A fantastic land stretching across an entire continent, Australia amazes with its wonders like no other. For most tourists, its name is associated with endless summer, wide horizons of possibilities, and a leisurely and easy course of life full of adventures and miracles. No wonder Australians call it the Happy Country.
Australia is a country in Oceania that occupies the mainland of Australia, the island of Tasmania, and several smaller islands. To the north are Indonesia, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea; in the northeast are Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands; and to the southeast is New Zealand. Australia is an island nation located amidst the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the sixth-largest country in the world, giving rise to a wide variety of landscapes: tropical forests in the northeast, mountainous areas in the east, southeast, and southwest, and arid deserts in the centre.
Australia is divided into six states (South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria) and two main mainland territories (the Federal Capital Territory and the Northern Territory). The capital of Australia is Canberra, and the largest city is Sydney.
In terms of territory, Australia competes with the United States. At the same time, its population is almost 15 times smaller, at only 23 million people, who live mainly in the eastern part of the continent. The desert and wild, dry landscapes of the central and western parts of the country are in stark contrast to the bursting energy of young cities located along the northern, eastern, and southern coasts.
The most typical picture in the west and centre of Australia is a vast, sun-scorched desert with cinnamon-coloured earth under a bright blue sky, full of beautiful reliefs and unique fauna that preserves memories of the oldest civilisation that lived here tens of thousands of years ago. While incorporating some modern conveniences, some indigenous communities in central Australia have managed to maintain their traditional way of life, language, and customs. However, for modern Australians, the climate of these places is quite extreme for life, so most of the population settled in the coastal areas.
Australians respect hard work. At the same time, they are friendly and easy to communicate with, and tourists get the impression that clear sunny weather, in some incomprehensible way, fills them with inner light, youth, and vital energy. In addition to adding even more cosiness and charm to your fantastic Australian holiday, they will gladly share fascinating anecdotes and legends.
Attractions
Without a doubt, Australia’s most popular tourist destination is Sydney, a gorgeous city with a renowned opera house, an arched bridge, and virgins swimming in the harbour’s blue waters. But there are still many miracles in this country.
The only living entity visible from space and one of the Seven Wonders of Nature, the Great Barrier Reef is more significant than the Great Wall of China. The colourful coral reef stretches for 2,000 kilometres along the coast of Queensland and offers incredibly spectacular scenery for divers.
The Blue Mountains National Park is one of the most picturesque places in Australia. You’ll see the craggy Glenbrook Gorge above the Nepean River, the majestic Jamison Valley, magnificent waterfalls, stunningly beautiful mountains, and rainforests teeming with life.
Narrow, breathtaking gorges, hidden pools, and spectacular waterfalls in Karijini National Park are favourite places of adventurers and nature lovers. A wide variety of wildlife, including echidnas, bats, lizards of all kinds, snakes, birds, and marsupials like kangaroos, can be found there thanks to their more than 800 plant and 100 animal species. Some of Australia’s highest mountains, Megarry, Bruce, and Frederick, are also located on Karijini territory.
The Great Ocean Road is one of the most spectacular coastal roads in the world, especially on the stretch between Anglesey and Apollo Bay. The 240 kilometres of smooth tarmac will take in beautiful sights: fabulous beaches, gentle rolling waves, the lush greenery of the Otway mountain ranges, the dramatic limestone cliffs of Port Campbell, and the fashionable town of Lorne.
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly way to see the Great Ocean Road, consider these options:
- Self-Drive Great Ocean Road trip: Renting a car and driving yourself can be cheaper. Try to include things like the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, or Lorne in your short journey. This allows you to only pay for fuel and rental charges.
- Guided Group Tours: Search for smaller groups that provide tours which are more intimate. Though they still provide transportation and a tour guide, these types of tours cost less than private ones.
- Public Transport Adventures: The most affordable option is using local buses that run along the route but it’s not as convenient as driving yourself or taking a guided tour.
- Focus on Free Attractions: Only plan visits to places where entry is free such as lookout points with stunning views, hiking trails at Great Otway National Park, or beaches.
- Off-Peak Travel: If possible try going when there aren’t many other tourists around because prices drop significantly during this time period. Specifically lodging fees and activity costs tend to decrease outside peak seasons when hotels charge higher rates due to increased demand from visitors wanting accommodations near popular attractions like national parks etcetera.
Climate
Because Australia is in the southern hemisphere, January and February are extremely hot, and July and August are excellent. The four seasons are represented only in the south of the country, the territory of which is not included in the tropical zone. Winter days on the south coast are short and gloomy, and summer temperatures can occasionally soar to 40°C. These temperatures rise even further as you move inland.
In the coastal tropics, there are two seasons during the year. The clear and dry months of April through November are followed by the unbearable heat and high humidity of December when the rainy season begins.
Recently, Australia’s climate has become very unpredictable, and meteorologists predict an even more significant development of this trend. For example, eastern Australia and some areas in the north have become prone to large-scale floods or long-term droughts; the western part suffers from powerful hurricanes, and the southern country is experiencing extremely high temperatures that provoke forest fires.
Leisure
Tanned surfers, city dwellers, and wine lovers flock to the Margaret River resort. This famous tourist centre attracts visitors with its wild coastal landscapes, fine dining, stunning surfing conditions, world-famous vineyards, and several exciting limestone caves.
The Australian Outback (baritone), or the Red Centre, is a special place. This is not another cliché. Huge plains and sunburnt deserts with red hills, verdant ponds in bloom, flaming sunsets, dinosaur tracks, drawings of prehistoric Aboriginal people, strange animals and vibrant plants, colourful characters in country pubs, and much more can be found there. This area also includes Uluru National Park and Kata Tjuta. Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and the surrounding area are breathtaking red rock monoliths with deep cultural significance for the traditional Aboriginal owners.
The park offers hiking or cycling along winding routes, exciting excursions, getting to know the culture of the Australian desert, and the fantastic sight of the colour change of the Uluru monolith, the different shades of which appear or disappear depending on the lighting and mood of the desert.
You might want to think about these budget travel options for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park:
- Self-Guided Tours: If you have a vehicle, it’s cheaper than guided tours. Buy a park pass and drive around at your own speed visiting places like Uluru or Kata Tjuta. Just make sure to follow all cultural regulations and stick to the paths.
- Group Uluru Trips: Look out for group tours that include multiple attractions in one package. They usually provide transport, a guide, sometimes meals which can be cheaper than booking everything separately.
- Camping Options: Instead of overpriced hotels or resorts stay at Ayers Rock campground instead. It’s closer to the park and has more facilities so is better value for money.
- Travel In Off-Peak Seasons: Go during shoulder season (just before/after peak tourist times) when tour costs and accommodation rates are lower.
- Walking Tours: You can take part in ranger-guided walks run by free park rangers which will give you information about local flora/fauna while exploring without spending anything extra!
- Pack Your Own Supplies: Dining options near Uluru are limited & expensive so bring food supplies with you to picnic/cook onsite which saves some dollars!
- These methods let visitors see Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park’s beauty without breaking their bank accounts!
