About Australia

Population: 22,900,000
Capital City: Canberra
National Language(s): English
Currency: Australian Dollar
Calling Code: +61

Australia is a sprawling country covering nearly 3,000,000 sq miles. Situated in the Southern Hemisphere Australia is classified in the region of Oceania which encompasses dozens of small islands distributed across the tropical Pacific Ocean. Depending on the definition, Oceania is sometimes considered to extend north and west to include the Southeast Asian nations of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

To the southeast lies New Zealand – a country whose culture and history is inextricably entwined with that of Australia itself, whilst due east is a series of individual territories including the Solomon Islands, Fiji and New Caledonia surrounded by the vast, blue Pacific!

The major city of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast sits over 11,500km of sheer blue from Los Angeles on the opposite side of the ocean. Northern Australia’s latitude is shared with nations in the hemisphere including Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Brazil and Chile, all of which have land sitting on the 20th parallel south!

Australia’s modern history dates back to 1606 when Dutch ships sighted the mainland at the area now known as Cape York Peninsula in the northernmost tip of the country. The Dutch travelled the northern and western coastlines and referred to the land as ‘New Holland’ though never made settlement. The British explorer and navigator James Cook sailed the east coast much later in 1770 where ultimately the Crown Colony of New South Wales would be formed by Great Britain.

The first fleet of ships embarked in May 1787 with approximately half those on board British convicts. By 1828 Britain had also claimed Western Australia whilst the European population grew. In 1901 the Commonwealth of Australia was born and further autonomy was gained in 1942 when a range of constitutional ties with the UK were ended. Today the country is highly prosperous and ranks highly for measures including quality of life, healthcare, education and freedom.

It is also worth note that before European settlement the indigenous peoples (Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders) had inhabited the land for an estimated 45,000 years! These natives are believed to have migrated from the Southeast Asian countries.

Culture

Australia’s culture is highly westernized but at the same time retains unique and distinctive characteristics. The country’s history, environment and aboriginal roots have all played a role in shaping today’s national identity.

Most Australians are descended from European settlers and immigration through the 20th century was particularly rapid with total population increasing five fold over that timeframe. The indigenous Australian population today is believed to represent around 2.3% of the total.

Around two thirds of Australians identify themselves as Christians, whilst non-Christian religions account for just 6% of the population.

Dating back to the first European settlement, Australia’s art has been strongly entwined with the country’s beautiful and vivid landscape. Early practitioners included Albert Namatjira and Arthur Boyd.

Australia has an active tradition of music, ballet and theatre and many of its performing arts companies receive public funding supported by the government. There is a symphony orchestra in each major city, the iconic national opera house, and the company Opera Australia brought to prominence by Dame Joan Sutherland. Popular genres in the country include classical, jazz, and pop.

Australian literature has also been influenced by themes such as the landscape and the nation’s colonial past. In 1973, Patrick White won the Nobel Prize for Literature, and to this day remains the only Australian to have collected the award.

Sport is heavily enshrined in the Australian culture, and the country fields many highly successful international teams and athletes. Particular strengths include cricket, hockey, rugby (union and league), cycling and swimming. Aussie rules football and soccer are also popular.

Safety and Special Considerations

A common sense approach should be applied to safety through precautions such as keeping personal belongings in a safe place. Also, take care when withdrawing cash and walking in popular tourist spots to avoid opportunistic burglary.

Parts of Australia are exceptionally remote so if travelling the outback you should do so with an experienced local guide and be sure to inform the authorities, hostel and friends of your plans.

There are dozens of dangerous animal species in Australia including sharks, crocodiles, snakes and spiders. See the government’s Wet Tropics website for the pertinent information.

Australia operates a no tolerance policy on the possession of drugs.

Tropical cyclones do occur, typically between November and April in northern and western regions. Monitoring local weather reports is sensible.

Entry Requirements

US and EU citizens must obtain a visa before entering Australia. It is advisable to obtain an eVisitor visa direct through the Department of Immigration & Citizenship.

Alternatively, a visa can be obtained through the Electronic Travel Authority.

Must See

Australia’s natural, unspoiled beauty and warm climate make it a magnet for tourists, particularly those from other English speaking countries. The Great Barrier Reef is one compelling draw – and little wonder, this is the biggest series of reefs anywhere in the world. Covering some 130,000 sq miles, off the northeast coast of Australia, a remarkable structure of 3,000 individual reefs is composed of billions of living organisms! The description sounds almost unbelievable but the reef is arguably the world’s greatest ecological wonder.

The reef is home to dozens of diverse yet beautiful species including various kinds of whales, dolphins and turtles. A staggering 1,500 confirmed varieties of fish live on the reef, whilst over 200 species of bird visit and nest. Scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef is something everyone should do in a lifetime!

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most striking, vast and beautiful pieces of design and architecture in modern history. Observing it from the outside alone is a treat but it shouldn’t be forgotten that it also stages the highest calibre of the performing arts! Drop in to enjoy an opera, theatre production or ballet and saviour one of the finest UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the planet.

Other noteworthy feats of architecture in Sydney include the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Tower and the ANZ Stadium.

If you’re looking to delve deep into Australia’s Aboriginal roots you simply must take a tour of Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Central Australia. Revered by the native tribes, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a striking example of Australia’s natural beauty. Access costs 25 AUD, for which you’ll receive a 3 day pass to soak up the surrounding nature and history. Whilst in this region be sure to check out Kings Canyon too!

UNESCO World Heritage Site – The Royal Exhibition Building

Credit: Brian