The worlds largest Island, or smallest continent... this large low lying land mass has dense tropical rain forests in North East Queensland, temperate forests around the coast and burning hot deserts in the interior and some of the strangest animals in the world. Have you seen an animal with a ducks bill, a beavers tail and webbed feet? The platypus is one of Australia's many unusual creatures.

The thought of Australia may conjure up images of The Sydney Opera House, Ayer's Rock, and characters like Rolf Harris, Crocodile Dundee or Skippy the Kangaroo, or the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo. However there is no image or description can quite prepare you for the overwhelming size and diversity of this amazing land. You will discover that Australia is amazingly different to any place you may have travelled before. It offers more than enough exhilarating experiences to keep you exploring the highways and byways for many months on end.

Because of the distances, many people travel is by air, but rail, busses and self drive are popular.  Away from the main highways, the 'self driver' needs survival tools/skills in the event of mishap or becoming lost.

With a population of plus 20 million, there is a variety of culture from the "dinkum Australian" descended from the mostly British penal colonists, to the richness of the Greek, Italian, Jewish and other migrants who flocked there following WW2.

Australia is a great sporting nation and performs well in the Commonwealth Games. Australia is also on the formula one racing circuit, and V8 supercars is perhaps the most popular of the auto races with a lot of interest in the world motor rally. Australia has a strong tradition of sailing and was once the holder of the prestigious Americas cup and one of the most popular events is the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Most of the people live near the coast* where the climate is milder than the interior, and beaches are popular places, many of which cater for nude bathing, or the smallest of thongs. If this is not you, do not worry, another part of the beach will cater for the modest. *(Fifty percent of the population live within ten kilometres of the coastline, creating a significant 'beach culture' as is enjoyed by many other world famous destinations.)

For the traveller, Australia offers a rich diversity of activities of which we list but few. This diverse land of koalas and budgerigars, bushwhackers and beach babes, warm-fuzzies and walkabouts, beer and barbecues, is a fair dinkum, one of a kind, special place:

• New South Wales - in which Sydney is the largest city with a mass of entertainment, superb shopping and rich scenes from it's wonderful harbour to the gay mardigra, an annual event in Sydney's Darlinghurst, or out riding the spectacular Katoomba scenic railway or taking the 2 hour climb to view the sunrise from the 2224 meter high summit of Mt Kosiosko.

• Queensland - enjoy the nightlife of Brisbane and the Gold Coast, join in a corroboree dance with the indigenous people, or enter the rainforest world of strange insects and slithering creatures and visit the greatest coral reef in the world with it's tropical off shore islands.

• Northern Territory - feed the crocodiles in a Darwin park, or take a camel ride in the remote Red Heart. Discovering the true heart of Australia is a fascinating quest that is sure to leave you with unforgettable memories with attractions like Ayers Rock and Kakadu National Park.

• Western Australia - long, sunny days on the golden beaches of Perth, or swim with the dolphins at Monkey Mia to the north of Perth in the far West of the country.

• South Australia - enjoy the fine living in artistic Adelaide, or explore the sunbaked landscape of Coober Pedy, where the people live in underground homes to escape the heat..

• Victoria - stroll the tree-lined boulevards in the ‘Garden City’ of Melbourne.

• ACT - marvel at the carefully manicured city of Canberra, a city custom built as the nations capital.

• Tasmania - In Evansdale Tasmania, you can take penny farthing tours. Revel in the historic buildings, arts and crafts of Hobart, and appreciate the remote wilderness areas from the overland walking tracks.