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The first thing that comes
to mind for most people when they think about Australia is some of the
world’s most exotic wildlife. However, while Australia is sure to
impress even the most demanding of nature lovers, it also boasts some
great cities and an interesting and extremely ancient indigenous
culture. It is said that Australia was first settled over 40,000 years
ago by the nomadic aboriginal tribes, some of which still remain
today. Even more fascinating is how these people managed to adapt to
what is, in many parts of the country, an extremely harsh climate,
much of which is unsuitable for sustaining human habitation.
Australia was first formally discovered by Captain Cook when he landed
in Botany Bay in 1770. This area is now part of Sydney, the most well
known city of Australia. Those who wish to learn more about
Australia’s colonial history should definitely include this site in
their list of places to visit. Eighteen years later, what is now
Sydney harbor was colonized and Australia as we know it today came
into being. Australia was thereafter colonized mostly by convicts
deported from the Old World though this deportation process lasted
eighty years, after which many people started moving to Australia for
the opportunities that had arisen.
Today Australia has a large tourist infrastructure and is an extremely
popular place to visit on high budget, month or more long
round-the-world trips. Australia itself is not particularly expensive
and full of sights to see. To explore the country, travelers will
never run out of things today, and due to the enormous size of the
country, those who want to see a decent chunk of it will need many
weeks at their disposal. Australia is a place of natural beauty as
well, with many features and attractions that simply cannot be rivaled
by anything else in the world due to their uniqueness. For wildlife
lovers, Australia boasts some fascinating and peculiar species that
are found only in that country.
One place that is often overlooked by tourists however, is the small
state island of Tasmania, actually home to a World Heritage area.
There are many interesting national parks all over Australia and those
who have a love of hiking, rock climbing and other outdoor activities
will undoubtedly by impressed. For those wondering where to get
started in their explorations of Australia, the best is to get a
flight to one of the major cities which can be used as a hub for
exploration. Canberra, Darwin, Adelaide, Perth or Sydney are good
choices and these cities also have plenty of attractions of their own
to keep tourists busy for a while.
From desert to rainforest and big, modern, sophisticated cities,
Australia certainly has something for everyone. The diverse character
of this fascinating continent is full of surprises. You can easily
occupy yourself for many months if you have the time. |
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