Australian Government Statutory Authority has been busy over the past decade, promoting the nation as a tourist destination and throwing the doors open to those wanting to study the Aboriginal culture or spend a laid back, fun vacation in the warm sun. European and western tourists prefer to holiday in Australia, even spend Christmas and New Year here as opposed to spending a cold white holiday season back home. Besides, Australia offers many events for the tourists to participate round the year.
Festivals and carnivals in Australia also played role in Australia Tourism. A number of Film Festivals, the Australian Open and many art exhibitions held here hold out their allure for the tourists who chalk out the itinerary to coincide with these. Easy internal communication, a range of excellent hotels and other accommodation, easily available tourist information and assistance and good dining facilities have made Australia the international hotspot for tourists.History of Australia
The history of Australia dates back to 40,000 years when aborigine settlers from Southeast Asia landed on the continent. These hunting-gathering people led a nomadic life and their technical culture was quite primitive. They spoke several languages and were divided into a number of confederacies.
Though many European explorers knew about Australia's presence, there were no formal claims for territorial possession of the continent. It was only in 1770 AD when Captain Cook and his crew landed on the east coast of Australia and formally claimed it for Great Britain. 17 years later, a fleet of 11 ships referred to as the “First Fleet” landed in Australia. Loaded with food supplies, live animals, seed, soldiers, and convicts (both male and female) from Britain, the arrival of this fleet under the captaincy of Arthur Phillip signaled the colonization of Australia. So the history of Australia points out that a majority of the first settlers in the continent were convicts from Britain, some of who were sent there for very trivial offences.
By the middle of the 19 th century, six colonies were created in Australia. Initially, these colonies were directly under the British crown. But with the passage of time, these colonies started managing their own affairs even though they maintained their allegiance to the crown. An event that played a very important role in the history of Australia is the gold rush of the 1850's that brought in many immigrants from countries like Great Britain, North America, China and Ireland.
Later in 1901, these colonies were federated to make up the Commonwealth of Australia under the British dominion. The ACT or the Australian Capital Territory was formed in 1911 and it proposed the establishment of a new capital for Australia, namely Canberra. It must also be mentioned here that Melbourne functioned as the capital of the Commonwealth of Australia from 1901 to 1927. Owing to the rich presence of natural resources, the country was able to made big strides in agricultural and industrial development.
Australia shot into international limelight after World War II when it started participating actively in world affairs. It also had a role to play in the Far Eastern Commission in Japan and the Indonesian struggle for independence. It was also one of the founders of the United Nations as well as the South Pacific Commission. Australia was also among the first countries to contribute to the UN forces in Korea after the signing of the ANZUS defence treaty in 1951 with the US and New Zealand. One of the major events in the history of Australia was the snapping of constitutional ties between Australia and Great Britain with the passing of the Australia Act in 1986.
Due to the economic reforms of the 1980's, Australia became of the fastest growing economies in the 1990's. Today it is a major player in world affairs and continues to make further progress with the passage with the passage of time.
Culture of Australia
The flourishing, cosmopolitan settlement in this beautiful land has promoted the growth of a thriving culture. The current cultural scenario in Australia is a perfect blend of the Australian Aboriginal Culture and the European influence. Natives of Australia followed their own indigenous cultural traditions and evolved their own arts and crafts before the immigration of the Europeans. Citizens of European nationalities, especially the British, flocked to this rich island during the Australian Gold Rush and as refugees of the World War II looking forward to rehabilitation. Their lifestyle greatly influenced the popular culture of Australia. The rich and vivid culture of Australia is an experience to be cherished, an impression to be treasured.
Art and Crafts in Australia, marked by the multicultural impacts grew diverse and rich. The original and realistic paintings of the Heidelberg School of the 17th century were soon influenced by the modernistic approach. Many Australian maestros won international acclaim and awards for their paintings. Inspiration was drawn from the stunning Australian landscapes and other influential episodes such as the World War. Oil and water paintings on canvasses, vases and such objects d'art gained popularity and soon claimed the status of being collectors' items. Architecture in Australia developed under the skilled oversight of the European settlers. Many iconic structures came up in the 18th and early 19th century, marking the coming of age of architecture in the country. The famed Sydney Opera House is a classic example of the monumental success achieved by Australian architects and designers. Music in Australia before such mass immigration from other countries was characterized by the didgeridoo, a native instrument. In the early 19th century, many Australians were influenced considerably by the rock and pop culture that took Europe by storm. Classical music too won over many Australians who made a name for them by excelling in the world of pop, rock and classical music.
Australian Cuisine originally synonymous with English cooking has now become a vibrant blend of Turkish, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Greek and Arab culinary styles. The bland meat and vegetables culture have given way to a skilled use of herbs, sauces and other condiments. Barbeque still rules the roost and alcohol consumption is a high feature of the cuisine. Australian Etiquette is defined by the ingrained moral and ethical values of the Australian society. Friendship, loyalty, equality and egalitarianism are important values to these champions of the underdog. A strong sense of family values and a 'Fair Go' attitude ensures that courtesy and chivalry are not forgotten ideals.
