Australia Guide
Australians are as young in spirit, rambunctious and self-assured as their country is ancient, craggy and wizened. The combination of dynamic New World sparkle and timeless expanses of wide open vistas is endlessly charming.
Quiet but laden with cultural treasures, Canberra lies in the hills halfway between rivals Sydney and Melbourne. Photogenic Sydney with its iconic Opera House never fails to seduce, while Melbourne, with its food, sport and arts scenes is a hub for the good life. Adelaide's church steeples peek from its skyline of trees, while Hobart's waterfront is steeped in Georgian history.
Take your pick from coral reef wonderlands or surfboards cutting through curling ocean waves, soaring rainforests or glowing Outback monoliths. Tropical wilderness teems with life, while the great open spaces of the desert contrast with the rolling green dairy country and wide, empty beaches.
Track down a top drop of wine from South Australia to serve with King Island cheese, or go for Tasmanian cider and macadamia nuts. Western Australia offers carved sandalwood figurines, Akubra hats and bush clothing. Accessorise with a Broome pearl or an Argyle pink diamond. On an Indigenous trip, buy a dot painting, a didgeridoo or authentic boomerang.
Discover the fusion of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and East and South Asian flavours that make up Modern Australian cuisine. Try bush tucker – kangaroo burgers are low in fat – or pick chilli marinated prawns and char-grilled baby octopus from a barbie. You can also settle down to pub grub or international fare from most countries in the world.
Take in views of Brisbane's city skyline from its artificial beach in South Bank, explore the cutting-edge shapes of Melbourne's Federation Square or take in the million-dollar city waterfront views of Sydney from the deck of the Manly ferry.
