Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the mainland of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous other islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia to the northeast, and New Zealand to the southeast. Australia is the only single country to occupy an entire continent.
The Australian mainland has been inhabited for more than 42,000 years by indigenous Australians. After sporadic visits by fishermen from the north and then European discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606, the eastern half of Australia was later claimed by the British in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales, commencing on 26 January 1788. As the population grew and new areas were explored, another five largely self-governing Crown Colonies were established during the 19th century.
On 1 January 1901, the six colonies became a federation, and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Since federation, Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system and remains a Commonwealth realm. The capital city is Canberra, located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The population is just over 21.3 million, with approximately 60% of the population concentrated in and around the mainland state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.
Botanic Gardens 
Sydney's delightful Royal Botanic Gardens towards dusk. Cockatoos 
A small part of the Darling Harbour complex, enjoyed by ibis as much as tourists. Although Australian wildlife is not generally as easy to find as one might imagine, birdlife flourishes everywhere, not least in Sydney, with ibis as common as pigeons and parrots, fruit bats and cockatoos screeching around the Royal Botanic Gardens, especially towards dusk.
Sydney Harbour
An aerial view of Sydney's best surfburb, Manly Sdyney, Harbour Bridge
The iconic Harbour Bridge with grey-suited climbers visible mid-left and low right. There are many who have climbed the Harbour Bridge who claim that the cost is extortionate and out of proportion to the experience, but others would disagree, especially if they managed top peak out on a good day around sunset time. Whatever, this picture was taken from the top of one of the bridge's support towers and provided quite enough height thank you...
Manly Beach's Typical Surf 
Manly Beach, just 5 minutes walk from the ferry terminal. Sydney Beaches: Sydney's water is not particularly warm, even in midsummer [Dec-Feb], and in winter you'd definitely need a wetsuit , a good chunky layer of subcutaneous fat or Russian-style anti-freeze in your veins.
There's swimming at a couple of beaches inside the harbour and lots of sailing but most of the action goes on outside where the South Pacific throws steady surf onto some superb beaches. Bondi and Manly are the closest suburbs for good beach experiences, with Bondi accessible from the centre by car or train/bus and Manly by ferry from Circular Quay. Both trips would take in the region of an hour, but south of Bondi and north of Manly there are plenty more fine strands of sand with increasingly few users.
Manly has a small inner-harbour beach devoid of surf for those with toddlers not ready for a pounding or lap-swimmers who don't want to go out beyond the surf line
Wild Koala
A koala digesting his lunch a couple of metres above the Great Ocean Road. Trivia: koalas are the only critter with a brain that does not fit snugly into its skull. Since they more or less predator-free up a gum tree and eucalyptus leaves are highly toxic, nature decided to focus on digestion at the expense of intelligence, shrinking the brain down to a walnut surrounded by jelly and giving them slow reactions and a dozy 'thousand-yard stare' in the process
The Rocks Weekend Market 
The Rocks Weekend Market Old Victorian buildings visible in many places around Australia face off the Rocks market tents, a tourist souvenir hotspot, while the Harbour Bridge crosses in the background.
Brunswick Street
The Yarra Riverside 
The Yarra riverside, loaded with eating places on the promenade to the right, servicing the city workaholics from across the river, left.
Like other major Australian cities Melbourne is park and water-oriented. The Yarra is the main focus with rowing and river cruises figuring high in things to do around the centre - apart from eating and drinking of course, while further downstream the Docklands provide a new focal point for more conspicuous consumption.
The Royal Botanic Gardens on the banks of the Yarra nearby are beautifully laid out, diverse and interesting, just one of the city's grand green spaces.
The suburb of St Kilda is a classic seaside resort with pier, pavilion, amusement park, market, beach and endless establishments to service the hordes that descend on the town on warm sunny days.
Brunswick Street with its funky shops and eateries. Travellers seeking a more off-the-wall shopping and partying environment than central Melbourne should take the first tram to lengthy Brunswick St where weird needs are more likely to be met than elsewhere. Goth central, new wave, neo-hippies and such.
Not quite up to Sydney's delights as far as tourism is concerned Melbourne nevertheless offers a dynamic, hard working and cultured ambience. It's also the start of the Great Ocean Rd..
Great Ocean Road
One of the more attractive and watery parts of the Great Ocean Road which in fact doesn't spend a great deal of time beside the ocean. The Great Ocean Road stretches from Torquay - one of Melbourne's little suburban seaside resorts - 200kms [125mls] west to Portland, though some drivers turn off a little earlier at Warrnambool, heading back to Melbourne via the Grampian Highlands and Ballarat, while others continue on to Adelaide, though the distance there is considerable and views en route few.
