Australia
Australia is one of the most unique and diverse countries on planet earth. Australia was first settled by the indigenous tribes who were the sole owners of this vast continent. Later during the nineteenth century, European immigrants arrived along with many captive prisoners. Australia is the most sparsely populated country and most of the population is concentrated along the glamorous east coast cities of Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Australia’s western half and central region is full of desert and outback. Initially after the advent of Europeans many aborigine tribes lost their lands and rights to the Europeans and their numbers also declined due to European introduced diseases and armed clashes. Europeans settlers formed provinces, initially six which later joined to become a one country- Australia. This is a highly developed country with very high quality of life. Australia has large areas that have been deforested for agricultural purposes, but many native forest areas survive in extensive national parks and other undeveloped areas. Long-term Australian concerns include salinity, pollution, loss of biodiversity, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.
This is a country full of passionate people who excel in arts and music, sports, science and technology and whatever they do. Australia is also a very sporting nation where sports are way of life. Australian Rules football and cricket is very popular. Recently with the success of Australian Soccer team, football is widely followed and admired. Rugby remains a very popular sports and Australia is full of swimmers who always make the country proud during the Olympics. The service industries, including tourism, education, and financial services, account for the majority of the Australian Gross Domestic Product. Within the service sector, tourism is one of the most important industries in Australia, as it provides employment, contributes $73 billion to the economy each year and accounts for at least 11% of total exports. Australia is also blessed with a long coastline and beaches play an important role in the life of locals. Every weekends and holidays, large numbers of locals hit the beaches and enjoy life.
Other Cities in Australia
Weather of
Australia
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Australia is a large continent and a wide variation of climates is found. Most of the country receives more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. Generally, the north is hot and tropical, while south tends to sub-tropical and temperate. Most rainfall is around the coast, and much of the centre is arid and semi-arid. The daytime maximum temperatures in Darwin rarely drop below 30°C, even in winter, while night temperatures in winter usually hover around 15-20°C . Temperatures in some southern regions can drop below freezing in winter and the Snowy Mountains in the South East experiences metres of winter snow. Parts of Tasmania have a temperature range very similar to England. As Australia is in the southern hemisphere the winter is June-August while December-February is summer. The winter is the dry season in the tropics, and the summer is the wet. In the southern parts of the country, the seasonal temperature variation is greater. The rainfall is more evenly distributed throughout the year in the southern parts of the East Coast, while in the rest of the south beyond the Great Dividing Range; the summers are dry with the bulk of the rainfall occurring in winter.
Food of
Australia
The food of Indigenous Australians was largely influenced by the area in which they lived. Most tribal groups subsisted on a simple hunter-gatherer diet, hunting native game and fish and collecting native plants and fruit. The general term for native Australian flora and fauna used as a source of food is bush tucker. The first settlers introduced British food to the continent which much of what is now considered typical Australian food is based on the Sunday roast has become an enduring tradition for many Australians. Since the beginning of the 20th century, food in Australia has increasingly been influenced by immigrants to the nation, particularly from Southern European and Asian cultures. Australian wine is produced in 60 distinct production areas totalling approximately 160,000 hectares, mainly in the southern, cooler parts of the country. The wine regions in each of these states produce different wine varieties and styles that take advantage of local climates and soil types. The predominant varieties are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Semillon, Pinot noir, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. In 1995, an Australian red wine, Penfolds Grange, won the Wine Spectator award for Wine of the Year, the first time a wine from outside France or California achieved this distinction.
Best Time to Visit
Australia
The northern states are best visited during the winters, from July to September while the summer months are ideal for visiting the southern states. On the whole, September and October are the best, when it is neither too hot nor too cold. Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere and hence the winter lasts from May to August while November to March is summer months. The general climate is dry and pleasant and visitors flock to Australia round the year. Europeans and visitors from western countries prefer to spend their winter holidays i.e. a vacation over Christmas and New Year at Australia. The warm sun kissed beaches are just right for getting the perfect tan. However a variation in climatic conditions makes various times of the year suitable for visiting specific regions within Australia.
How to Reach
Australia
By Air: International travellers arrive first in Australia in Sydney, the largest city. After Sydney, significant numbers of travellers also arrive in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Direct International flights are also available in Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin, the Gold Coast and Christmas Island. Regular low coast regional carriers from Asia and New Zealand connect various Australian metropolitan cities. Sydney it is a 3 hour flight from New Zealand, a 7-11 hour flight from countries in Asia, a 14 hour flight from the west of the United States of America and Canada, a 14 hour flight from Johannesburg, South Africa, a 13-16 hours flight from South America, and up to a 24+ hour flight from Western Europe. On account of long journey times from some destinations, some travellers from Europe opt to have a stop-over, commonly in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.