Overview
Endless sunbaked horizons, dense tropical rainforests, chilly southern beaches. 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. 'Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.' - Charles Schulz
Geography:
A vast island continent situated south of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, Australia lies between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The world's sixth-largest country, Australia measures some 4000km (2500mi) east to west and 3200km (2000mi) north to south. Much of the interior of the country is flat, barren and sparsely populated. The bulk of the population lives on the narrow, fertile eastern coastal plain and on the southeastern coast. The continent-long Great Dividing Range runs north-south down the eastern seaboard, separating the coastal plain from the drier inland areas. The Great Barrier Reef lies 50-300km (30-185mi) offshore and extends 2000km (1240mi) from Torres Strait to Gladstone.
Destination Facts
Capital: Canberra
Governor General: Quentin Bryce
Prime Minister: Kevin Rudd
Government: independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations
Time zone: GMT +10 GMT +9.5 GMT +8
Area: 7682300
Population: 21.860.989
People: 91% Caucasian, 7% Asian, 2% Aboriginal
Languages: Australia is a multi-cultural country, so it's not unusual to walk down a city street and hear people speaking Italian, Greek, Lebanese, Vietnamese or Arabic as their first language. Aboriginal languages are also spoken. English-speaking Australians have a passion for abbreviations and are liable to use a hotchpotch of local slang that can take the first-time visitor a while to untangle.
Christian 67.4% (Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%), Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7, none 15.3%
Currency: Australian Dollar (A$)
GDP: Approx. A$960000000000
Major industries: Minerals, oil, coal, gold, wool, cereals, meat, tourism
Major Trading Partners: Japan, ASEAN countries, South Korea, China, New Zealand, USA, EU
Daylight Saving: From last Sunday in October (TAS first Sun) to last Sunday in March
Country Dialing Code: 61
Places of Interest
Check out this little beauty, with its natural and man-made charms.
Australia is vast, almost double the size of Europe. Although it is justly renowned for its natural beauties - its red core contains some of Earth's finest sculptures - its varied cities offer their fair share of art, architecture, formal gardens and historical interest.
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.
Weather
Summer (December to February) can get uncomfortably hot just about anywhere, even in Tasmania. If you're in the southern states during these months it's great beach weather and great melanoma weather. Up north, this is the wet season, and it's very, very humid (you'll need to check for jellyfish before jumping into the water). On the upside, the Top End is beautifully green and free of tourists at this time. From June until August things in the north have cooled down a little and dried up a lot. This is a good time to visit Queensland or the outback. If you're here for the skiing, now's the time to head for the snowfields of NSW and Victoria. Overall, spring and autumn are probably the safest bets - the weather is reasonably mild wherever you are, and spring brings out the wildflowers in the outback, while autumn is particularly beautiful around Canberra and in the Victorian Alps.
Getting There
Any time is a good time to be in Australia. Summer (December to February) can get uncomfortably hot but it's great beach weather. Up north, the summer wet season is very, very humid and the sea is swarming with box jellyfish. Winter (June to August) offers skiing in NSW, Victoria and sometimes Tasmania. In spring and autumn the weather is mild.
Getting there and away
Air travel is Australia's best friend, with most visitors taking a long haul flight to get here.
With distances between cities so great, flying is the most favoured and speedy option, although buses and trains provide a more scenic, if lengthy alternative. Within the major cities, you will find thorough and convenient rail and bus systems.
Visa:
Every nationality except New Zealanders need visas. Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visas are valid for 12 months, allowing travellers to stay for up to three months at a time within this period. The processing of ETAs costs around 20.00. Tourist visas, which are valid for stays of up to three months but which can be extended, cost 75.00. European Union nationals can apply for a tourist visa (three-month stay maximum) online for free at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.
Customs:
When it comes to prohibited goods, there are a few things you should be particularly conscientious about. The first is drugs, which customs authorities are adept at sniffing out - unless you want to make a first-hand investigation of conditions in Australian jails, don't bring illegal drugs in with you. And note that all medicines must be declared. The second is all food, plant material and animal products. You will be asked to declare on arrival all goods of animal, or plant origin (wooden spoons, straw hats, the lot) and show them to a quarantine officer. The authorities are naturally keen to protect Australia's unique environment and important agricultural industries by preventing weeds, pests or diseases getting into the country - Australia has so far managed to escape many of the pests and diseases prevalent elsewhere in the world. And if you lug in a souvenir, such as a drum with animal hide for a skin, or a wooden article (though these items are not strictly prohibited they are strictly subject to inspection) that shows signs of insect damage, it won't get through without treatment. Weapons and firearms are either prohibited or require a permit and safety testing. Other restricted goods include products made from protected wildlife species (such as animal skins, coral or ivory), unapproved telecommunications devices and live animals.
Duty Free:
When entering Australia you can bring most articles in free of duty provided that customs is satisfied they are for personal use and that you'll be taking them with you when you leave. There's a duty-free quota per person of 2250mL of alcohol, 250 cigarettes and dutiable goods up to the value of 900. There are duty-free stores at international airports and in their associated cities. Treat them with healthy suspicion: 'duty-free' is one of the world's most overworked catchphrases and it's often just an excuse to sell things at prices you can easily beat with a little shopping around. Alcohol and cigarettes are certainly cheaper duty free, though, as they are heavily taxed in Australia.
