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Welcome to Australia, the Land Down Under.
Australia
is a destination of contrasts. From the fast paced, modern city of Sydney
to the timeless Outback, Australia is a land waiting to be discovered.
Our island continent contains just about every type of terrain from sub-alpine areas to scorching deserts; we have amazing beaches, tropical rain forests, and some great cities. Australia is also home to some of the most unique animal species on earth in addition to some of the best diving in the world. Read on and let Virtual Australia help you find the special places and provide you with stunning images of the landscape and cities, as well as an abundance of useful information and services.
Many
people think that Australia is an island but this is actually incorrect. Australia
is actually a continent, the worlds smallest, but is occupied by one country.
This continent/country is larger in area than Western Europe, and about the
same size as the mainland United States. But unlike the States, Australia
doesn't border any other country because it is completely surrounded by water.
The coastline is about 37,000 km long.
Australia
has also been isolated from the rest of the world since ancient times, so
the flora and fauna are totally unique. Australia not only has Kangaroos,
Wallabies, Koala's and some of the most beautiful birds in the world, but
it has these animals in abundance. It is very easy to see these animals in
the wild and even within city boundaries.
The Aboriginal culture of Australia is one of the oldest and most mysterious of all cultures on earth and stands in direct contrast to just over 200 years of European history. There are many places where one can learn about this culture and even though Aborigines make up only 1% of the population, they live all areas of Australia including the cities.
Some
of Australia's must see places, include the Great Barrier Reef, which is the
worlds largest (approximately 2000 km long). This area contains over 700 beautiful
islands and some of the worlds best beaches and diving spots. Australia also
contains the largest desert areas in the world outside of the Sahara, this
area is called the Outback, and this is where you will find the unique hardened
Australian character exaggerated, famed and personified as Crocodile Dundee.
In contrast to the Outback there are tropical rain forests in Northern Queensland
that are the oldest in the world 
and
the worlds largest tract of temperate rain forest located in the beautiful
island state of Tasmania. The New South Wales and Victoria border contains
an area called the Australian Alps that provide skiing during the winter months.
Australia also has some unusual almost mystical natural features such as Ayers
Rock or Punululu. The cities are also great destinations. For those who have
seen Sydney, few would doubt that it is one of the worlds most beautiful,
yet each city has its own unique flavor. From sophisticated Melbourne to modern
Perth, there is a city in Australia that would suit every type of personality.
To help plan your trip to Australia, we have some useful links to your left. You can book a hotel, a tour or try out the new Itinerary service. We are also affiliated with Expedia, who offer a Price Flight Matcher service.
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