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australia:
general info
· getting there
· when to go
· history
· itinerary
· maps
embassies
· visas
· cost of living
· gst refunds
· slang & lingo
· fast facts
trivia
· essential phone #
· things to do
· wine country
· forum
· photos
· hostels
tours
· driving
· bushwalking
· the gold rush
· diving
· top ten
· safety
· links
· read reviews
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 The Land
Down Under... what an amazing place it is... Travel to Australia
is something some people only dream about. Australia is the largest
island in the world and is also the 6th largest country. To put
it in perspective, the country is 7.5 million sqkm; this is roughly
the same size as the 48 mainland states of the USA
and 50 per cent larger than Europe, but has the lowest population
density in the world - only two people per square kilometer. Travel
from east to west is over 4000km and from north to south is 4500km.
The inland region of Australia is an inhospitable but amazing
place. It's basically all desert, scrub land and wide open
space. It's
extremely hot during the day and freezing at night. The main
population centers cling to the coastal regions with around 80%
of all
Aussies living within 20km of the coast.
As for the locals, they are a mixed bag; 75% of the present
population are of British descent and the other quarter have
made their way to Oz during the immigration booms of the last
150 years. In the mid-1800s the Chinese flocked to the gold
fields;
in the 1920s thousands of war immigrants flooded in from all
over Europe, particularly
from Italy and Greece. In a relatively
short period
of time Australia has become one of the most diverse cultures
in the world.
There are many different tribes of indigenous Australia as
well, collectively known as Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islanders.
They are the oldest surviving culture on the planet and have
inhabited this country for over 40,000 years.
Their history is awesome and their Dreamtime stories and
interpretation of the world in which they live is unique.
Sydney is by far the most popular and well known
Australian city around the world, but there is so much
more than this New South Wales (NSW) town. Tour Australia
and explore the wine regions
in Western
Australia (WA) and
South
Australia (SA). Some of the best wines in the world come
from this area. Or visit the barren Outback and the great
Uluru,
or Ayers Rock. Spend days driving in the Pilbara without
seeing another soul. When it comes to travel in Australia your
options are endless.
As for the wildlife, can you imagine that there are more
kangaroos in Australia now than
when Australia was first settled. Estimates suggest there are
around 40 million of them out there!
Did you also know that Australia's 140 million sheep (mostly
merinos), produce more
than 70 per cent of the world's wool.
Christmas in Australia is unlike anywhere else in the world.
It's ritual to spend the day at the beach with your mates
enjoying a barbie. Hey it's sunny and warm down there, we'd be
in the sun too!
Australia is part of the Commonwealth and thus is run by Her
Majesty the Queen. The Governor General is her representative
in Australia. The country
is headed by a prime minister, currently John Howard.
There's so much more to learn... Check out our Facts For The
Visitor or read up on our reviews of everything about
Australia:
Ready to book your flight
?
Let Orbitz help you and you'll be on your way in no time...
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