The Great Ocean Road was deliberately designed by the Victoria state government to be one of the world's greatest driving experiences and is certainly a successful marketing exercise though many would argue that GOR doesn't make it into the world's top roads, not compared to, for example, the US's Pacific Coast Highway, South Africa's Cape Town to Cape Horn drive, the Scottish Highlands or a dozen other classic routes around the world.
The problem is mainly that the road doesn't actually spend that much time cruising attractively beside the ocean and even the famous Twelve Apostles sea stacks are barely visible without a walk [not that there's anything wrong with a good leg stretch after hours at the wheel].
Fundamentally, to enjoy The Great Ocean Road you need to plan interesting diversions on the way, park and walk, park and surf, whatever. Just don't expect the road itself to provide endless entertainment, it ain't going to happen that way.
A hire car or a tour bus is probably the best way to travel this road as some parts are lengthy, hilly, and/or dull, making biking, for example, butt-grinding work, while public transport does not provide buses running the whole route and changes can be big time wasters.
Personal transport also allows the visitor more freedom to stop and take the necessary pictures as well as get in a bit of surfing, hill-walking, forest trekking, whale watching [in season] or animal tracking.
The early section of GOR offers some spectacularly good surf beaches, including perhaps Australia's best waves at Bell's Beach, near Torquay, while kangaroos can be spotted on Anglesea's golf course.
Koalas can be seen in the trees beside the road between Lorne and Apollo Bay, and Great Otway National Park provides some great hikes, treetop walkways and animal viewing.
The Twelve Apostles viewing platforms and walkways will be busy with tourists and may be less stunning than expected - unless you take time to walk down to the beach and see the stacks from sea level.
The Great Ocean Walk is also available to dedicated hikers, running from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles and taking about a week for the whole length, though just walking smaller sections is also an option. There are camp sites en route.
Also on offer are the Surf Coast Walk and Great South West Walk.
These Great Ocean Rd Photos later divide into two parts, one section showing the route back to Melbourne, the other continuing on to Adelaide.
Manly Beach
Manly Beach, just 5 minutes walk from the ferry terminal. Sydney Beaches: Sydney's water is not particularly warm, even in midsummer [Dec-Feb], and in winter you'd definitely need a wetsuit , a good chunky layer of subcutaneous fat or Russian-style anti-freeze in your veins.
There's swimming at a couple of beaches inside the harbour and lots of sailing but most of the action goes on outside where the South Pacific throws steady surf onto some superb beaches. Bondi and Manly are the closest suburbs for good beach experiences, with Bondi accessible from the centre by car or train/bus and Manly by ferry from Circular Quay. Both trips would take in the region of an hour, but south of Bondi and north of Manly there are plenty more fine strands of sand with increasingly few users.
Manly has a small inner-harbour beach devoid of surf for those with toddlers not ready for a pounding or lap-swimmers who don't want to go out beyond the surf line.
Sydney from one of the Harbour
Sydney from one of the Harbour Bridge support columns, 2006. To the right of the Opera House is the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens and to the right is Circular Quay [the harbour's main ferry terminal] and the business district. Sydney, New South Wales, is one of the world's great cities, well-organised and well-developed but still very relaxed with several fine green spaces - most notably the cockatoo-frenzied Royal Botanic Gardens.
Australia's main cities are all designed in the same vein: spacious, attractive waterfronts, plenty of greenery and pedestrian-friendly sidewalks but Sydney hit the biggest seam with the world's largest natural harbour - and absolutely gorgeous it is too.
Trivia: the world's second largest harbour? Poole, south England. And Botany Bay, Captain Cook's first landing point, is an industrial zone about 10kms south of Sydney.
A capital city: Some deluded folk think Sydney is Australia's capital, or possibly Melbourne. Not at all, it's a city in Australia's south-east that few tourists visit [Bugcrew included], Canberra, purpose built because politicians could not afford to give the title to either of the two serious contenders - Sydney and Melbourne - for fear of dreadful sanctions from the great and good of the losing city.
Still, Sydney - aka 'Sin City' by locals though we can't imagine why, the sinny side must be well hidden - is unquestionably the city that tourists have to see, along with Uluru and Cairns for a minimum Australia experience. Melbourne, it's true, is very pleasant, but it lacks the harbour and being further south the climate is cooler - some even liken it to Britain's dire weather.