Endless sunbaked horizons, dense tropical rainforests, chilly southern beaches. 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. 'Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It is already tomorrow in Australia.' - Charles Schulz
Geography:
A vast island continent situated south of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, Australia lies between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The world's sixth-largest country, Australia measures some 4000km (2500mi) east to west and 3200km (2000mi) north to south. Much of the interior of the country is flat, barren and sparsely populated. The bulk of the population lives on the narrow, fertile eastern coastal plain and on the southeastern coast. The continent-long Great Dividing Range runs north-south down the eastern seaboard, separating the coastal plain from the drier inland areas. The Great Barrier Reef lies 50-300km (30-185mi) offshore and extends 2000km (1240mi) from Torres Strait to Gladstone.
Destination Facts
Capital: Canberra
Governor General: Quentin Bryce
Prime Minister: Kevin Rudd
Government: independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations
Time zone: GMT +10 GMT +9.5 GMT +8
Area: 7682300
Population: 21.860.989
People: 91% Caucasian, 7% Asian, 2% Aboriginal
Languages: Australia is a multi-cultural country, so it's not unusual to walk down a city street and hear people speaking Italian, Greek, Lebanese, Vietnamese or Arabic as their first language. Aboriginal languages are also spoken. English-speaking Australians have a passion for abbreviations and are liable to use a hotchpotch of local slang that can take the first-time visitor a while to untangle.
Christian 67.4% (Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%), Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7, none 15.3%
Currency: Australian Dollar (A$)
GDP: Approx. A$960000000000
Major industries: Minerals, oil, coal, gold, wool, cereals, meat, tourism
Major Trading Partners: Japan, ASEAN countries, South Korea, China, New Zealand, USA, EU
Daylight Saving: From last Sunday in October (TAS first Sun) to last Sunday in March
Country Dialing Code: 61
Places of Interest
Check out this little beauty, with its natural and man-made charms.
Australia is vast, almost double the size of Europe. Although it is justly renowned for its natural beauties - its red core contains some of Earth's finest sculptures - its varied cities offer their fair share of art, architecture, formal gardens and historical interest.
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.
Weather
Summer (December to February) can get uncomfortably hot just about anywhere, even in Tasmania. If you're in the southern states during these months it's great beach weather and great melanoma weather. Up north, this is the wet season, and it's very, very humid (you'll need to check for jellyfish before jumping into the water). On the upside, the Top End is beautifully green and free of tourists at this time. From June until August things in the north have cooled down a little and dried up a lot. This is a good time to visit Queensland or the outback. If you're here for the skiing, now's the time to head for the snowfields of NSW and Victoria. Overall, spring and autumn are probably the safest bets - the weather is reasonably mild wherever you are, and spring brings out the wildflowers in the outback, while autumn is particularly beautiful around Canberra and in the Victorian Alps.
Getting There
Any time is a good time to be in Australia. Summer (December to February) can get uncomfortably hot but it's great beach weather. Up north, the summer wet season is very, very humid and the sea is swarming with box jellyfish. Winter (June to August) offers skiing in NSW, Victoria and sometimes Tasmania. In spring and autumn the weather is mild.
Getting there and away
Air travel is Australia's best friend, with most visitors taking a long haul flight to get here.
With distances between cities so great, flying is the most favoured and speedy option, although buses and trains provide a more scenic, if lengthy alternative. Within the major cities, you will find thorough and convenient rail and bus systems.
Visa:
Every nationality except New Zealanders need visas. Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visas are valid for 12 months, allowing travellers to stay for up to three months at a time within this period. The processing of ETAs costs around 20.00. Tourist visas, which are valid for stays of up to three months but which can be extended, cost 75.00. European Union nationals can apply for a tourist visa (three-month stay maximum) online for free at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.
Customs:
When it comes to prohibited goods, there are a few things you should be particularly conscientious about. The first is drugs, which customs authorities are adept at sniffing out - unless you want to make a first-hand investigation of conditions in Australian jails, don't bring illegal drugs in with you. And note that all medicines must be declared. The second is all food, plant material and animal products. You will be asked to declare on arrival all goods of animal, or plant origin (wooden spoons, straw hats, the lot) and show them to a quarantine officer. The authorities are naturally keen to protect Australia's unique environment and important agricultural industries by preventing weeds, pests or diseases getting into the country - Australia has so far managed to escape many of the pests and diseases prevalent elsewhere in the world. And if you lug in a souvenir, such as a drum with animal hide for a skin, or a wooden article (though these items are not strictly prohibited they are strictly subject to inspection) that shows signs of insect damage, it won't get through without treatment. Weapons and firearms are either prohibited or require a permit and safety testing. Other restricted goods include products made from protected wildlife species (such as animal skins, coral or ivory), unapproved telecommunications devices and live animals.
Duty Free:
When entering Australia you can bring most articles in free of duty provided that customs is satisfied they are for personal use and that you'll be taking them with you when you leave. There's a duty-free quota per person of 2250mL of alcohol, 250 cigarettes and dutiable goods up to the value of 900. There are duty-free stores at international airports and in their associated cities. Treat them with healthy suspicion: 'duty-free' is one of the world's most overworked catchphrases and it's often just an excuse to sell things at prices you can easily beat with a little shopping around. Alcohol and cigarettes are certainly cheaper duty free, though, as they are heavily taxed in Australia.
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