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Tourists soon discover that there is more to Australian
tourism than exotic animals and colourful hats.
The virgin landscapes, marine sanctuaries, vast
deserts and protected forests will make even the
most demanding ecotourists blissful. World class
lodgings and housing in natural surrounds allow
for a comfortable adventure “with a safety
net”, a combination of comfort and closer
contact with nature. During a holiday an ecological
tourist can swim with the dolphins, dive in the
most important coral barrier reef in the world,
ride a camel, learn to search for food in the bush,
visit an ecological house managed by aborigines,
rent a yacht or wander through age old forests.
Victoria • Melbourne
Victoria is the continent’s smallest state:
it is often referred to as the “Garden State”.
Situated on the south-eastern part of the continent,
it is covered by mountains toward the northeast,
abrupt and wonderful coasts toward the south and
semi-desert areas in the northwest. Melbourne is
the cultural capital of Australia, known for the
good things in life: fashion, gourmet cooking, shows
and sports.
Melbourne is situated at the head of Port Phillip
Bay. It provides easy access to the many experiences
that Victoria has in store for visitors. The mountains
– the Victorian Alps – toward the east
and the Grampians mountain range to the west, the
north-western desert plateaus, the fertile river
valleys on the Murray River in the north, and pristine
eucalyptus forests which look as though no man has
ever set foot in them, are all there for the visitor
to see and enjoy. With its excellent highway system
and accommodation in hotels, lodges or on camping
sites, it’s possible to discover a new world
at any time of the day.
The gold discovery in 1860 brought over many immigrants
of a wide range of nationalities to this area of
Australia, and along with them, their different
traditions, customs and lifestyles. Some of the
colonists set up vineyards which continue to produce
some of the country’s finest wines.
An hour out of Melbourne, we come across the Yarra
Valley in the east or the Mornington Peninsula toward
the southwest, where excellent food and wine is
produced. The State of Victoria is the host to a
series of international events including the Formula
1 Grand Prix, the Australian Open Tennis Championship
and the Motor Cycle Grand Prix. Victoria’s
emblems include the lead beater’s possum and
the Pink Heath.
Tasmania
South of Australia’s continental mass, we
find Tasmania, one of the most picturesque islands
in the world. With rugged mountains, rolling plains,
dense ancient forests and white sand beaches, holidays
in Tasmania can be as turbulent or as peaceful as
the visitor pleases.
In Tasmania one can breathe pure fresh air, admire
the view, taste wines in award-winning vineyards,
go fishing, wander through country lanes and discover
the antique stores. However, it is also possible
to bring up the pace a little and try white water
rafting, go bush hiking, try canoeing and kayaking,
go horse riding, rock climbing, fishing in the open
sea or going on 4 wheel drive excursions.
In Strahan, the far west side of Tasmania, the trees
that were saplings hundreds of years ago are still
standing tall and strong. Over to the east, in an
area with perfect beaches and turquoise waters,
we find Wineglass Bay and Fires Bay. Cradle Mountain
rises abruptly over ancient Dove Lake. Travelling
for five days along the Overland route or taking
a panoramic flight to a World Heritage area in the
southwest, we’ll come across the Tasmanian
Wilderness, an area that has remained unaffected
by the passage of time.
The Tasmanian Wilderness, declared a World Heritage
area, covers an approximate 20% of Tasmania’s
surface area. Here one can discover the diverse
vegetation, the caves and rock formations or search
for the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world,
the Tasmanian devil. Many people simply go for walks
along the many pathways found in this natural paradise.
All visitors of the Tasmanian Wilderness find it
an overwhelming experience; the values of the Tasmanian
Wilderness go far beyond the aspects that made its
national wildlife park part of the World Heritage
List. It is impossible to describe in words.
Reaching Tasmania’s wilderness is easy. One
tour out of Hobart, its capital, or out of Launceston,
its second largest city, visitors will come across
native forests or national parks. And that constitutes
the island’s beauty: huge diversity within
a small area.
Tasmania has an interesting past: originally populated
as a penal colony in 1803, the legacy left behind
by convicts and colonists is evident in the perfectly
restored Georgian and Victorian style buildings
all over the State. Many have been turned into hostels
or restaurants; others continue as manor houses
and are open to the public.
New South Wales • Sydney
New South Wales, known as the First State, is the
oldest and most densely populated state in Australia.
It is located on the east coast, to the east of
the Great Dividing Range. The landscape features
coastal hillsides, plains and river valleys; to
the west we come across a semi arid desert. The
state is divided into four main regions by its geographical
features: the sparsely populated western plains,
the fertile high lands of the mountain range, the
rural area of the western hillsides, and the fertile
sub-tropical region along the coast.
Sydney, the State’s capital, is a lively and
cosmopolitan city, situated on a luminous bay. It
is an important financial, political and cultural
centre. To the west of Sydney, we find the Blue
Mountains, an amazing mountain range sprinkled with
picturesque villages surrounded by national parks.
The mountains are highly elevated sandstone plateaus,
cut by deep valleys filled with lush forests, gorges,
waterfalls and steep cliffs. The Blue Mountains
lead the way to the grasslands of New South Wales
that stretch to the State boundary. Here the farmland
takes us inland to the Outback, where visitors can
explore the historical villages.
To the north of Sydney, we find more of this blue-skied
paradise: the beaches on the central and northern
coastline provide the ideal holiday setting. In
the northern part of the State there are also plenty
of vineyards, rainforests and typical folklore music.
To the south, we are presented with pretty villages,
farming facilities, lakes, forests and beaches,
all part of a landscape that stays beautiful all
year round. During the winter months, it is also
possible to go skiing on the Snowy Mountains, in
the southern part of New South Wales. New South
Wales is represented by the platypus, a small marsupial;
the State’s floral emblem is the Waratah.
Canberra
In 1901 a small region within the borders of New
South Wales, halfway between Sydney and Melbourne,
was set aside to create the Australian capital.
The small surface area of the Australian Capital
Territory is covered by plains and grassland; half
of the Territory is a national reserve and wildlife
park.
Canberra, the nation’s capital, is a planned
city, designed by the American architect Walter
Burley Griffin. It is a beautiful city and a cultural
centre that stands out among the glorious features
of New South Wales’ rugged landscape. It is
ironically referred to as the “bush capital”
as it was built in what used to be a rural area.
Visitors can enjoy the experience of life on an
Australian farm, or head south to the Snowy Mountains
for skiing in winter or hiking and horse riding
during summer. The Capital State’s floral
emblem is the Royal Bluebell.
Queensland • Brisbane
• Gold Coast
Queensland, the “Sunshine State”, is
second largest in size. Its tropical climate is
perfect and it displays the largest living organism
in the world, the Great Barrier Reef. Situated on
the north-eastern part of the continent with the
blue waters of the Coral Sea and the Southern Pacific
Ocean on its coastline, Queensland shares borders
with New South Wales and South Australia along the
south and with the Northern Territory along the
west.
With its immense surface area and wide array of
geographical and climatic regions from north to
south, Queensland is the perfect State for tourists
wishing to explore different aspects of Australia.
The costal centres and the islands on the Great
Barrier Reef, which stretches 2,300 km, offer a
variety of activities such as snorkelling, scuba
diving and sailing. The Great Dividing Range separates
the costal area with its humid tropical rain forests
from the beauty of the inner part of the State with
its national parks and unique bird and animal wildlife
and flora.
Moving toward the west, the abundant vegetation
wanes and turns into the arid and bare terrain of
the Outback. Queensland’s capital, Brisbane,
combines the vitality of a modern city with the
sociable friendly atmosphere of a rural town. Situated
on the shores of the Brisbane River, Queensland’s
capital is an elegant and charming city favoured
by the balmy subtropical climate.
To the south of Brisbane, we find the Gold Coast,
42 km of golden beaches, magnificently equipped
with tourist centres, animal parks, fun parks and
theme parks, sporting facilities and a great variety
of evening shows and performances. To the north
of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast offers its spectacular
beaches and classy tourist centres.
Along the Great Barrier Reef we find more than 1,000
islands that can be reached from the costal centres
in Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville, Proserpine,
Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone and Bundaberg. In
an area of notable natural beauty just north of
Mackay, we find the 74 Whitsunday Islands, with
superb waterways perfect for coral gazing.
Inner Queensland covers an enormous surface area
which welcomes us with crisp blue skies, golden
sunsets and friendly locals. Here one can explore
the fascinating area of the old rural pubs, the
national wildlife parks, limestone caves, dinosaur
footprints and aboriginal cave art.
In Queensland there are also various World Heritage
areas. These include the Riversleigh fossil field,
the ancient tropical rainforest of the Wet Tropics,
Fraser Island – the world’s largest
sand island - and the Great Barrier Reef, full of
marine life. The koala and the Cooktown Orchid are
Queensland’s emblems.