Climate: And on the subject of weather...don't expect too much from Sydney. Rain is not uncommon in any season, nor sweater-inducing temperatures, though in all probability your shorts [short pants] will see considerable usage. Just don't wear tiny tight shorts like too many of Sydney's older, pot-bellied underclass males - unless you're a fit young female of course. And if you yearn for guaranteed sunshine then the central east coast is your best bet, where 300 days of sunburn is apparently the norm. Probably the best time to visit Sydney is March, April, Oct, Nov when temperatures are moderate and crowds are reduced by school terms, though if you are a show freak and organised enough to book ahead then January's Sydney Arts Festival month might suit you. Sadly, without a mad 'Fringe' Festival that Scotland's Edinburgh does so well, Sydney's event is rather staid, lacking in fire and not worth making a special effort to attend.
The Bugcrew preferred the larger and lower-key Manly beaches to Bondi. Manly has a small but well-supplied village feel to it, with plenty of bars and eateries, not to mention a lot of low cost accommodation near the beach and good surf gear rental places adjacent. Then there's the lovely ferry ride through the harbour to Manly from the city centre vs. the not very pretty urban train/bus ride to Bondi. On the other Bondi's beach folk are arguably more glamorous and the coastal path south is stunning, while Manly's walks are not so inspiring...Visit both but stay in Manly if you have the time?
Sydney Pictures: the few Sydney Pictures following, as usual are not attempting to capture every aspect of the city, merely to give a hint of the ambience.
Cuisine: Sydney is a fairly asian-oriented city with an extensive area in the centre where the anglo-saxon look is rare and sushi is menu du jour though in other areas rat coffins [meat pies] are an Australian quick-eat tradition. Generally seafood is big and white wine with oysters scoffed beside Circular Quay are a must, though Darling Harbour, a rebuilt-for-tourists dock area is where many travellers end up spending their dollars.
Outside the city and away from the surf-smashed beaches lie a good few National Parks though the #1 tourist target is the cool Blue Mountains with its canyons, cliffs, dense forests, waterfalls, good bushwalks and mad activities. A train from Central Station takes a couple of hours to travel the 109kms to the Blue Mountains' staging point, chilly and attractive Katoomba. But don't expect to see any 'roos leaping around!
Barossa Valley South
Australians metropolitan cities and coastal areas
Nearly three quarters of Australians live in metropolitan cities and coastal areas. The beach is an integral part of the Australian identity.The Barossa Valley wine-producing region of South Australia. Fewer than 15% of Australians live in rural areas.
Federation Square
Melbourne, Federation Square's bizarre - but not unpleasant - collection of architectural styles. Originally a gold-rush town in the mid 1800s, Melbourne is Australia's second largest city at 3.5 million, a cultured and cosmopolitan place on the banks of the Yarra river in the far south-east of the country.
The city's Victorian architecture is impressive and mostly blends well with some ultra-modern buildings, plentiful green spaces and picturesque riverside walks.
City activities, whether cultural, sporting or pure entertainment are creative, varied and interesting, bars are buzzing and restaurants are superb - especially for Asian cuisine, while both live music and club scenes are thriving.
Around Melbourne there's plenty of action too - massive beaches [one of them is 90 miles long] with fine surfing, excellent wildlife parks [e.g. Hall's Gap], the spectacular Great Ocean Road [GOR] driving route, great hiking in the Grampian Highlands and skiing in the winter.
Comparisons are inevitably made with Sydney, particularly since the two cities were such equal contenders for the title of Australia's capital in the early 20th century that the government was unable to decide which was more suitable, so they built a new capital in the middle of nowhere - Canberra.
Just about everything in Melbourne is cheaper than Sydney, tourist herds far less obtrusive and there's a free circular tram. Melbourne is more dynamic, Sydney more relaxed. Melburnians claim that their city is one of the world's most liveable; could that imply that Sydney may be one of the most visitable?
Sydney certainly outshines Melbourne in two tourist areas. It has a more immediate, unique charm due to its wonderful harbour setting and those world famous icons - the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, while the climate is somewhat better. Winter in Melbourne is colder than Sydney though both cities can have excessively hot summers.
On the other hand, Melbourne is the gateway to the Great Ocean Road...
Golf 
Anglesea Golf Course complete with loafing caddies. Click on the image for more Great Ocean Road Pictures or here for more. One of the more surprising aspects of driving the Great Ocean Road is the amount of wildlife that is visible if you keep your eyes open. Kangaroos on this golf course are well known, but wallabies standing dumbly beside the road chewing the cud, koalas hanging like fat furry fruit in roadside eucalypts [with intellects about equal to a ripe apricot], parrots, cockatoos and many other birds are a pleasant distraction from the substantial distances this drive requires.
