1.

General information about Australia

Australia has been called “the Oldest Continent,” “the Last of Lands,” and “the Last
Frontier.” Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising
the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It
is the largest country in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country by total area. Its population
of nearly 26 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard.
Australia's capital is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney. The country's other
major metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. Australia is the
oldest, flattest,[17] and driest inhabited continent, with the least fertile soils. It has a landmass of
7,617,930 square kilometres (2,941,300 sq mi). A megadiverse country, its size gives it a wide
variety of landscapes and climates, with deserts in the centre, tropical rainforests in the north-east,
and mountain ranges in the south-east. Australia generates its income from various sources,
including mining-related exports, telecommunications, banking, manufacturing, and international
education. Australia is a developed country, with the world's thirteenth-largest economy. It is
considered a regional power and has the world's thirteenth-highest military
expenditure. Immigrants account for 30% of the population, the highest proportion in any country
with a population over 10 million. The country ranks highly in measures of health,
education, economic freedom, and civil liberties.

2. Geographical position

Surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans, Australia is separated from Asia by
the Arafura and Timor seas, with the Coral Sea lying off the Queensland coast, and the Tasman
Sea lying between Australia and New Zealand. The world's smallest continent and sixth largest
country by total area, Australia—owing to its size and isolation—is often dubbed the "island
continent"  and is sometimes considered the world's largest island. Australia's size gives it a wide
variety of landscapes, with tropical rainforests in the north-east, mountain ranges in the south-east,
south-west and east, and desert in the centre.  The desert or semi-arid land commonly known as
the outback makes up by far the largest portion of land. Australia is the driest inhabited continent.
The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, lies a short distance off the north-east coast
and extends for over 2,000 km (1,200 mi). Mount Augustus, claimed to be the world's largest
monolith, is located in Western Australia.
Eastern Australia is marked by the Great Dividing Range, which runs parallel to the coast
of Queensland, New South Wales and much of Victoria. The name is not strictly accurate, because
parts of the range consist of low hills, and the highlands are typically no more than 1,600 m
(5,200 ft) in height. The coastal uplands and a belt of Brigalow grasslands lie between the coast
and the mountains, while inland of the dividing range are large areas of grassland and shrubland.
These include the western plains of New South Wales, and the Mitchell Grass Downs and Mulga
Lands of inland Queensland. The northernmost point of the mainland is the tropical Cape York
Peninsula.
The landscapes of the Top End and the Gulf Country—with their tropical climate—include
forest, woodland, wetland, grassland, rainforest and desert. At the north-west corner of the
continent are the sandstone cliffs and gorges of The Kimberley, and below that the Pilbara.
The Victoria Plains tropical savanna lies south of the Kimberly and Arnhem Land savannas,
forming a transition between the coastal savannas and the interior deserts. At the heart of the
country are the uplands of central Australia. Prominent features of the centre and south
include Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock), the famous sandstone monolith, and the
inland Simpson, Tirari and Sturt Stony, Gibson, Great Sandy, Tanami, and Great Victoria deserts,
with the famous Nullarbor Plain on the southern coast.

3. The spirit of the country

Australia is a multicultural society that is home to people of many ethnic origins and, as

