Australia:

For over 40,000 years, people have been arriving awestruck on this far-flung island at the edge of the earth. Australia’s diverse population testifies to the fact that, time after time, the strange and fantastic land made the long journey there worthwhile. Even for today’s visitors, the continent retains a magical, dream-like quality unlike anywhere else.

Where else can you enjoy world-class wine tasting, get dangerously close to a saltwater croc, learn to play the didgeridoo, snorkel in expanses of ancient coral reef, and walk through one of the oldest rainforests in the world.

For visitors, deciding where to go can mean juggling with distance and time. Australia is massive, in size it rivals the USA, yet it’s population is just 20 million. Made up of 6 states and 2 territories, you could spend months driving around the Outback, exploring the national parks, or hanging out at beaches near the cosmopolitan cities on the east coast.

Sydney (New South Wales)is Australia's oldest city. It's blessed with sun-drenched natural attractions, dizzy skyscrapers, delicious and daring restaurants, superb shopping and friendly folk. Sydney has the iconic landmarks of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Elsewhere, the sophisticated café society of Melbourne (Victoria) contrasts with the vitality of Brisbane (Queensland). Adelaide, in South Australia, has a human-scale and old fashioned charm, while Perth, in Western Australia, camouflages its isolation with a leisure oriented urbanity. In Hobart (Tasmania) you’ll encounter fine heritage streetscapes and get a distinct maritime feel.

Though there’s fun to be had in the cities, it’s really the great outdoors that makes Australia such a special place. Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the Outback and The Great Barrier Reef on the east coast are two of Australia’s most popular destinations.

What you need to know:

CLIMATE:
The climate of Australia varies widely, but by far the largest part of Australia is desert or semi-arid – 40% of the landmass is covered by sand dunes. The south-east and south-west corners have a more temperate climate while the northern part of the country has a tropical climate: part is tropical rainforests, part grasslands, and part desert.

Like all countries in the southern hemisphere (the hemisphere south of the Equator), Australia's seasons follow the sequence:

• Summer: December to February
• Autumn: March to May
• Winter: June to August
• Spring: September to November

FOOD:
Certain foods are local and unique to Australia such as Vegemite, which has remained Australian's favorite for many decades. Pub food and ‘take away’ such as burgers, BBQ, meat pies, fish & chips and pizza are popular with travelers and locals alike. Australia is also well known for its fresh ingredients such as seafood, local fruits, beef and lamb, as well as its world class cheeses. Like in Italy and France, Australia can be divided into regions that are known for particular produce such as King Island cream, Sydney rock oysters, Bowen mangoes, Coffin Bay scallops, Tasmanian salmon, and Illabo milk-fed lamb.

The adventurous traveler can try Kangaroo meat, which has become extremely popular because of it low fat content. Along with crocodile, possum and emu, the list of ‘exotic’ favorites includes baby eels, freshwater yabbies, and witchetty grubs. There is also the native cuisine called 'bush tucker', which involves traditional diets such as flour and water cooked in the campfire coals to make bread called damper, billy tea, and local animals' meat.

CURRENCY:
You will see the Australian dollar written as AU$ or AUD. No currency other than the Australian dollar is commonly accepted for transactions in Australia; except for businesses in international terminals of airports, which may accept some of the major world currencies. Cash dispensing Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are available in almost every Australian town. Most ATM’s only dispense $20 and $50 bills. Credit cards are widely accepted, but it is always a good idea to have some cash on hand as well.

AUSSIE FACTS:

Capital: Canberra
Number of Aboriginal Languages: Over 500
Human Population: 20.2 million
Kangaroo Population: 40 million
West-to-East distance: 4000km
Percent in Size Larger than Britain: 3152%
Number of Beaches: Over 7000
Australians Who Follow the Jedi Faith: 70,509 (2001 Census)
Most Valiant Attempt to Save Sheep: World's longest fence (5,531km) keeps Queensland's dingoes in the north away from sheep in the south
Number of Plant Species: 25,000 (Europe supports only 17,000)
Amount of Foliage Koalas must Eat Daily: 9 kg (about 20 lbs)
Annual Beer Consumption per Australian: 94 L
Jars of Vegemite Consumed per Year: 22 million

Australian Phrases & Words:

Fair dinkum: true, genuine
G'Day: hello!
Footy: Australian Rules Football
Good on ya!: Good job! Good for you!
Crikey!: Holy cow! Oh my!
Oz/Ozzies: nickname for Australia/Australians
My shout: I’ll buy this round of drinks
No worries!: No problem at all!
Jumper: Sweater
Lollies: Candy
Mackers: McDonald’s
Bottle Shop: liquor store
Singlet: tank top
Mate: Friend
Barbie: barbeque
Mozzie: mosquito
Billabong: waterhole or place to drink
Corroboree: Aboriginal dance and music festival
Esky: portable, insulated cooler
Ute: "utility vehicle" (pickup truck)
The Oldies: the parents

We recommend:

1.	Island Suntanner – 14 Days
		The Ultimate East Coast Holiday! See all the sites of the gorgeous East Coast. Make friends for life during your journey. more

2.	Kakadu to Uluru Safari – 10 days
		See the falls of Litchfield National Park before arriving at the Mary River Wetlands... more

3.	Taste of Tasmania - 6 days
		We travel to Mount Field National Park, walking to Russell Falls and the 'Tall Trees Walk's... more

4.	Bruce Pass, Melbourne to Cairns
		Leave Melbourne and head to Wilson's Promontory and the Snowy Mountains and onward to Sydney. Leave Sydney and head north and have a learn to surf lesson at Surf Camp, stay at an Aussie cattle station, barefoot bowling in Outback Queensland on the way to Cairns and much more. more

5.	Overnight in the Hunter Valley – 2 days
		Our journey takes us through the wonderful West African country of Mali, travelling through remote desert landscapes to the isolated town of Timbuktu. We trek through Dogon villages with fabulous views, camping overnight in friendly villages. We also board a ‘pinasse’ (local boat) for a beautiful river journey, stopping at small encampments along the way and even spend a night in a nomadic Tuareg tent in the Sahara. Facilities are limited but for the true traveller, there is no more exciting destination than the city of Timbuktu! more

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