Australia is about a sense of space, timelessness and untamed openness. It’s a land of extreme contrasts: snow-covered mountains in the south, rocky red gorges in the north, vineyards laden with grapes in the far west and pounding surf beaches in the east; and the vast desolated outback region in the centre.
• Explore the marine world of the Great Barrier Reef
• Search the Aborigines’ many mystic cultures of Uluru-Kata Tjuta
• Sample the wines of the Barossa Wine Region
• Join in the beat of a vibrant Sydney
• Visit Ningaloo Reef and Pinnacle Rock-formations of Western Australia
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INTRODUCTION
Australia is one of those places that instantly conjures up vivid images framed in the mind’s eye: the white sails of the Sydney Opera House, the bright underwater coral of the Great Barrier Reef, the lush green tropical rainforests of Daintree, the massive profile of Ayers Rock and the Olgas against the never-ending horizon of the desert and the endless white sand coves of Queensland.
Each of the eight states of Australia has much to offer the keen traveller: Unique landscape, diverse cultural history, different climates. Although Tasmania, as an island state, forms part of Australia, it feels as if in another country.
The trick with planning a visit to Australia, is to realise that it’s impossible to do it in one go. Stretching across three time zones, careful planning is necessary to make the most of your stay in Down Under.
ACCESSIBILITY
Arriving from an international destination by air would most probably be into the main hubs Perth or Sydney; though the capital, Canberra, as well as Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns and Hobart all have international airport, serving many neighboring countries.
Cruise ships mostly call on Sydney, Cairns and Hobart
WHEN TO GO
Best time to visit Australia all depends on your reason for travelling as well as the area intend to visit. The months between May and September are the driest for Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns and Darwin, whereas Perth has the highest rainfall during this time of the year. Temperatures averaging in all above areas between 8 and 20 C. Between October and February the days are much longer, and very hot (between 20 and 30 C), with highest rainfall January to March.
GETTING AROUND
AIR: Due to the fact that distances between cities in Australia are quite far, the obvious way of travelling between some of the popular tourist destinations is by air. Quantas and Virgin Australia are the two most popular domestic airlines.
ROAD: Although quite vast in distances, the road system is quite extensive. Australia by road is an ideal way to explore the country, region by region:
• Perth, Nambung National Park and Margaret River;
• Adelaide and the Barossa
• Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road
• Sydney, Hunter Valley and the Blue Mountains
• Brisbane and the Gold Coast
• Cairns, Port Douglas, Daintree and Cape Tribulation
• Darwin and Kakadu National Park
• Alice Springs, Ayers Rock and the Olgas
RAIL: Australia has some of the most spectacular and unforgettable rail journeys in the world. While many of the routes may be operated by different rail companies, they all come together to form the Rail Australia Alliance to make it simple for you to find out everything you need to know in one easy place. There's no better way to experience Australia's outback, cities, coastal towns and regional areas in comfort, than to utilise any one of the twenty options. The two main routings are
• The Indian Pacific, west/east bound some 4500km from Perth to Sydney over 3 nights
• The Ghan, north/south bound from Darwin to Adelaide 3000km over 2 nights
TOP 8 – DON’T MISS
• The Great Barrier Reef, (Queensland), or Tasmanian Wilderness (including Cradle Mountain) or Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park (Ayers Rock and the Olgas, Northern Territory) or any of the other unique 10 World Heritage Areas within Australia
• Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road and Twelve Apostles, Yarra Wineries (Victoria)
• Sydney, Blue Mountain National Park and Hunter Valley Wineries (New South Wales NSW)
• Capital of Australia, Canberra (Australian Capital Territory ACT)
• Perth, Fremantle, Pinnacles, Margaret River Wineries and Valley of the Giants (Western Australia WA)
• Adelaide and the Barossa Wineries
• The magic of Tasmania’s capital, Hobart and Cradle Mountain World Heritage Region
• Skiing in winter time in the Victorian Alps
TOP SLEEP & EAT SECRETS
• Hahndorf Oak Tree Cottages**** German Settlement in the heartland of the Barossa
• Harbour Rocks Hotel Syney **** Quirky décor offering stunning views of Harbour
• Silky Oaks Lodge***** Exceptional Tree House Cabins in Daintree Rainforest area.