such, Australian culture and law does not equate nationality with race or ethnicity, but with bona
fide citizenship. The development of a separate Australian identity and national character began in
the 19th century, linked with the anti-transportation and nativist movements and the Eureka
Rebellion during the colonial period and culminated in the federation of the Australian colonies in
1901. The primary language is Australian English, and Australian culture and literature have
historically developed from Anglo-Celtic and Western traditions.
Although Australia has no official language, English has always been entrenched as the de
facto national language.[72] Australian English is a major variety of the language with a distinctive
accent and lexicon,[73] and differs slightly from other varieties of English in grammar and spelling.
[74]
 General Australian serves as the standard dialect.
There’s something Aussies are known the world over for, and that’s their easy-going, friendly
attitude. Of course food, events, art and history are all vital parts of the Australian culture, but what
really distinguishes an Aussie is his or her laid-back outlook on life. It’s the way friends turn up
unannounced for a catch-up (but always with a six-pack of beer in hand). It’s the reason you’ll hear
the words “no worries, mate” exchanged between strangers on the street. Most of all, it’s about
putting aside stress to appreciate the good things in life that are right in front of you.
For Aussies, a stranger is just a mate you haven’t met yet. Mateship is the beating heart of the
Australian spirit – it’s practically a national trait. Aussies pride themselves on being good friends
and neighbours, and not just to people they know. They tend to greet everyone from the mail
carrier to the cab driver with a “g’day” or “how ya going?”. For Australians, this emphasis on
mateship creates a cheery, welcoming attitude, and one that says anyone can be a mate. 
From the red sands of Uluru to the clear blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef and the flora- and
fauna-rich rainforests, Australia is blessed with some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in
the world – so it comes as no surprise that Australians love to be outdoors. This passion for nature
runs deep through Australia’s veins, and is anchored in the foundations of the country's history; a
respectful connection with the earth has been central to Aboriginal culture for more than 50,000
years.
Seasonal wildlife means you can swim with whale sharks one month and manta rays the next. But
locals are eager to explore their own backyards, too. Sydneysiders enjoy ocean swims at sunrise,
Canberrans take weekend bike rides around the lake, and Perth’s King Park is the local’s favourite
for a picnic.
Australia’s history heavily influences its lifestyle today, and Australia’s first and oldest stories
belong to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Their diverse languages, philosophies
and histories form the oldest surviving culture on earth, one that stretches back millennia. 
Australia’s multiculturalism and diversity continues to grow as people from around the world have
settled into the country’s buzzing cities and breezy regional towns. Today, Australia’s rich
assortment of backgrounds, cultures and communities influences everything from the food we eat
to the celebrations we share.
Whether wining or dining, celebrating with friends, family and the broader community around a
shared table is an integral part of the Australian culture. 
The options for experiencing Australian cuisine are endless. From café breakfasts to ocean-side
lunches and fine dining, Australian cuisine blends fresh native ingredients with influences from all
over the world to create something totally unique. 
Australians find countless ways to kick off their shoes and enjoy their many beautiful beaches, be it
surfing, fishing, kayaking, picnicking, sharing an impromptu game of beach cricket or just soaking
up some sunshine. 
You can find elements of this beach culture even when Aussies are away from the waves. For
decades, this culture has influenced everything from Australian music to children’s television
programs. 
The Australian outback is home to an array of different landscapes, countless natural wonders and
deep connections to Aboriginal culture and communities. Because a sense of adventure and love
of outdoors feed the Australian lifestyle, you’ll find plenty of Aussies outside the cities taking in the
fresh air and clear night skies of Australia’s regional communities and stunning outback. 
Hike through the MacDonnell Ranges in the Northern Territory, with its ancient mountain ranges
and refreshing water hole, to get a feel for why the outback is so vital to Australia’s lifestyle.
Australia’s lifestyle is laidback, sure, but there’s nothing that excites an Aussie more than sport.
Australia’s sporting culture has been passed through generations, making for a population deeply
invested in cricket, rugby, Australian Rules Football, soccer, tennis and more. 
4. The political status

Australia's system of government is based on the liberal democratic tradition, which includes
religious tolerance and freedom of speech and association. It's institutions and practices reflect
British and North American models but are uniquely Australian. The Commonwealth of Australia
was created on January 1, 1901 - Federation Day - when six former British colonies - now the six
States of Australia - agreed to form a union. The Australian Constitution, which took effect on
January 1, 1901, lays down the framework for the Australian system of government.
The Australian Constitution sets out the rules and responsibilities of government and outlines the
powers of its three branches - legislative, executive and judicial. The legislative branch of
government contains the parliament - the body with the legislative power to make laws. The
executive branch of government administers the laws made by the legislative branch, and the
judicial branch of government allows for the establishment of the country's courts of law and the
appointment and removal of it judges. Australia's head of state is Queen Elizabeth II. In practice,
the Queen is plays no role within the Australian political system and is merely a figurehead. In
Australia, the Queen is formally represented by a Governor General whom she appoints on the
recommendation of Australia's Prime Minister. The National Parliament is bicameral, having two
chambers: the House of Representatives (Lower House) and the Senate (Upper House). Both are
responsible for national laws, such as: trade, taxation, immigration, citizenship, social security,
industrial relations and foreign affairs. Legislation has to be approved by both houses before it can
become law. The House of Representatives, initiates most legislation. The Senate is known as the
'house of review'. One of the Senate's original roles was to ensure that laws were fair to all states.
Every State and Territory has its own Parliament and its own Constitution Act (which can be
amended by its Parliament), but they are also bound by the national constitution. All State
Parliaments other than Queensland are bicameral with an Upper and Lower House. The
Parliament of each Territory has only one House. State and Territory governments are responsible
for matters which include: public health, education, roads, public land use, police, fire and
ambulance services and local government within their own States or Territories.

5. Interesting facts about the country

1. The Australian Alps get more snow than the Swiss Alps
While many people visit Australia for its brilliant beaches and year-round sunshine, the Australian
Alps, straddling New South Wales and Victoria, are a mecca for skiing enthusiasts. Snow usually
falls between June and September, meaning Australia is the perfect place to get your skiing fix
during the northern hemisphere summer.
Thredbo and Perisher are two large resorts near Canberra, the latter being the largest ski resort in
the southern hemisphere. Blue Cow Mountain is one of the most popular areas, with a vast range
of accommodation and runs as well as stunning views across the Alps.
2. 90% of Australians live on the coast
The large deserts of central Australia mean that the vast majority of the population live on the
shores of this enormous country. The large cities of Perth, Sydney and Melbourne are iconic
places to visit, with buzzing centres and a multitude of beaches, from the sands of Bondi to the
surf of Trigg. Outside of the major hubs, there are hundreds of smaller beach towns where you
can appreciate Australia's beautiful coastline.
3. Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world
The island of Tasmania is the ideal spot to experience the great outdoors - with air as clean as
Antarctica, around one-third of the state is a national park or World Heritage protected. It is a
walkers paradise, with trails and walkways winding over the whole island, where the coastal paths
reveal impressive views over Wineglass Bay and the Bay of Fires.
4. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest eco-system in the world
The Great Barrier Reef is the pride and joy of Australia, made up of nearly 2,500 individual reefs
and visible from space. It stretched halfway down the eastern coast of the country, meaning there
are plenty of places to use as jumping-off points to explore the kaleidoscopic coral. Snorkelling
and diving amongst the colourful fish and turtles that make the Great Barrier Reef their home is
sure to be a highlight of any trip to Australia. 
5. Australia has over 60 separate wine regions
The majority of the wine regions are in New South Wales.
Take your time to explore the Southern Highlands, Tumbarumba and Alpine Valleys, one of the
most picturesque wine regions in Australia, yielding wine from a variety of grapes, from
Sauvignon Vert to Chardonnay. Western Australia also has a number of vineyards that are all
reachable from Perth, a great trip out of the city to enjoy the wine regions of Australia. 
6. Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world
The sandy shores of Fraser Island are a highlight of any trip to Queensland. Hervey Bay is the
jumping-off point for exploring the island, so hop on a boat and discover the delights of this island
paradise - the clear blue waters of Lake MacKenzie surrounded by the white sand shore and the
serenity of Champagne Pools, where you can swim in the shallow pools at the edge of the ocean.
There are 150 dingoes on the island so it is a great opportunity to spot one of Australia's famous
wild dogs but keep your distance as they are wild animals and can be aggressive if approached. 
7. Indian Pacific train has the longest straight section of train track in the world
Australia boasts a number of spectacular rail journeys. Between Sydney and Perth lies the Indian
Pacific, the railway that snakes its way across the country through the stunning Blue Mountains
into the outback towards the mountainous Flinders Ranges.
Stopping off in Adelaide is a must - enjoy gourmet food, art museums and the wide-open spaces
of the city. Moving off again takes you across the Nullabor Plain where the straight section occurs
before sweeping through the fertile Avon Valley and into Perth. Riding the Indian Pacific is a
wonderful way of seeing the varied landscapes of Australia whilst enjoying the luxury services of
the train. 
8. The Great Ocean Road is the world’s largest war memorial
The Great Ocean Road is one of the most famous drives in Australia, with stunning views and
scenic vistas along the route. Built by returning soldiers after World War One, the road was
dedicated as a memorial to those who died fighting and was designed to connect the isolated
communities that clung to the edge of Victoria's rugged coastline.
The Twelve Apostles are the famous sight on this winding route but the Split Point Lighthouse, the
charming towns of Port Fairy and the surf coast of Apollo Bay are equally beautiful places to
visit. Between June and September, you can spot Southern Right Whales along the coast where
they come to migrate in the winter months. The road stretches between Torquay and Allansford,
ideal as a surface sector road trip between Melbourne and Adelaide. 
9. 80% of the animals are unique to Australia
The animals of Australia are some of the most interesting in the world, from cuddly marsupials to a
huge variety of birds. There are so many opportunities to experience the wildlife of the country,
from zoos and parks to spotting these unique creatures in the wild. It is easy to spot kangaroos in
the fields and farmland of New South Wales but koalas and platypuses are a little more elusive so
if you want to see them in the wild, having a guide show you the spots where they often hide can
be very useful. Sydney Wildlife World in the centre of the city is a great place to spot anything you
miss.
10. 2.5 km of Uluru is underground
The vast rock of Uluru sits in the red centre of Australia, surrounded by scrubland and sacred to
various Aboriginal tribes in the area. It is one of the few places on the earth to be listed twice as a
UNESCO World Heritage site, both on the cultural and natural lists. Amazingly around 2.5km of
the rock is thought to be underground connected to the Olgas, where the rock emerges again 16
miles away.
Experiencing Uluru at sunset is the best way to appreciate its stark beauty and after dark, the
pitch-black skies reveal a multitude of sparkling stars. It is easy to visit Uluru from Alice Springs,
reachable by plane or as a stop on the Ghan, the railway from Adelaide to Darwin.
6. Nature

