Travel in Australia

Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere and is over twenty times the size of the United Kingdom, yet has the lowest population density in the world, with only two people per square kilometre. It has more than seven thousand beaches (more than any other country) and covers three time zones. It is also the sixth largest country and smallest continent on the planet.

Aboriginal settlers first arrived in Australia from Southeast Asia, forty thousand years before even the first Europeans came in the 17th century. As no formal territorial claims were made at that particular time, it was a British Captain James Cook who landed at Botany Bay with convicts, outside Sydney who took possession in 1770. Colonies were then created to become what is now the termed the commonwealth of Australia.

The country developed rapidly, and made a significant contribution to Britain's war efforts in world wars one and two. Australia is truly a country of magical contrasts and is the driest and hottest country on earth, however it is a fabulous all year round holiday destination. In the Australian winter you can ski in the southern states one day and be diving in the balmy waters of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland the next.

Australia's cities are dynamic and thriving, with areas of outstanding natural beauty and vast, extremely remote, un-populated and isolated regions. The majority of Australians live 50 Km (~30 miles) or less from the coast and much of the interior is un-populated. Travelling through some remote or isolated parts of Australia can be an extremely hazardous experience and should not be undertaken unless prepared.

The country is divided into six states, two mainland territories and several external territories and dependencies and comprises the mainland, the island of Tasmania and a multitude of smaller off-shore islands such as The Whitsundays located off the northeast coast

The Great Barrier Reef is undoubtedly Australia's premier attraction. At over 1,400 miles in length, the Great Barrier Reef is reckoned to be the world's largest natural feature and can even be seen from space! It consists of thousands of individual reefs and over 600 islands; the Barrier Reef is best-enjoyed scuba diving or glass boating. Visiting the Great Barrier Reef is a "must do" activity and trips there can be organised out of the tourist resorts of Cairns or Port Douglas

The Red Centre, located in the Northern Territory, is both the physical and spiritual centre of Australia. It is spiritual to the aboriginal people and as such is the site of the world famous Uluru (Ayers Rock), a reddish rock that is the world's largest monolith. Climbing this rock is deemed offensive to the Aborigines and is therefore discouraged at most to ignorant tourists. Posing in stark contrast to its flat surrounding, Uluru is best viewed at sunrise and sunset when its colour seems to change in mysterious and magical ways.

Sydney is definitely a must see, has many attractions and fabulous setting in which to enjoy them. The city's natural harbour features the ultimately spectacular Opera House, the Rocks (the original penal colony in Australia), Darling Harbour, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Throw in some great beaches (Bondi, Manly, Chinaman's) and its famous Gastronomic delights and you begin to realize why Sydney is a truly world class city. No wonder the recent Olympics were voted one of the best ever!

Melbourne is the most stylish city in Australia as it is home to a neat blend of modern and Victorian architectures. Check out Federation Square and it has many great places for eating drinking and shopping

Canberra is the capital and government centre of Australia. It is a purpose built, ultra modern high tech city. It is not one for a historical or character outlook because of this. However, trips to Parliament house and the National Gallery are worth doing.

It has to be mentioned that Australia's flora and fauna are truly unique, nowhere else on earth are such to be found. The nature is so diverse and very interesting, so strange that the creatures hop or burrow and carry their young in pouches. It was once considered that the country had a different evolutionary path than the rest of the world's species. Seeing the nature there is quite an experience, on a par with Africa, although the creatures are not quite as physically imposing.

Travel by Bus

Naturally, you'll find bus services available in all cities of Australia. Public transport is an essential element to allow people to get around without cars or trains, so the bus services fill this need. You should be able to find a website for the bus service in the Australian city you are visiting, and review maps, schedules and routes. In most cases, you can even ring their office and speak to a staff member to get advice on which bus to catch to get to the places of your choice.

Travel by Taxi

A city without taxis (or Cabs as they are called in some other international cities) would be like an airport without aircraft, so naturally all Australian cities have their own taxi services available for both the locals & visitors to get around town quickly & easily. Once again, you can find the contact details for the taxi companies on the Internet, and then just ring and book your car (or van) when needed. Simple!

Travel by Car Hire/Rental

Lastly, hiring or renting a car is a very common way to allow visitors to get around a new city. Australia has plenty of choices for car rental providers, and you can research these on the Interet. One suggestion to consider if you don't know the area well, is to also rent a GPS (Global Positioning System) with your car. They are an absolutely fantastic way to guide you around the unknown streets, roads & highways of Australia, and will almost guarantee you'll never get lost!

For information on car hire or car rentals visit Every Car Hire at Car Hire Australia.

http://www.everycarhire.com