Australia
Photo Gallery
of Australia
General information about Australia
The Aboriginal people were thought to have arrived in Australia from the South Eastern Asia during the last Ice Age, around 50 000 years ago. At the time the of European discovery of the continent, around one million Aboriginal people lived there. Captain James Cook claimed the east coast for Britain at 1770. The place was used as penal colony on which 160 000 people was transported as convicts until 1868. At 1820 many soldiers and convicts had turned the land they received into flourishing farms. The rumor of cheap land attracts more and more settlers in Australia and the six states became a nation under a single constitution on 1st January 1901. Today Australia is home to people from more than 200 countries.
Tourism in Australia
With more than 80% of the Australian population living within 50 kilometers of the coast, the beach has become an integral part of their laid-back lifestyle. From Saturday morning surf-club training to a game of beach cricket after a barbeque, this is the most common in the weekend. You can relax at popular holiday spots and drive to secret, secluded beaches in coastal national parks or go to the beach to enjoy the sun and surf or to sail, parasail, fish, snorkel, scuba dive and beach comb. This is where you socialize and play sport, relax and enjoy romance. Australia attracts around 40,000 tourists on Christmas Eve wearing Santa hats and swimming costumes. Australia’s most famous beaches are - Bondi and Manly in Sydney, St Kilda in Melbourne, Surfers Paradise on the Queensland Gold Coast, Cottesloe in Perth and Glenelg in Adelaide.
Weather in Australia
The hottest weather of the year is from November until January, when
the temperatures in the whole country vary from 20°C to 32°C, in the
central regions of the country, the temperatures can reach from 38°C to
42°C. From 01:30 to 02:00 after sunset, the temperature can drop down to
10-12°C. It is cooler in the period June-August, when the temperature
doesn't go more than 15-18°C. Usually at the summer periods the raining
is insignificant, but through the winter they can be very strong and
even to cause problems with the traffic. The ideal time for travel in
Australia is from May to August and from September to December, when
it's the peak of the touristic season.
The best time to visit Melbourne is from
October to April. The median temperature of the water is 10.5°C during
winter and 21.5°C at summer time.
The most soft is the climate in Sydney. The median
temperature of the ocean water at summer (November-April) is 22.5°C and
18°C during the winter.
The climate in Darwin is hot and wet almost
through the whole year. The worst time for tourism there is November.
Australian cities
Sydney, NSW
You’ll love Sydney’s spectacular harbour, seductive outdoor lifestyle
and great natural beauty. See a performance of opera, ballet or theatre
at the world famous Opera House. Wander the cobblestone streets of The
Rocks, the harbourside quarter where modern Australian settlement began.
Kayak under the Harbour Bridge, walk the winding, sea-sculpted cliffs
from Bondi to Bronte or visit Manly’s beaches, bars and restaurants by
ferry. Sydney also offers fabulous fusion food, world-class shopping and
a lively nightlife. For a day trip, the World Heritage-listed Blue
Mountains and Hunter Valley vineyards lie just beyond the city fringes.
Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne boasts famous shopping precincts, a passion for food and wine
and a fabulous arts scene. In the maze of hidden laneways, you’ll find
cute cafes, swanky bars, secret art spaces and off-the-beaten-track
boutiques. Shop till you drop from Chapel to Brunswick Streets, watch
the sun set over the St Kilda promenade and dance till dawn in Fitzroy.
Soak up the aroma of good coffee in the gothic cobblestone laneways and
visit the city’s landmark cultural space of Federation Square. Then hit
the sporting grounds and savour a multicultural cosmos of cuisines.
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Learn about Australia’s culture, history and way of life in our nation’s
capital. Explore our political past and modern democracy at Old
Parliament House and Parliament House. Find out more about our sporting
heroes at the National Institute of Sport and Science and see lightning
being made at Questacon. Once you’ve exhausted the monuments and
galleries, get into the great outdoors. This planned city – one of the
few in the world - is famous for its lake, parklands and native bushland
surrounds. Beneath the foliage, Canberra offers stylish restaurants, hip
bars, boutique shopping and a non-stop calendar of festivals and events.
Brisbane, Queensland
Discover the gardens, sandstone cathedrals, classic Queenslander houses
on stilts and skyscrapers that make Brisbane such a fascinating mix of
old and new. Cruise down the Brisbane River, ride a bike through the
City Botanic Gardens and abseil the cliffs of Kangaroo Point. Laze in
the lush riverside gardens or swim in the lagoon of South Bank. When
culture cravings hit, head to the nearby Queensland Cultural Centre or
the Powerhouse arts centre. Explore the boutiques and bars of urban
villages such as Fortitude Valley and Paddington. Just on Brisbane’s
doorstep, Moreton Bay beckons with all kinds of water-based adventure.
Perth, Western Australia
Bask in the sunshine in Perth’s alfresco restaurants, friendly pubs and
clean and uncrowded beaches. Cruise the Swan River past parks and
skyscrapers to Swan Valley vineyards or the Perth Zoo. Explore the
bushland, landscaped gardens, lakes and lookouts of huge Kings Park.
Then bike ride or kayak to Rottnest Island’s secluded beaches and bays.
Feast on seafood and soak up the carnival atmosphere in historic
Fremantle. Swim, surf, fish, windsurf and sail at Cottlesloe or
Scarborough Beach, then skip between the boardwalks, beaches and marinas
of the Sunset Coast.
Darwin, Northern Territory
Soak up Darwin’s balmy weather and melting pot of food and cultures in
the many outdoor festivals and markets. Then learn about the city’s
Aboriginal heritage and dramatic history – from World War II air raids
to Cyclone Tracey – in the museums and galleries. Sail Darwin harbour at
sunset, cruise next to crocodiles and bushwalk through monsoon forest.
Swim in the crystal-clear waterholes of Litchfield National Park and
visit the colourful communities of the Tiwi Islands. Darwin is also the
gateway to World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, Nitmiluk National
Park and Arnhem Land.
Hobart, Tasmania
Don’t miss this small, scenic capital, famous for its Georgian buildings
and crisp air. Browse bustling Salamanca Markets and run your hands over
the sandstone buildings in Salamanca Place. Climb craggy Mount
Wellington for sweeping views over Hobart and the wide Derwent River. Do
a ghost tour in Battery Point, walk across Australia’s oldest bridge in
Richmond and visit the cute coastal hamlet of Kettering. Wind past
forest and farmland to the cool-climate wineries of the Coal Valley. See
bright spinnakers on the water and dine on fresh seafood from one of
Hobart’s waterside restaurants.