Cities* Sydney - Australia's oldest and largest city, famous for its picturesque harbour. Sydney is the capital of New South Wales.
* Melbourne - Australia's second largest city and the nation's first capital city. Melbourne is a large sporting and cultural capital, known as a shopping destination in Australia. Melbourne is regarded as Australia's most European city in style.
* Adelaide - the City of Churches, a relaxed South Australian alternative to the big eastern cities
* Brisbane - sun-drenched capital of Queensland, fastest growing city in Australia (and the Southern Hemisphere) and gateway to beautiful sandy beaches.
* Perth - the most remote continental capital city on earth, on the south-western edge of Western Australia
* Cairns - gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas, the Atherton Tablelands, Daintree National Park, and many beautiful beaches and resorts. A great place for people to getaway to and relax.
* Canberra - the purpose-built national capital of Australia
* Darwin - Australia's smallest and northern-most capital, at the top of the Northern Territory
* Hobart - small and quiet capital of Tasmania
Wide open spaces Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It's about the same size as the 48 mainland states of the USA and 50 per cent larger than Europe, but has the lowest population density in the world - only two people per square kilometre.
Little BeautiesAustralia produces 95 per cent of the world's precious opals and 99 per cent of black opals.
Beaches galore Australia boasts over 10,000 beaches - more than any other nation.
Golden city Kalgoorlie in Western Australia is not only Australia's largest producer of gold, but has the world's largest political electorate - covering amammoth 2.2 million square kilometres.
Opal capital
Coober Pedy in South Australia is known as the opal capital of the world. Its population is made up of more than 40 nationalities and, with year-round extremes in temperature, more than 50 per cent of the population live in below-ground 'dugouts'.
Aussie icon The kangaroo is unique to Australia and one of our most easily recognised mammals. There are more kangaroos in Australia now than when Australiawas first settled. Estimates suggest around 40 million.
Merinos en masse Australia's 101 million sheep (mostly merinos), found on around 53,000 properties, produce more than 70 per cent of the world's wool.
Beef exports With 27 million head of cattle, Australia is the world's largest exporter of beef.
Flourishing flora Australia supports at least 25,000 species of plants, while Europe only supports 17,500.
dead straight for 478 kilometres.
Long drive The Eyre Highway at Caiguna in Western Australia has the longest stretch of straight road in Australia - 148 kilometres. Crossing the southern edge of the Nullarbor Plain, it is the only sealed road from Perth to Adelaide, a 2700 kilometre drive.
Long haulThe longest stretch of straight railway track in the world crosses the Nullarbor Plain. From Nurina in Western Australia to near Watson in South Australia, the track is
Long fence The world's longest continuous fence known as the 'dingo fence', runs through central Queensland for 5,531 kilometres. It is 1.8 metres high and is designed to keep sheep safe from Australia's native dog.
RegionsNew South Wales Welcome to New South Wales. Australia's oldest state is packed full of amazing attractions, places of spectacular natural beauty, unique history and a bunch of fun activities for all to enjoy.
QueenslandWith regions such as the Gold Coast and Whitsundays, it's little wonder that Queensland brings to mind lazy days on sunny beaches. It's true, the perfect climate and seaside towns show relaxed Australian culture at its best.
Victoria For a small state, Victoria has some of the best sightseeing and most fascinating places in the country. From the heady Gold Rush days to the dramatic scenery, there are surprises around every bend.
TasmaniaTucked away at the far south of the country and across the untamed waters of Bass Strait, lies Tasmania, a place rich with heritage and spectacular natural history.
Australian Capital Territory Welcome to the nation's capital. It's full name is a bit of a mouthful so the state is known simply as the ACT. You could easily miss it on the map as it's far smaller than the state of New South Wales that completely surrounds it.
Western Australia Western Australia has a rugged and beautiful outback & a history tied to the ocean. From the vast open plains of the Nullarbor to the colourful marine wonderland of Ningaloo Reef, WA provides the best of both worlds.
Northern Territory A land of contrasts, the Northern Territory is rich with striking scenery. From the lush rainforests of Kakadu and Katherine to the arid red plains of the Red Centre in Alice Springs and the great rock, Uluru, the land is full of surprises.
South Australia Wine connoisseurs won't be disappointed, with regions such as the Barossa, Clare Valley and The Limestone Coast, South Australia's large selection of acclaimed wineries will satisfy your every tastebud.
Text Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia
