AUSTRALIA TRAVEL GUIDE

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You'll find that Australia is a very safe, English speaking & uniquely friendly destination. For Australia travel information, log on to Australia Travel Facts. Australia is made up of 6 states and 2 territories. For a comprehensive guide of Australia, check out Australia's official website.

The state of New South Wales is located on the east coast. It is home to the famous city of Sydney which is a dazzling city built around one of the world's most beautiful harbors, with sparkling beaches and national parks within easy reach. There are many facets of this most awe inspiring city, such as the Rocks, the site of Australia's first European settlement. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art or the Rocks Market, open every Saturday and Sunday. The central business district offers fabulous shopping while the AMP Tower provides a 360-degree view of Sydney and beyond. Ride the monorail to exciting Darling Harbour complex located south of the business district. Just north of Sydney is Hunter Valley - which offers great wines, gourmet food, superb restaurants and cafes, rustic cottages and romantic beachside retreats. It is a mecca for wine and food enthusiasts and famous for its wines. Less than 65 miles west from Sydney is the majestic  Blue Mountains which offer a natural wonderland of untamed bush, spectacular rock formations and native wildlife. Still further ahead (326 miles SW) the Snowy Mountains is a busy winter ski resort comprised of Thredbo, Perisher Blue, Mt. Selwyn and Charlotte Pass. Ski season runs from June to October. Sydney Map

Queensland, the second most visited state for travelers, is home to the unforgettable Great Barrier Reef (GBR). It boasts perfect tropical weather and the world's largest living organism - the GBR. Brisbane is the capital city. Just an hour south, you'll find the playground called the Gold Coast, which is a long stretch of beach, filled with resorts, entertainment, wildlife, parks, and theme parks. You'll also find Surfer's Paradise, which is similar to our Ft. Lauderdale areas. An hour north of Brisbane is calmer Sunshine Coast. The crowds are less and the atmosphere slights more refined.There are more than a 1000 islands in the GBR, though only a portion of those can be visited. The Whitsunday Islands  are located in t he heart of the GBR with tranquil waterways perfect for sailing, diving, snorkeling or just swimming. Cairns is the considered the gateway to the GBR with an excellent location to access Port Douglas, an hour north and the World Heritage area which includes Cape Tribulation/Daintree River  (the largest tract of virgin rainforest in Australia). This area is about 2 1/2 hours north of Cairns. Please note that mid-October to mid-May is jelly fish season from Gladstone to the the tip of Queensland. Many popular beach resort destinations have stinger resistant nets, which allow access to the water.

The Northern Territory stretches from the central coastline in the tropical north to the Red Center of Outback Australia. Vast regions of red gold contrast with lush great rainforest, wetlands, teeming with native Australian wildlife, spectacular waterfalls and stunning rock formations. There are two distinct areas of the N.T , the Top End & Central Australia.  The main city in the Top End area is Darwin , a relaxed, multi- cultural, modern and visitor friendly city. The Top End climate is tropical, similar to Cairns. From May to October, the weather is ideal with blue sky and temperatures from 66-77F at night and 86-91F in the day. This is the winter time referred to as the 'dry season'. From November to April there are monsoon rain patterns, with rains falls mostly in the late afternoons. Temperatures range from 77F at night to 91F during the day, but are more humid. Visit the wildlife at the Territory Wildlife Park, Darwin Crocodile Farm and Crocodylus Park. The World-Heritage Kakadu National Park and Litchfield National Park - are only a few hours drive from Darwin.

The Red Center, is the heart of Australia. There's the famous Ayers Rock/Uluru, Kings Canyon, Palm Valley and the East & West MacDonnell Ranges, where you can escape from the heat in one of the many gorges or waterholes. Further north are the intriguing Devils Marbles. Alice Springs is about a 5 hour drive from Ayers Rock and the arrival point for many who desire to see Uluru. - activities include camping at the Rock or riding a camel to breakfast or dinner. The climate here has four seasons. The 'outback' is a strange term that really has no definite geographic boundaries, but you'll know when you reach it (somewhere between the lush pastoral lands and the arid desert). By definition it is remote, sparsely inhabited Australian back country but even though the vast majority of the Australian population is urban and coastal, the 'outback' is very much part of the Australian psyche.

Victoria offers easy access to many different experiences. With desert plateaus in the north-west, fertile river valleys of the Murray and a magnificent coastline delight travelers to this state. Melbourne is the capital, also know as the cultured city. - with some of the best restaurants and shopping in all of Australia. Here you will find a vibrant Arts community as well as many museums. Melbourne is a city with many parks, gardens and open green spaces - excellent for walking, biking, and rollarblading. One hour's drive east is the Dandenong ranges, home to many lovely gardens. The Yarra Valley is one of Australia's premium winegrowing areas and home to native animals in natural bush surroundings. Philip Island is famous for its Penguin Parade. Each evening, Penguins march up the beach to their sand-dune burrows - and you get to watch!. The 'Great Ocean Road' circumvents Victoria's rugged coast and is a rival to the US's Hwy 1 in California.

Western Australia is an untouched paradise flanked by the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean & the Great Southern Ocean and is Australia's largest state. In the SW are spectacular forests, beautiful coastal scenery and limstone caves and the Margaret River region - well know for its excellent wines. To the north are vast unspoiled beaches and friendly wildlife. In the far NW is the Kimberley region, an area of spectacular contrasts, from the coastal pearling town of Broome to the rugged East Kimberlys. In spring, the state becomes a sea of color as wildflowers bloom. Perth, (voted the friendliest city in the World by Travel & Leisure) is the main city located on the Swan River. It is a beautiful city most visitors to Australia don't venture out to see, being a 5 hour flight from Sydney, though a gem of a destination. Only 11 miles SW of Perth is a colorful, busy port at the mouth of the Swan River. You can take a launch to Rottnest Island, known for its quokkas (small marsupials), beautiful beaches and clear waters teeming with marine life. Wave Rock is 211 miles east and rises 50 feet above the ground like a giant wave. Monkey Mia is a treat as one can have an encounter with friendly wild dolphins that swim up to the shore lines.

South Australia is located centrally and is renowned for its wine growing area of the Barrosa Vally, Clare Valley, Coonawarra and McLaren Vale. With its pleasant climate, fine food and wines, numerous festivals and miles of clean, sandy beaches, its a terrific vacation destination. Adelaide is a graceful city and easy to maneuver. There are many historical sites to be seen here. Mt. Lofty Lookout in the Adelaide Hills provides splendid views over parkland to the city. Enjoy a scenic drive along the River Torrens. Further ahead lies Kangaroo Island - an island of beautiful bush, national parks, and aabundant wildlife, including a permanent breeding colony of sea-lions. Access is by vehicle ferry from Cape Jervis. Houseboats are available for hire on the River Murray, located about three hours drive east of Adelaide. The South East Region is half way to Melbourne and includes the Naracoorte Caves, the famous Coonawarra wine region and Mount Gambier's mysterious Blue Lake. The Flinders Ranges are 155 miles north of Adelaide and has spectacular mountains, which stretch far into the Outback and are noted for their rich colors, majestic peaks wilderness and wildlife. There are many walking trails, from short strolls to extensive hikes, as part of the last section of the Heysen Trail. The wildlife, which can often be spotted in the ranges, includes wedge tail eagles, western Gray kangaroos, yellow-footed rock wallabies, galahs and more.