Get your bearings
Washed by the Indian and South Pacific Oceans, the island continent of
Australia encompasses six states. Most Australians live on the fertile east coast, fringed with seaside towns and national parks. They run from subtropical
Queensland through the rolling farmland of
New South Wales to
Victoria, the smallest mainland state. Heading inland to the Red Centre deserts, the sparsely populated
Outback takes over, with Indonesia a near neighbour to the
Northern Territory. Huge distances separate arid
South Australia and
Western Australia from the east coast.
Tasmania is an island but Australians the country over are united by their spirited national character and relaxed way of life.
Cosmopolitan cities
Most holidays in Australia start on the east coast, in the dazzling harbour city of
Sydney or vibrant riverside Queensland capital,
Brisbane. National museums and institutions cluster in Australia’s purpose-built capital city,
Canberra. Further south in Victoria, European- style
Melbourne flaunts a passion for the arts, dining and sport. In South Australia, the fine wines and produce of the lush
Barossa Valley make
Adelaide a food-lover’s destination, and colonial history is a feature of
Hobart, capital of Australia’s island state Tasmania. On the west coast, the glittering skyscrapers of
Perth are surrounded by beaches and yachting harbours lapped by the Indian Ocean.
Bronzed beaches
A golden ribbon of beaches skirts the Australian coastline, from the surfing hot spots of Margaret River in Western Australia to Torquay in Victoria and iconic Bondi in Sydney. On the east coast, beach resorts like
Byron Bay in New South Wales and
Noosa in Queensland set the standard for laidback coastal living. The long white stretch of
Cable Beach in Western Australia wins accolades from beach lovers. A gentle bushwalk leads to the tucked-away curve of Tasmania’s world- renowned
Wineglass Bay.
Savouring Australia
Countrywide, Australia’s reputation for superb dining rests on local produce like Sydney
oysters and east coast
prawns. In the multicultural capitals, the Asian flavours of Malaysian
laksa noodles or Thai
tom yum soup share the menu with
spaghetti and
sushi. Australian hotels showcase Modern Australian cuisine, and acclaimed winery restaurants around the nation are the regional stars. Head to Victoria’s
Yarra Valley, the
Hunter Valley in New South Wales and
Tamar Valley in Tasmania to pair shiraz and cabernet sauvignon wines with seasonal tasting menus.
Natural beauties
Snorkel the corals of the
Great Barrier Reef off Queensland and see friendly dolphins come to play at
Monkey Mia in Western Australia. In the Northern Territory, the red rock of
Uluru (Ayers Rock) glows in the setting sun and myriad birds fly over the
Kakadu wetlands. Seasonal wildflowers turn
Western Australia into a sea of colour. Winter snow bunnies hit the slopes on the
Australian Alps running through New South Wales and Victoria.
