Australia for tourists
If you are planning a holiday to Australia and want tourist information on what to see and where to go, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a brief rundown on what you can experience, some ideas on Australian tours and trips and some general information on Australia to get you started.
Geography
Australia is uniquely a continent and a country. Whilst being the smallest continent, it is the 6th biggest country in the world. The majority of mainland Australia is an island, and that matters, because more than 80% of the flora and fauna can only be found here. Species are becoming extinct before they have even been discovered. Doesn’t that blow your mind and make you realize you need to hurry? The uniqueness of Australian wildlife is part of its appeal. It is different from anywhere else on earth.
What to do in Australia
Australia is buzzing with sightseeing experiences for tourists. Where else can you climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge in an attractive grey jumpsuit? Or join the 2 million tourists who visit the Great Barrier Reef. This is one mind-blowing experience, and truly one of the natural wonders of the world. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is like a colorful garden of anemones, corals and giant clams with vibrantly patterned fish the size of dinner plates right in front of your goggles. There are pipefish and clown fish, butterfly fish and huge wrasse milling around and there are many ways to see them. Most commonly tourists choose snorkeling or diving, but semi-submersibles give a great underwater view of the Great Barrier Reef, and keep your hair dry! Other natural experiences with a great wow factor are the great rock ‘Uluru’ (Ayers Rock); surfing on Australia’s beautiful beaches; viewing the rainforest from a cable car or seeing kangaroos surf if you are really lucky during your visit to Pebbly Beach.
Language
English is the national language spoken in Australia, so for a large part of the world this is a great advantage. You can enjoy the TV and newspapers; ask for directions; catch the correct train and converse with the locals who are always friendly. You do however need some extra vocabulary as a tourist, such as boomerang, didgeridoo, kookaburra and koala.
Weather
When is the best time to visit Australia weather-wise? The answer is – anytime. Australia is so big that it spans several climates. In the north it can be hot and tropical. Melbourne has a Mediterranean climate, whilst Tasmania is temperate, like England. Also when North America and Europe are in the throws of winter, it is summer in Australia. There is an ideal climate for everyone visiting Australia, you just have to do your research and decide where you want to visit.
Where to stay in Australia
Accommodation in Australia is plentiful and cheap. From backpacker hostels to hotels, the standards are good. Timeshare apartments are often available for rent weekly or monthly, and they are a good option for high quality family accommodation throughout Australia.
Eating out
Australian restaurants and food are excellent, with great steaks and fresh fish often cooked beachside on the “barbie” or grill. Try ordering “bush tucker” in a restaurant; a platter of smoked emu, crocodile and kangaroo. Crocodile meat tastes like white fishy chicken and kangaroo is a tender lean red meat. Many restaurants are BYOB, and what a great idea that is. Visit the local bottle shop to pick up a bottle of delicious Australian wine, and have the restaurant open and pour it for you. It keeps the food bill down so you can spend more on some great trips exploring the amazing tourist destinations in the cities of Australia.
Australian Cities
From the top (literally!) there is Darwin, known for its National Parks such as Kakadu, and its aboriginal art.
Go south to the hot and arid center of Australia, known as the outback or bush, and you reach Alice Springs. This is the nearest town to the awesome Uluru (Ayer’s Rock), an impressive 1142 foot-high sandstone formation, renowned for its vivid red colors at sunrise and sunset; remote, but well worth the visit.
Over on the East coast is Cairns, gateway to the magnificent Great Barrier Reef, and notably where two wonders of the world converge; the tropical rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. It is also a great center for sport fishing, shopping, touring botanical gardens and museums as well as riding on the old railway to Kurunda. Return by skyrail, if you dare, high above the tropical rainforest.
Further south is Brisbane, known for the Royal Queensland Show and BIFF (Brisbane International Film Festival). Enjoy the parks and cycle ways by the river and visit the convict-built windmill surviving since 1828.
Everyone has heard of Australia’s largest city, Sydney, and its tourist attractions, although it is not the capital city of Australia. Its main claims to fame are the iconic Sydney Opera House built on Sydney harbour, the largest natural harbour in the world with over 152 miles of shoreline. Climb the 134-meter high “coat hanger”, Sydney Harbour Bridge, or hang out with the surfers on Bondi Beach.
Australia’s Capital City, Canberra, is in the extreme south east; the location of the seat of government including Parliament House, the national High Court, National Gallery and National Museum.
The second largest city after Sydney is Melbourne, Australia’s sporting and cultural capital. Visit the world-renowned beaches and Australian wineries; pan for gold or visit the penguin colony on nearby Phillip Island.
Adelaide has fine stone buildings, hills, beaches and valleys of wine. What a great combination. Explore fine houses, museums and even the Old Adelaide Gaol!
Perth is in Western Australia, out on a limb, but one of Australia’s most beautiful cities. Whale watching is a thrill from June through November; experience Perth’s Tree Top Walk or surf down the sand dunes at Lancelin. You can also hire a dune buggy and have some wild fun.
Last but not least, Tasmania is the tiny Island 150 miles south of mainland Australia. Tasmania is a great place to visit if you like outdoor pursuits in a truly natural unspoilt area. You may even see a Tasmanian devil.
These are the major centers in the whole 7.6 million sq km of Australia, and only 21.3 million people populate it. There is a lot of empty space, and a lot to see and do; so flying between the centers is the only practical way to travel.
As you can see, you do not have a holiday in Australia; you have an adventure.