• Esplanade Fremantle Perth**** Old world charm in the heart of harbor town near Perth
• Quay Restaurant Sydney Restaurant of Australia’s most respected chefs, Peter Gilmore
• Jonahs at Whalerock Stunning views & food at award winning restaurant of Peter Ridland
• Attica One of Australia’s top 10 in Melbourne, Ben Shewry is offering modern Cuisine
MEETING THE LOCAL PEOPLE
Blessed with a sunny climate and surrounded by the sea, outdoor leisure is high on the list of priorities for Australians – going to the beach is almost a national pastime. Australians are also mad about their sport: Their international performances and competitiveness in rugby, cricket and swimming speak for itself. Presenting the 2000 Olympics, Australia opened their doors to the real world of travel.
The Aboriginal belief in the Dreamtime (System of Laws and beliefs) may never be completely assimilated into the Australian consciousness, but an understanding of ancestral beings is an invaluable guide to traditional lifestyles. Its basis is a rich mythology about the earth’s creation. (Not a coincidence that Australia is the world’s oldest continent)
Festive, cultural and sporting highlights on the Australian calendar:
Australia is a nation that loves to celebrate and it says a lot about us as a nation. They themselves celebrate in all their regional diversity. From the stunning extravagance of New Year's Eve in Sydney to the dusty Ord Valley Muster in Kununurra, every place across the country has its own festival. But they make sure that everyone is invited to come and enjoy the experience. The Australians live and learn through shared experiences:
• The Australian Open, popular Grand Slam Tournament, held in Melbourne mid-January:
a real showcase of world class tennis.
• The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race: Boxing day the Sydney Harbour teems with an array of colourful sails, before the yachts are setting of to the Tasmanian capital.
• The annual Swell Sculpture Festival in Kurrumbin, is a free event and Queensland's largest outdoor art exhibition; Apart from enjoying an array of displays, sculptures and exhibits, you can also enjoy a wide choice of informative artist talks and a number of entertainment programs; Open all hours, and showcases sculptures created by artists from Australia as well as abroad.
• Get excited as the doors to some of Perth’s most iconic destinations are unlocked for you to explore inside! Open House Perth is back beginning of November, following the huge success of the inaugural event in 2012. Open House Perth celebrates high quality built environments, including architecture, interiors, landscape, public art and urban design. The event is your backstage pass inside over 70 commercial, residential, civic and performance spaces - from heritage landmarks to the newest contemporary additions to the capital of Western Australia.
• The Sydney Mardi Gras is the world’s premier gay and lesbian cultural festival, spanning two weeks in February and March. During this Parade, thousands of people make their way down Oxford Street through Sydney’s Darlinghurst on colourful floats, with huge crowds cheering on in support. It is a colourful and outrageous demonstration of pride and diversity.
• The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the three largest comedy festivals in the world and the largest in the southern hemisphere. For three and a half weeks each year, Melbourne becomes the centre of the comedy universe with an extensive program of stand-up comedy, cabaret, theatre, street performance, film, television, radio and visual arts. With attendances of more than 600,000 people, it has grown to be one of Australia's largest cultural events.
• Ten Days on the Island is Tasmania’s premier celebration of island culture. It features international artists from island cultures across the globe and some of Australia's finest talent, performing in more than 100 venues and 60 locations around the island. Visitors can get off the beaten track, with performances held in sheds and barns, stately homes, halls, museums and theatres across the state. See and hear extraordinary works as the artists tell the stories of how island life has shaped their dance, theatre, music, opera, film, literature, and cuisine.
• National or ANZAC Day, held on 25 April every year, is one of Australia's most important national occasions. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during the First World War. Dawn services and marches are held in towns and cities across the country, where Australians gather to pay their respects to the soldiers who have served.