Popular Australia Destinations
Australia, officially called the Commonwealth of Australia, consists of the mainland of the smallest continent in the world. Australia also cited as the 'Land Down Under' is located in the Southern Hemisphere comprising of numerous isles in the Southern, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Australia with its pristine golden beaches with crystal waters, azure lagoons and backwaters, crimson deserts, verdant rainforests and striking marine sanctuaries with a wide array of flora and fauna, is a traveler's paradise. This natural Eden with its panoramic landscapes and other unique attractions lures more than a million of tourists who love basking in sun-kissed beaches, kayaking or rafting in the blue waters, visiting the popular destinations, gorging on the savory Australian food and wine,……………. and the list goes on.
Apart from these, the top-notch ski fields and Olympics-tested playing grounds, the talented and enterprising people, the glitz and glamour of its capital cities adds more to the appeal of the place.
The following are the Australia Popular Destinations -
- Sydney
- Melbourne
- Brisbane
- Adelaide
- Alice Springs
- Gold Coast
- Cairns
- Darwin
- Perth
- Canberra
- Tasmania
- Townsville
The Australian wine and food also occupies an eminent place in the culinary circles of the world. Australian chefs like Thompson, Neil Perry, Tetsuya Wakuda, David and Christine Manfield have already created a niche for them in culinary fields. Tourists love to savor the feted Australian Cuisines like Pacific Rim cuisine that is prepared with steak, seafood and other special condiments. The pears, olive oils, tropical fruits, a variety of chilies and runny cheeses and truffles added to Australian delicacies make dinning a lip-smacking affair.
While visiting the popular destinations of Australia, sip wine from the wine-growing areas that are ever vibrant with local festivals, touring by Clydesdale-pulled carriage or vintage cars, hot-air ballooning, jazz and opera events amidst the vines.
Australian Arts have also attracted much attention and the indigenous art of Australia is exhibited in the art galleries from London to New York. The capital cities of Australia like Sydney and Melbourne are hubs of culture and style. All the destinations in Australia abound in the best cafes, fringe theatre, outdoor spaces, summer festivals and many sporting choices.
Australian popular destinations also have a plethora of eco-lodges and world-class resorts with five-star amenities where you can enjoy a luxurious stay.While touring the popular destinations, visit the branded boutiques, botanical gardens, historic places like the Strand and Queen Victoria Building in Sydney and cherish the memories of a wonderful itinerary throughout your life.
Australia Tourist Attractions
Australia with never ending list of tourist attractions is a land that has much more to give, much beyond your imagination. The attractions ranging from natural bounteousness to amazing works of architecture gives you an opportunity to explore the land each time you visit it. The land of amazing natural wealth, exotic range of flora and fauna, mesmerizing scenery is bound to grab your heart and soul.
General Information
The 7,686,850 square kilometers of the Australia that lies on the Indo-Australian Plate has an extensive area included as the Exclusive Economic Zone. Though a vast portion of the continent is semi- arid, the veils itself with an array of lush green.
In addition to the nature's gracefulness that the land is bestowed with, one would find a number of manmade attractions. The Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge towers are among them.
When to go?
No time is bad for a trip to Australia. Though summers are a perfect time to enjoy the beach, innumerable people can find it to be a big problem due to the excessive heat. As such the spring and autumn are the best time to explore the place.
Tourist Attractions in Australia
Australia can best be described as a land of immense beauty that range from the sun scorched horizons to the tropical rain forests. Australia is acknowledged as the land of arts and culture. The idea of enjoying a performances in the Opera House- is not the idea a very tempting one.
Beaches of Australia
The island continent of Australia that is surrounded by water on all sides, boasts of its individual character. The huge coastline that stretches to nearly 37,000 kilometers has many of its sites included as World Heritage Site.
The Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef that contains over 700 islands is in Australia. The Fraser islands, the Bondie beach and the Airlie beach are some of the beaches that are not frequented by tourists.
Australian Mountains
The snow capped Snowies; the awesome Blue Mountains are to captivate you. In contrast to these is the Uluru where the rock formation continuously keeps on changing its color.
Australia Festivals & Events
If you time your travel to Australia accordingly, you can be a part of some very interesting events and festivals in Australia that are a fine tribute to its multicultural set up. Attended by people in huge numbers, these festivals and events in Australia are a great way to ensure a memorable vacation for you and your friends to remember.
Among the most popular festivals / events in Australia is the Big Day Out, when the sounds of music and merry making rule the day in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and the Gold Coast. Ten Days on the Island is an important cultural festival in Tasmania that was inaugurated in 2001.
Carols By Candlelight is one of the most popular events in Adelaide held during Christmas. It is the time when families gather, sing carols and usher in the spirit of Christmas.
Other popular festivals of Australia include the Tulip Festival, which is one of the most spectacular flower festivals of Australia. Add to it other food festivals like the Taste of Cowra, Manly Food and Wine Festival and the like.
Sports are an integral part of Australia and there are a good number of events dedicated to it. They include the Melbourne Cup, Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, Jacob's Creek Open Golf Championship, Australian Open Tennis Championships , Australian Grand Prix and so on. Indeed, the list is endless.
Speaking of cultural events in Australia, they include the Adelaide East End Jazz Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Apollo Bay Music Festival, Sydney Festival, Harbour Festival, the Alice Springs Festival and so on.
Hotels in Australia
