Australia

Australia is a vast country stretching across the world's biggest Island and offers the visitor a whole host of things to do and see. A lot of the country is made up of vast open expanses but between the Aussie outback, the stunning natural wonders and the vibrant cities there is plenty to explore and something for everyone.

Language

The language spoken in Australia is primarily English but the cities are multicultural and you will find a great variation of languages spoken in some areas.

Currency

Australian Dollar $ : 100 cents. Notes come in $100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins come in $2, 1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c and 1c

Weather

Australia's position below the equator in the Southern Hemisphere means that the seasons are opposite to those of Europe and North America. Northern Australia has two tropical seasons, hot and wet, and hot and dry. In the south there are four seasons, but occuring in 'mirror-image' to the Northern Hemisphere, i.e. January and February are the hottest months.

The temperature gets cooler further south, with snow falling on the Australian Alps and Tasmanian Mountains in the winter. In the dry central areas of Australia, temperature extremes are experienced, dropping to freezing in the desert in winter and reaching scorching heats in summer.

Attractions

The massive continent hosts a huge range of things to do and places to see.

Sydney is worth a visit for the impressive harbour bridge and opera house, its vast botanical gardens, lively Chinatown, historic 'Rocks' area and the famous Bondi Beach.

Melbourne boasts traditional trams, tree-lined boulevards, another stunning botanical gardens, lively sports stadiums, great museums, the imposing Rialto Tower, and trendy St. Kilda seaside suburb.

Adelaide in South Australia is the gateway to attractions such as the vast Flinders Range National Park and wineries like the Barossa Valley.

Perth is a modern, laid back city on the west coast boasting many stunning beaches. Tropical Darwin sits right up in the Northern Territory with a laid back atmosphere, busy marina and acts as a gateway to the northern national parks. On the northern Queensland coast is Cairns, a lively town and a great base for diving, fishing, partying and exploring the north. Chilled out Brisbane, Queensland's capital is further down the coast and neighbours Australia's Tourism hot-spot, the Gold Coast with its sandy beaches and lively nightlife.

Away from the cities there are many stunning natural attractions. Queensland boasts the diving paradise of the Great Barrier Reef; World Heritage site Fraser Island, home to 4x4 adventure trips; and the breathtaking Whitsunday Islands.

To the north are the incredible Daintree Rainforest and the vast beaches and lush greenery of Cape Tribulation. From Darwin there are trips out to 'Kakadu' and 'Litchfield' National Parks to the south boasting impressive waterfalls, ancient aboriginal rock art and diverse wildlife.

To the west are the Kimberley region and the intriguing 'Bungle Bungles'. Katherine Gorge is well worth a visit on route down to the great symbol of Australia 'Uluru' (Ayers Rock) and the neighbouring King's Canyon in the red centre.

In the south, a trip over to Kangaroo Island is very rewarding, and only a short trip from Melbourne, take a breathtaking drive along the Great Ocean Road or up into the Grampian Mountains for a scenic escape. In the winter the mountains of Victoria and New South Wales provide great winter sports opportunities.

Shopping

All the major cities offer the modern shopping facilities you would expect, with Melbourne and Sydney standing out aming them, boasting a fine choice of fashionable boutiques, high street favourites, historical markets and souvenir shops.

Away from the cities, in the smaller towns you may find more traditional goods. In the Northern Territory there are some fine original aboriginal goods available. Boomerangs, Didgerridoos, aboriginal art, sheepskin, leather hats and tea tree products are some widely available traditional gifts and souvenirs.

Nightlife

The major cities offer an endless choice of bars, clubs, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, live gigs and casinos. People tend to go out later in Australian cities as bars and clubs stay open late or sometimes all night. The smaller towns, even deep in the outback will almost always have a pub or roadhouse to stop at for a drink, a meal and a chat with a friendly face.

Driving

• Anyone over 18 can drive in Australia with their valid local licence as long as they have been in the country for less than six months.
• Traffic drives on the left and roads are major routes are generally well-maintained.
• Motorways are usually restricted to the approaches to major cities and heavily travelled routes.
• Speed limits on most country roads are 100-110km/h. On motorways the limit is usually 110km/h outside cities and 100km/h in built up areas.
• Minor roads in towns and cities are usually either 50km/h or 60km/h. There are heavy fines for exceeding the speed limits.
• On highways in the Northern Territory there are no speed limits.
• It is compulsory to wear seat belts whilst driving.
• It is illegal to talk on a mobile phone while driving.
• You must not park facing oncoming traffic.
• On many outback routes a 4x4 may be required, always check before travelling.
• Be aware of road trains (50 metre long trucks) on outback routes and kangaroos at dusk.
• There are many very long, mundane stretches of road so ensure you take regular breaks or alternate drivers if possible.

Food and Drink

The cosmopolitan cities of Australia boast a fine range of cuisine and it is not unusual to see Italian, Chinese, Greek, Thai and Japanese restaurants all along the same street. Meat in Australia is plentiful and of great quality, and there???s nothing more traditional than a steak cooked on the 'Barbie'! Seafood is good on the coast and Barrumundi and chips is a popular dish in the North. For something different try the local kangaroo, crocodile and even camel or stick to something simple and sample the great Aussie meat pie. Eating out is popular and good value in Australia and many restaurants are bring-your-own drink.

Enjoy any meal with a cold beer or sample one of Australia's many fine wines.

Tourist Information

www.australia.com