Australia’s isolation from other continents explains much of the singularity of its plant and animal
life. Australian federal and state government agencies and some universities maintain facilities for
the scientific collection, storage, and study of Australian plants.  Its unique flora and fauna include
hundreds of kinds of eucalyptus trees and the only egg-laying mammals on Earth, the platypus and
echidna. Other plants and animals associated with Australia are various acacias (Acacia pycnantha
[golden wattle] is the national flower) and dingoes, kangaroos, koalas, and kookaburras. The Great
Barrier Reef, off the east coast of Queensland, is the greatest mass of coral in the world and one of
the world’s foremost tourist attractions. The country’s low relief results from the long and extensive
erosive action of the forces of wind, rain, and the heat of the sun during the great periods of
geologic time when the continental mass was elevated well above sea level.
The fauna of Australia consists of a huge variety of animals; some 83% of mammals, 89% of
reptiles, 90% of fish and insects and 93% of amphibians that inhabit the continent
are endemic to Australia. This high level of endemism can be attributed to the continent's long
geographic isolation, tectonic stability, and the effects of an unusual pattern of climate change on
the soil and flora over geological time. A unique feature of Australia's fauna is the relative scarcity
of native placental mammals. Consequently, the marsupials – a group of mammals that raise their
young in a pouch, including the macropods, possums and dasyuromorphs – occupy many of
the ecological niches placental animals occupy elsewhere in the world. Australia is home to two of
the five known extant species of monotremes and has numerous venomous species, which include
the platypus, spiders, scorpions, octopus, jellyfish, molluscs, stonefish, and stingrays. Uniquely,
Australia has more venomous than non-venomous species of snakes.
The flora of Australia comprises a vast assemblage of plant species.

