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AUSTRALIA TRAVEL GUIDE
The biggest island on the planet is one of the world’s greatest tourist destinations, supported by the presence of attractions that are synonymous with the word ‘Australia’, such as Sydney Harbour, Ayres Rock (Uluru) and the Great Barrier Reef, to name a few. The country is also famous for the diversity of its landscape and ecosystems - the northern and southern territories offer distinctly different examples of both.
Sydney is the first port of call for many visitors, offering enough to entertain folk for the entire duration of their holiday. However, for those holiday makers intent on seeing more of the country, Melbourne and Perth shouldn’t be missed while Darwin is worth a trip if you have time. With little major urban development in inland areas and most big cities focused around the coast, one of Australia’s greatest attractions are its fantastic beaches.
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AUSTRALIA WEATHER - When to Go
Australia is a large country (in fact, it’s huge) and its weather varies depending on whether you are in the north or the south. The north generally experiences a tropical climate in which there are just two seasons: a hot, dry summer and a mild, wet winter. The south, meanwhile, is subject to a temperate climate, which brings four fairly distinct seasons. Inland desert regions receive low rainfall and maintain warm temperatures year-round.
In summer (November to February) the entire country is warm, and this can be a good time to visit if you are planning a beach holiday. For sightseeing, temperatures at the height of the season can get a little overbearing in some locations so visitors ill-adjusted to heat might prefer to come in late spring or early autumn when things are a touch cooler.
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AUSTRALIA HIGHLIGHTS - Places to Visit
Sydney: is Australia’s oldest city and the starting point of most holidays for international visitors. It’s a lively, modern city with an excellent array of options for sightseeing, entertainment, shopping and dining. The harbour area, in which the world famous Opera House sits, is among the must-sees of the city. Take one of the frequent boat tours to fully appreciate its sights and gain a perspective of the city not available on land. Also make sure you walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge. At the beaches of Bondi, Coogee and Manly the masses sun themselves when the weather’s good and enjoy the excellent surfing conditions on offer.
Melbourne: is famed as one of the country’s most cosmopolitan cities and seems to capture the essence of modern Australia as much as it does its historic and cultural sides. Venues such as the Melbourne Museum, the National Gallery of Victoria and the Royal Botanical Gardens offer refined entertainment, but for something a bit earthier any of the many rugby, cricket or Australian Rules football matches are sure to please. For family fun, the beach at St Kilda is the ideal spot while come evening time youthful visitors will find the vibrant night scenes of Toorak and South Yarra well worth checking out.
Perth: is located on the country’s west coast and is a laid-back city with some of the country’s finest beaches plus a variety of other natural attractions, including the Great Western Desert. Culture seekers will find venues such as the Art Gallery of Western Australia and the Western Australian Museum of interest, while family visitors will love the Aquarium of Western Australia, the Cohunu Koala Park and the Perth Zoo. Among the city’s greatest highlights is its dining scene, which comprises countless cafés and restaurants presenting cuisine from all four corners of the globe.
Darwin: is the capital of the Northern Territory and enjoys tropical weather and a distinctly different atmosphere to other major Australian cities on account of its climate, proximity to South-East Asia and multi-ethnic community. Natural attractions are abundant and include the Botanical Gardens, the Territory Wildlife Park, the Charles Darwin National Park and the Crocodylus Park. The vast Kakadu National Park is the highlight, however. Culture seekers will appreciate the Museum and Gallery of the Northern Territory and the Museum of Arts and Natural Sciences, and visitors of all backgrounds will enjoy the Didgeridoo Hut with its collection of traditional aboriginal instruments.
The Great Barrier Reef: is popularly considered a not-to-be-missed destination on a tour of Australia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site that comprises over 1,240 miles of vibrantly coloured coral beds. The waters around the reef are home to some 1,500 species of fish, while the different species of coral number over 400. If you are physically fit enough to snorkel or scuba dive, you can really appreciate the beauty of this underwater paradise and see some of the 30 or so shipwrecks that share the reef’s waters. The reef is located off the coast of Queensland and can be visited in as a day-trip from Cairns. This is the reason why Cairns is a popular stop-off point for travellers on the east coast.
Brisbane: this lively city offers everything from bustling nightlife and animal sanctuaries, to gambling and a manmade beach, and deserves a two-night stay.
Canberra: the Australian capital is often overlooked by visitors, but you can watch Australian politicians in action at the Parliament, cycle around Canberra’s open spaces or visit the Australian Institute of Sport to keep you entertained for a day or two.
Adelaide: on the south coast, often overlooked by tourists, is worth visiting if you can.
Uluru (Ayres Rock): located in the southern reaches of the Northern Territory, this huge sandstone rock is of spiritual significance to the aborigines and can be visited on a daytrip from Alice Springs. The only problem is that Alice Springs lies slap-bang I the middle of Australia, so your best bet of getting there on a tight time-schedule is by flying.
Tasmania: stay in the quaint state capital Hobart or head inland to witness the island’s natural attractions for a couple of days camping. Tasmania can be reached by ferry from Melbourne.
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AUSTRALIA HOSPITALITY - Eat, Drink, Sleep
Food and eating out: Australia has produced many internationally acclaimed chefs and is famous for its high standard of cuisine. Eating out can be a highly rewarding experience, especially in the big cities where it’s possible to dine on the cuisines of countries from across the globe at much lower cost than over here. With English influences in its history you’ll find favourites such as fish ‘n’ chips and meat pies across the country, along with Vegemite. Kangaroo, ostrich and crocodile meat are available for the even more adventurous. Yummy. Darwin and Melbourne, with their multi-ethnic communities, are especially noted for their foreign cuisine. Australia is also a big wine producer.
Entertainment and nightlife: as a general rule, Australia is good place to be if you like fun after sundown as the locals are known for being fond of a drink, especially the country’s own beers and wines. Sydney is noted for its lively evening entertainment scene, as is Melbourne, while in Perth you’ll need to venture out of the city centre to find the best venues.
Accommodation: Australia is suited to backpackers as much as it is to package and upmarket holidaymakers, offering a broad selection of accommodations to suit all needs. Since Sydney is the number one holiday destination, you’ll find it has the greatest selection of establishments on offer. But in any of the big cities there are hostels and five-star hotels as well as mid-range venues, all at decent prices when compared to European cities.
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AUSTRALIA FLIGHTS - Flying from the UK
Direct flights are available between London and Sydney with British Airways, Quantas and Virgin Atlantic.
Quantas also offer direct flights between London and Melbounre.
Due to the long flight-time, you might want to consider a stop-over on route to Australia. Dubai and Singapore are two of the most popular options, so it’s worth having a look at flight offers from Singapore Airlines and Emirates.
Other flights are available (involving stop-overs) and travel sites such as Expedia.co.uk and ebookers provide a good overview of such options.
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