South Australia •
Adelaide
South Australia lies in the middle of the country
and is the State known for its vineyard regions
in Barossa, Clare Valley, Coonawarra and McLaren
Vale. Kangaroo Island, one of the world’s
most extraordinary natural habitats, is found a
short distance to the south of Adelaide, the State’s
capital, by plane or by ferry. Visitors to the island
delight in watching kangaroos, wallabies (small
kangaroos), platypus, koalas, seals, echidnas (Australian
porcupine) and an extraordinary array of plants
and trees.
To the north of the State we find the Flinders Mountain
Range which puts forth an extraordinarily beautiful
landscape filled with wildflowers during September.
There are many ways of exploring this popular region,
either by car or on foot. Beyond the Flinders Mountain
Range, we find the ancient Outback, with its unique
mining villages such as the opal centre called Coober
Pedy, where most visitors can hunt for their own
opals. The Murray River is at its fullest in South
Australia, with amazing cliffs and abundant bird
and fish life. Visitors can also opt for holidays
on board a houseboat that will take them along the
Murray.
South Australia’s capital, Adelaide, is an
elegant and spacious city, filled with restaurants
and cafes and surrounded by parks. Adelaide is home
to one of the world’s oldest artistic festivals
which is celebrated in February and March in even
years. The festival is like a compendium of the
best Australian and international arts in dance,
music, visual arts and open air shows, in an amazing
display of cultural traditional and contemporary
activities.
Food and wine in South Australia is an experience
all by itself. The Barossa area produces some of
the world’s finest wines; the small cafes
along Rundle Street in Adelaide, serve a wide selection
of dishes of all sorts. The Coonawarra district
also produces quality wines and the restaurants
all over the State use only the freshest produce
in their culinary creations. Other important culinary
and vinicultural centres include McLaren Vale, Adelaide
Plains, Riverland, Adelaide Hills and the Southeast.
“Tasting Australia” is a biannual culinary
and vinicultural event that has become one of Australia’s
most important festivals.
Western Australia •
Perth
With its shores on the brilliant waters of the Indian
Ocean and the Great Southern Ocean, Western Australia
is the largest state in the country (approximately
the same size as Western Europe). It is easy to
travel this State thanks to the wide variety of
transportation methods available. In the south-western
region we come across the spectacular forests of
the giant jarrah and karri trees, beautiful coastal
landscapes, surfing beaches and limestone caves
and the Margaret River region, well known for its
excellent wines.
When going further inland, we find the gold deposits
and fertile agricultural land that produces most
of the country’s wheat crops. Toward the north
we’ll see immense pristine beaches, coral
reefs ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving which
offer the chance of discovering friendly fauna:
the dolphins at Monkey Mia or the largest fish in
the world, the whale shark. To the northeast lies
the Kimberley region, an area of many contrasts:
from the coastal pearl fishing village in Broome,
to the steep mountain ranges and the deep canyons
in east Kimberly. In spring, the whole State bursts
into a splash of colour when the wildflowers begin
to bloom.
Perth, WA’s capital city, was built on the
shores of the magnificent Swan River. It has lovely
beaches and sunny weather. Perth offers a peaceful
lifestyle, which makes it ideal for tourists. Emblems
of Western Australia include the green and red Kangaroo
Paw and the numbat, a small cousin of the kangaroo.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory stretches from the central
coastline in Australia’s tropical north to
the Red Centre in the countries inland. The brilliant
Arafura Sea laps at the coastline, while its heart
lies in the Outback. The vast red and golden regions
contrast with the large extensions of abundant rainforests
filled with native fauna, breathtaking waterfalls
and impressive rock formations.
The Top End of Australia’s Northern Territory
is extensive, aggressive and beautiful. Darwin,
its capital, is the starting point for discovering
the Top End. Close to Asia and to the tropical coast,
Darwin is a peaceful, multicultural, modern and
cosy city, boasting a magnificent harbour. Darwin
is the region’s central point and front door
to a series of nearby attractions. Kakadu and Litchfield
National Parks reflect the change of seasons in
the Top End and unfold their wildlife without hesitation.
Central Australia is the country’s heartland:
the Outback. It is an incomparable tourist destination,
huge in size and full of surprises and possibilities.
Widely known Ayers Rock/Uluru, Kings Canyon, Palm
Valley and the western and eastern MacDonnel Mountain
Ranges, where it’s possible to escape the
heat in one of the many lagoons or inlets. More
toward the north, the Delvis Marbles formation also
attracts attention. And we never wander too far
from the pioneering villages, Alice Springs or Tennant
Creek.
