Visit Australia

Visit Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller 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.

Area Total: 7,617,930 km2
Population 2011: 22,634,885
Capital: Canberra
Largest city: Sydney

A prosperous developed country, Australia is the world's thirteenth largest economy. Australia ranks highly in many international comparisons of national performance such as human development, quality of life, health care, life expectancy, public education, economic freedom and the protection of civil liberties and political rights. Australia is a member of the United Nations, G20, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, OECD, APEC, Pacific Islands Forum and the World Trade Organization. Australia is the only country outside Europe in the top ten of the Quality-of-life index.

A gold rush began in Australia in the early 1850s, and the Eureka Rebellion against mining licence fees in 1854 was an early expression of civil disobedience. Between 1855 and 1890, the six colonies individually gained responsible government, managing most of their own affairs while remaining part of the British Empire. The Colonial Office in London retained control of some matters, notably foreign affairs, defence, and international shipping.

		Australian Capital Territory (ACT)  Located in the south-eastern region of New South Wales, Canberra is Australia’s federal capital. The city was designed in the early 1900s and has many impressive buildings housing government and national centres.
		New South Wales (NSW) Sydney is the largest and oldest city in Australia. You can visit Captain Cook’s landing place at Botany Bay, where the first European boats landed.
		Northern Territory The Northern Territory divides into two regions: the tropical Top End and the desert Red Centre. Darwin is the capital city and is the entry point to the many attractions in the Top End.
		Queensland The ‘Sunshine State’ is Australia’s second largest state. Capital city Brisbane has a population of around 1.8 million people and is located in the subtropical south-eastern corner of the state.
		South Australia Capital city Adelaide is known for its relaxed lifestyle and beautiful park surroundings, and is host to Australia's biggest international arts festival.
		Tasmania The ‘Island State’ of Tasmania is located south of Victoria and separated from the mainland by the Bass Strait. Tasmania is easily accessible from the mainland with daily flights and ferry services. Capital city: Hobart
		Victoria Vibrant Melbourne has a population of over 3.6 million people and is famous for its café culture, public gardens, architecture and cosmopolitan atmosphere.
		Western Australia Perth has a population approaching 1.5 million and boasts more hours of sunshine than any other Australian city. Perth is famous for the beauty of its beaches and the large number of outdoor activities on offer.

Currency AUD  Australian $