Australia: Plan your Journey

Australia

The Commonwealth of Australia is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the world's smallest continent and a number of islands in the Southern, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Australia's 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. more...

National Name: Australia
Area:2,967,893 sq mi (7,686,850 sq km)
Population:0,090,437 (growth rate: 0.9%); birth rate: 12.3/1000; infant mortality rate: 4.7/1000; life expectancy: 80.4; density per sq mi: 7
Capital City:Canberra, 327,700
Language:English, native languages
Religion:Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%
Ethnicity/race: Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal (353,000) and other 1%
Largest cities: Sydney, 4,250,100; Melbourne, 3,610,800; Brisbane, 1,545,700; Perth, 1,375,200; Adelaide, 1,087,600
Government:Democracy. Symbolic executive power is vested in the British monarch, who is represented throughout Australia by the governor-general.
Sovereign: Queen Elizabeth II (1952)
Governor-General: Michael Jeffery (2003)
Prime Minister: John Howard (1996)
Monetary unit: Australian dollar

History of Australia

The first human habitation of Australia is estimated to have occurred between 42,000 and 48,000 years ago.[1] The first Australians were the ancestors of the current Indigenous Australians; they arrived via land bridges and short sea-crossings from present-day Southeast Asia. Most of these people were hunter-gatherers, with a complex oral culture and spiritual values based on reverence for the land and a belief in the Dreamtime. The Torres Strait Islanders, ethnically Melanesian, inhabited the Torres Strait Islands and parts of far-north Queensland; they possess distinct cultural practices from the Aborigines. more...

The Economy of Australia

GDP: $611.7 billion
GDP per capita:$30,700
Real growth rate: 3.5%
Inflation:2.3%
Arable land:: 7%
Agriculture: wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry.
Labor force: 10.35 million; agriculture 3.6%, industry 26.4%, services 70%
Major Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel.
Major Trading Partners:Japan, U.S., China, South Korea, New Zealand, UK, Germany (2003).
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum
Unemployment: 5.1%
Exports: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport equipment.
Imports: $98.1 billion (2004 est.): machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products
Literacy rate: 100% (1980 est.)

Also Read: A Brief insight in The Economy of Australia | Origin and history of the name | Demographics of Australia | Cuisine of Australia | Sport in Australia | Education in Australia

Government of Australia

- Political System of Australia
- Government of Australia

Flora of Australia

Although most of Australia is semi-arid or desert, it covers a diverse range of habitats, from alpine heaths to tropical rainforests. Because of the great age and consequent low levels of fertility of the continent, its extremely variable weather patterns, and its long-term geographic isolation, much of Australia's biota is unique and diverse. About 85% of flowering plants, 84% of mammals, more than 45% of birds, and 89% of in-shore, temperate-zone fish are endemic. more...

Facts for Travellers

Visas: Australian visa regulations (including visa application charges) change from time to time. more...
Health risks: The yellow fever certificate is required from travelers over one year of age arriving within six days... more
Time: Australia spans three time zones:
Northeast/southeast
1. GMT + 10 (GMT + 11 October to March, except Queensland).
Central
2. GMT + 9.5 (GMT + 10.5 October to March, except Northern Territory).
West
3. GMT + 8.
Some States operate daylight saving time during the Australian summer. Clocks in these States are put forward by one hour in October and put back again in March.
Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin plugs are in use, however sockets are different from those found in most countries and an adaptor socket may be needed. Outlets for 110 volts for small appliances are found in most hotels.
Country dialing code: 61.
Location: Indian/Pacific Oceans.

Food and Dining in Australia

There are numerous specialty dishes and foods including Sydney rock oysters, barramundi (freshwater fish), tiger prawns, macadamia nuts and yabbies. Beef is the most popular mesat and lamb is also of a high quality. There is a wide variety of excellent fruits and vegetables. Service is European-style and varies from waitress and waiter service to self-service. Bistros, cafes, family-style restaurants and 'pub' lunches at the counter offer good food at reasonable prices. Some restaurants will allow guests to bring their own alcohol and are called BYO' restaurants. Australia also offers an enormous variety of cuisines, including Italian, French, Greek, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Thai, Japanese, Indian, African, Lebanese and Korean. more...

Geography of Australia

Australia's 7,686,850 km² (2,967,909 mi²) landmass is on the Indo-Australian Plate. Surrounded by the Indian, Southern and Pacific oceans, Australia is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor seas. Australia has a total 25,760 km (16,007 mi) of coastline and claims an extensive Exclusive Economic Zone of 8,148,250 km² (3,146,057 mi²). This exclusive economic zone does not include the Australian Antarctic Territory. more...

Shopping in Australia

Special purchases include excellent local wines; wool, clothing, leather and sheepskin products; opal and other precious or semi-precious stones; and modern art sculpture and paintings. Exhibitions of bark paintings, boomerangs and other tribal objects are on view and for sale in Darwin, Alice Springs and the State capitals; many depict stories from the Dreamtime. Many cities and towns have small shops devoted to the sale of 'Australiana', where Australian souvenirs, ranging from T-shirts to boomerangs, can be bought. more...

Also Read: States and territories of Australia | Foreign relations of Australia | Culture of Australia | Music of Australia | Cinema of Australia | Tourist Attractions of Australia | Activities in Australia


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Australia