7. Climate

As has been noted, in winter the snowfields of Tasmania and the Mount Kosciuszko area can be
extensive, but on the whole Australia is an extremely hot country, in consequence of which
evaporation losses are high and the effectiveness of the rainfall received is reduced.
The principal features of Australia’s climate stem from its position, shape, and size. Australia is
mainly a compact tropical and near-tropical continent.
In summer (December–February Australia's seasons are at opposite times to those in the northern
hemisphere. December to February is summer; March to May is autumn; June to August is winter;
and September to November is spring. ), when the sun is directly overhead in northern Australia,
temperatures are extremely high. The hot, dry weather that is typical for Australia in the summer
(December–February) often produces bushfires. High temperatures dominate the Australian
summers in all but Tasmania. Heat waves are common, and, though the highest amounts of solar
radiation are received in northern South Australia, the highest temperatures and longest heat
waves are recorded in the northwest of Western Australia. Temperatures in winter remain
moderate except in the uplands of Tasmania and southeastern Australia, where snow is common.
Night frosts are common in winter throughout southern Australia and in the interior.
The Australian climate is also influenced by the phenomenon known as the Indian Ocean Dipole
(IOD), which refers to the year to year temperature differences between the eastern and western
portions of that body of water. The IOD alternates between three phases—positive, negative, and
neutral—each of which generally occurs every three to five years. During the neutral phase, the
IOD has little influence on the Australian climate. The increased westerly winds that arise during
the negative phase cause warmer water to concentrate northwest of Australia, ultimately producing
above-average rainfall in parts of southern Australia. On the other hand, during the positive phase,
westerly winds weaken, permitting warmer water to move toward Africa, lessening cloud creation
over Australia and reducing rainfall in much of western, southern, and eastern Australia.
In 2019 prolonged drought and record heat widely attributed to climate change, along with
lightning and scattered incidences of arson combined to produce a rash of deadly bushfires that
began in September, before the start of the usual fire season, and persisted into the new year. By
early January bushfires had occurred in every Australian state, with New South Wales
experiencing the worst of it. By the end of the first week in January, 17.9 million acres (7.3 million
hectares) had burned throughout Australia, with more than 12 million acres (about 5 million
hectares) affected in New South Wales alone. More than two dozen people were killed nationwide.
8. The capital city of Australia

Canberra, federal capital of the Commonwealth of Australia. It occupies part of the Australian

Capital Territory (ACT), in southeastern Australia, and is about 150 miles (240 km) southwest
of Sydney. Canberra supposedly means either “meeting place”/
Canberrans are relatively young, highly mobile and well educated. The median age is 35 years and
only 13% of the population is aged over 65 years.
73% of people spoke only English at home. The other languages most commonly spoken at home
were Mandarin (3.1%), Vietnamese (1.1%), Cantonese (1%), Hindi (0.9%) and Spanish (0.8%).
The two main tertiary institutions are the Australian National University (ANU) in Acton and
the University of Canberra (UC) in Bruce
Canberra is home to many national monuments and institutions such as the Australian War
Memorial, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Library,
the National Archives, the Australian Academy of Science, the National Museum. Many
Commonwealth government buildings in Canberra are open to the public, including Parliament
House, the High Court and the Royal Australian Mint.
Stonefest was a large annual festival, for some years one of the biggest festivals in Canberra. It
was downsized and rebranded as Stone Day in 2012. There are numerous bars and nightclubs
which also offer live entertainment, particularly concentrated in the areas
of Dickson, Kingston and the city. Most town centres have facilities for a community theatre and a
cinema, and they all have a library.  Popular cultural events include the National Folk Festival,
the Royal Canberra Show, the Summernats car festival, Enlighten festival, the National
Multicultural Festival in February and the Celebrate Canberra festival held over 10 days in March in
conjunction with Canberra Day.
As Australia's capital, Canberra is the most important centre for much of Australia's political
reportage and thus all the major media, including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the
commercial television networks, and the metropolitan newspapers maintain local bureaus. News
organisations are represented in the "press gallery", a group of journalists who report on the
national parliament. The National Press Club of Australia in Barton has regular television
broadcasts of its lunches at which a prominent guest, typically a politician or other public figure,
delivers a speech followed by a question-and-answer session.[274]
Canberra has a daily newspaper, The Canberra Times, which was established in 1926.[275]
[276]
 There are also several free weekly publications, including news
magazines CityNews and Canberra Weekly as well as entertainment guide BMA Magazine.
9. Cuisine

