Australia – More Than Just Beaches
Australia is widely recognized for its tropical beaches, stunning marine reserves and rich Aboriginal culture – but this captivating continent holds much more to discover – from Melbourne’s bustling independent neighborhoods to Queensland’s mysterious koalas!
Australians love a good “barbie”, or barbecue, with friends. Don’t miss trying pavlova (a meringue cake topped with fruit) and vegemite, an Australian spread similar to British marmite that will either win you over or drive you mad!
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The geography
Australia is an immense continent that, except for Antarctica, lies flattest and oldest among major land masses in the world. At first glance it may appear to be one giant desert–its surface often appearing like dried blood–dotted with giant rocks such as Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta.
Australia has diverse landforms. Mountain ranges and highlands abound; such as Australia’s Great Dividing Range; Southern Alps of New Zealand’s North Island Volcanic Plateau; as well as Papua New Guinea Highlands in Papua New Guinea and Tasmania as well as Australian Alps found both there and in Papua New Guinea.
Off Australia’s northeast coast lies the world-famous Great Barrier Reef coral reef system; while to its south are temperate Australasia’s nutrient-rich seas that boast numerous species of marine life.
The climate
Australia is home to a wide range of climates that range from arid, temperate, and tropical. The south features four seasons and is mostly temperate; in the north however, tropical influences dominate, including cyclones in summertime and heavy rainfall during winter.
Central Australia experiences long periods without rainfall; by comparison, Perth and Sydney in Australia’s southwest offer ample sunshine with dry winters.
Spring and autumn are the optimal times to visit Australia’s southern and northern areas (November-February in Sydney and April-May in Melbourne). When packing, be sure to include sun protection products, comfortable footwear, a light jacket for cold nights and sweater for cool breezes as well as plenty of water and food supplies in order to avoid dehydration. Experts strongly urge Australia to submit its 2035 1.5degC NDC in 2025 as well as increase commitments to multilateral climate funds while guaranteeing quality control over LULUCF operations.
The culture
Australia is a multicultural society with its own distinctive Australian culture. Indigenous art and a deep relationship to nature reflect Australian indigenous heritage; European colonisation history led to an influence from Europe as well as other parts of the globe in shaping cultural mainstreams across its population.
Australians prize equality and community, and are known for their relaxed lifestyle that emphasizes outdoor pursuits, sport, work-life balance and hospitality. Additionally, Australians have become renowned for their sense of fun!
Australians frequently employ colloquial terms like “chewie” to refer to chewing gum and “arvo” for afternoon. Australians are respectful and polite towards all, from waitstaff and taxi drivers through doctors and lawyers; unlike in the US, Australians generally do not place value on titles or social hierarchies – instead most Australians consider having conversations with various types of people beneficial and open-minded towards new cultures.
The food
Australia is a land of immigrants, and its unique blend of cultures has resulted in an array of cuisines. You’ll still find strong Italian and Greek influence as well as new culinary trends like hybrid foods.
Vegemite, a dark brown spread made from vegetables, spices and brewer’s yeast that has a distinct umami flavour that some love while others hate, is typically eaten spread on toast or eaten alongside avocado, tomato or melted cheese.
Australian meals typically include the popular barbeque tradition known as the “barbie,” featuring meat such as kangaroo or snags (Australian for sausage) on a grill and often served with salad, chips or baked potato as sides. Australians also drink beer, wine and spirits at meal times.
The people
Australia is home to beautiful tropical beaches, marine reserves, Aboriginal culture, cute koalas and rolling wine country. From Queensland’s sunny north to Sydney’s iconic architecture and Melbourne’s independent neighborhoods – Australia provides many reasons for visitors to visit its extraordinary continent.
Australians are known for their warm hospitality. They’re known to be laid back and friendly people, emphasizing friendship over rivalry by greeting strangers with “g’day” or “how are ya doing” greetings.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy governed by a national parliament and six state governments (New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania Victoria Western and South Australia). English is its official language but many Australians speak general Australian English instead. Furthermore, Australia boasts over 200 distinct ethnic ancestries making up its multicultural society.
