Visiting Australia

With an area of 7.68 million square kilometers and a population of 19.5 million, Australia can be called the only continent-nation in the world, a country that has a whole continent to itself. It is renowned for its natural wonders and wide open spaces (beaches, deserts and "the bush" or what is known to most as the "Outback"), and at the same time boasts of modern, cosmopolitan cities like Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Hobart and the capital city Canberra. Its rivers and oceans, great wildlife, breathtaking scenery, imposing mountains, and fantastic waterfalls and beaches make Australia one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the world. A visit to Australia would remain incomplete without seeing some of Australia's unique flora and fauna in their natural environment. Australian people are friendly in nature, making visitors feel comfortable in their country. Frankly speaking, Australia just has so many attractions that a tourist can become overwhelmed with the number of things that they can do while visiting.

Apart from the cities mentioned earlier, some other destinations in Australia include: Ararat, the Gateway to the Grampians, in Victoria; Broome, in North Western Australia; Queensland's Sunshine Coast, including Caloundra, Noosa, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba; Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef; Outback: Australia's red centre; Uluru, also called Ayers Rock, located roughly in the middle, a gigantic wind-swept rock; Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia's gold mining capital; and Ballarat, Victoria's Gateway to the Goldfields. Among the most popular tourist attractions in Australia are Sydney Opera House, Rookwood Cemetery, Bilgola Beach, Taronga Zoo, Melbourne Zoo, Manly Beach, Moreton Island, Palm Beach, Adelaide Oval, Rottnest Island, Kangaroo Island, Fraser Island, Kakadu National Park, Litchfield National Park and many more.

As Uluru or Ayers Rock is perhaps Australia's most famous feature. Uluru is about 290 miles from Alice Springs and can be best accessed by car or tour. One can also take a direct flight to Uluru. Once known as Ayers Rock, its name was changed when the Australian Government handed the title over to the Australian Aborigines in 1985. The Rock is sacred to Aborigines and it is shrouded in Aboriginal myth and legend from long ago. Uluru is on the World Heritage list and is a single rock made up of sandstone which is rich in crystalline minerals that make its color change throughout the day. When wet, it is purple or black and on sunny days it looks red or orange. Uluru can be climbed and thousands of tourists attempt it every year. However, it is more than 1,200 feet high and many people fail to make it all the way.

In Australia you can easily get hotel, motel and hostel accommodation in most cities and tourist destinations. All state capitals have at least one major five-star hotel offering excellent services and amenities. Most of Australia's hotels are located in the Central Business Districts (CBD) of the capital city. Hotel services usually include room cleaning services, free morning newspapers, meals to your door and a high-speed Internet connection up to 24mb/s. All hotels have a restaurant on the ground floor next to the check in desk and also a fully equipped bar.

Smaller towns usually have a selection of motel rooms available at a number of venues. Accommodation rates are in most cases, slightly cheaper than their equivalents in Europe or North America. Budget hostel-style accommodation with shared bathrooms and often with dormitories cost about $20-$30 per person per night. Facilities usually include a fully equipped kitchen with adequate refrigeration and food storage areas.

Some popular hotels in Australia are: InterContinental Sydney, Langham Hotel, Saville Park Suites, The Observatory Hotel, Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel, Crown Towers, The Sebel Pier One Sydney, Establishment Hotel, Carlton Crest Hotel and Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa Gold Coast.

In Australia, almost every town regardless of size will have a caravan park where you can pitch a tent or usually rent a cabin room. The camper is now also popular as it fits the Australian camping lifestyle. However, you will need to be self-sufficient and carry suitable spares and a good tool kit.

This picture postcard country or continent is surrounded on all sides by ocean. So, all international visitors arrive by plane or by boat. Visitors usually first travel to one of the state capitals, as these have all the major airports and many of the major ports.

With beautiful hotels and fun attractions, you can expect your visit to Australia will be a time that you will never forget.