Most Indigenous Australian groups subsisted on a simple hunter-gatherer diet of native fauna and
flora, otherwise called bush tucker. The first settlers introduced British food to the continent, much
of which is now considered typical Australian food, such as the Sunday roast. Multicultural
immigration transformed Australian cuisine; post-World War II European migrants, particularly from
the Mediterranean, helped to build a thriving Australian coffee culture, and the influence of Asian
cultures has led to Australian variants of their staple foods, such as the Chinese-inspired dim
sim and Chiko Roll. Vegemite, pavlova, lamingtons and meat pies are regarded as iconic
Australian foods.
Australian wine is produced mainly in the southern, cooler parts of the country. Australia is also
known for its cafe and coffee culture in urban centres, which has influenced coffee culture abroad,
including New York City. Australia was responsible for the flat white coffee–purported to have
originated in a Sydney cafe in the mid-1980s.
Barbecues (“the barbie”) are a quintessential Australian pastime, and meat is ubiquitous.
Traditional Aboriginal Outback cuisine consists of such unique foods as kangaroo, wombat,
turtle, eel, emu, snake, and witchetty grubs (larvae of the ghost moth).
10. Traditions and customs

Australians are proud of their heritage and progress—proud of the fact that a nation of convicts and
working-class folks could build a modern egalitarian society in a rough and inhospitable land. They
typically disdain the pompous and ostentatious, and they are often characterized as informal and
“laid back,” an impression fostered by the typical and now internationally recognized greeting
among “mates” and “sheilas”: G’day (Good day). Their tastes in popular fashions and
entertainment differ little from those in Europe and North America, and their humour is often
characterized as sarcastic, ironic, and self-deprecating.

Drinking and gambling have long been important aspects of Australian popular culture, despite
persistent government attempts to regulate and limit them. Beer has traditionally been the drink of
choice, but the explosion of Australian wine production has somewhat altered patterns. Since
World War II, laws generally have been liberalized in favour of more “civilized” drinking and greater
access to gambling, often through government-owned agencies. However, whereas an older
generation turned to the pub for socializing, many of the young are likely to seek out the disco or
trendy bar or restaurant.

The calendar is well endowed with public holidays, making the long weekend an institution. ANZAC
Day (April 25), marking the Australian and New Zealand landing at Gallipoli in 1915, is observed
throughout Australia. Australia Day (January 26) celebrates the 1788 arrival of the British First
Fleet at Sydney Cove and the proclaiming of Australia as a British possession. The British
monarch’s birthday is also celebrated in June (October in Western Australia). In addition, the states
have several regional holidays.

Australia hosts many festivals, which often attract a wide international audience. Particularly
noteworthy arts events are the Sydney Festival (January), which features concerts and theatre and
is accompanied by fireworks displays; the biennial Adelaide Festival of Arts (March); and
the Melbourne Festival (October). Aboriginal arts festivals include the Barunga and Cultural Sports
Festival (June) and Stompin Ground (October), held in Broome. Sydney’s vibrant Gay and Lesbian
Mardi Gras, held annually in February, attracts hundreds of thousands of revelers from around the
world and is considered the world’s largest celebration of its kind. Chinese cultural celebrations
include Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Lantern Festival.