Geography

Australia is a land of contrasts: sweeping golden beaches, coral reefs rich with marine life, tropical rainforests, mountain ranges, vast grazing lands and sparse deserts.

One of the oldest continents, Australia is as wide as the distance from Kuala Lumpur to Taipei and as long as the distance from Singapore to Manila. It is the only country to occupy an entire continent.

Situated between, and isolated by, the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Australia has many animals and plants, which are unique to the planet. The surface geology is typically old and flat.

Climate

Nearly a third of Australia is in the tropics and the rest is in the temperate zone.

The highlands and tablelands of Tasmania and the south eastern corner of the mainland are the coldest areas.

Summer is from December to February; autumn from March to May; winter from June to August; and spring from September to November.

Settlement

Sites showing human occupation have been dated back to 40,000 years. Recent work in north west Australia identified rock art that may be 175,000 years old.

Inhabited by Aborigines for more that 40,000 years, indigenous Australians have a mystic tradition that explains their close relationship to the land and tells of a dreamtime rich in stories of creation.

On 26 January 1788, European settlers reached Port Jackson and established a settlement in what is now Sydney.

Multiculturalism

The British influence originating in Australia’s colonial origins has evolved over two centuries into a dynamic multiculturalism with invaluable contributions from migrants from all parts of the world.

Almost a quarter of today’s 18 million Australians were born in another country.

There are nearly one million Asian-born Australians. About 2 per cent are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. 

More than 100 different ethnic groups are represented in Australia, making Australia one of the most ethnically diversified countries in the world.

Language

Although English is the official language, a host of other languages are spoken in Australia.

Religion

Australia is predominantly a Christian country, however, all religions are represented in the community.

Devotees will find churches, mosques, temples and synagogues located in most major cities.

Culture

Australia is rich in the arts. There are eight professional orchestras and a national opera company.

Within Australia there are more than 1000 museums preserving and displaying Australia’s diverse cultural heritage.

Australian films are winning international acclaim and many Australian film directors, actors and technicians have been acclaimed in Hollywood at the highest level.

Australian authors have received international recognition particularly with the Booker Prize, won twice by Australians and with Patrick White winning the Nobel Prize for literature.

Novelists, dramatists and poets are internationally accepted by their peers as having made a substantial contribution to world literature.

Australians traditionally have provided strong support for theatre, from regional amateur troupes to polished professional companies.

In music, Australia has developed a fertile environment that supports a great range of musical tastes ranging from the most avant-garde experimental to folk, from the youthful sounds of chart-busting pop to the unique music of the Aboriginal people.

Painting in Australia has a history that can not only be traced back over forty thousand years of Aboriginal culture but also is represented in the major museums and galleries of modern and avant-garde art, worldwide.

Sports and Recreation

Australians are very keen on sport and outdoor activities. Australia has more than 120 national sporting organisations and thousands of state, regional and club bodies.

It is estimated that 6.5 million people, about a third of the population, are registered sports participants.

While there are over 120 sporting organisations, Australians also take part in bushwalking, fishing, boating and water sports.

Australia has a world wide reputation for sports and outdoor activities. This is endorsed by the Olympic Committee’s selection of Sydney to host the Olympic Games in the year 2000.

Other Links

Climate
Click on Bureau of Meteorology.

Communications Equipment
Before you arrive in Australia, you are advised to check if your communications equipment (for example, mobile and cordless phone, fax machine, wireless microphone, laptop computer) is safe to operate in Australia.
For further information contact Australian Communications Authority website.

Currency Exchange
To calculate your funds in Australian dollars, see the Currency Converter.

Customs
Customs Information is available from the ACS website.

Health insurance
Information is available from the Department of Health and Aged Care and Health Insurance Commission.

Media
The Australian Tourist Commission has a media site which provides up-to-the-minute information, images and background on Australia.

Quarantine
For general information on Australian quarantine measures, contact Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) by
phone + 61 2 9364 7222
fax+ 61 2 9364 7340

Tourism
For detailed travel advice for Australia, contact the Australian Tourist Commission at the ATC website.

Other sites are