per cent live in cities of more than 250,000 people - mostly on the fertile coastal plains. It is 7,682,300 square kilometres or 2,966,136 square miles. 
New South Wales is Australia’s most populated state with over 6.2 million inhabitants. The state houses the countries largest and arguably the countries most well known city; Sydney. This is a place where over 3.25 million Australians call home. The state's area totals 802,000 square kilometres