Quick Facts

Capital: Canberra
Land area: 7.69 million km2
Population: 19.6 million
Language: English
Currency: Australian dollars (A$)

Stacking Your Postcards

National Museum of Australia
Now here's a place for people of all ages to explore Australia's great stories. Opened in March 2001, the National Museum of Australia is alive with Aussie yarns, clever technology and fun - from kids' programs and guided tours, to exhibitions, special events, cafés, a waterfront restaurant, a magnificent shop and more.

Belair National Park
Within easy reach of Adelaide, Belair National Park is South Australia's oldest National Park. Its features include many recreational facilities such as tennis courts, barbecues and ovals set in scenic surrounds, Old Government House and a diverse variety of plant communities, birdlife and native animals. The park protects one of the few remaining areas of native vegetation in the Adelaide Hills. Admission is charged for motorised vehicles only.

The Argyle Diamond Mine
The Argyle Diamond Mine, in the rugged Kimberley region of Western Australia, has placed Australia as the world's largest diamond producer, producing in excess of 38 million carats per annum. As Australia's only major diamond producer, it produces extremely rare and valuable pink diamonds, as well as fine whites and intriguing champagne and cognac diamonds. Belray Diamond Tours offer a unique site tour of the Argyle Diamond Mine and have been specialising in tours of the mine since 1988.

The Flinders Ranges is a Mountain range which sharply rises from the landscape and stretches from the north of Adelaide 400 km into the outback. The Flinders Ranges date back as far as one billion years and are a magnet for geologists and palaeontologists keen to uncover the hidden fossils that may hold the key to our evolution.

Wilpena Pound
The Flinders Ranges are a popular haunt for artists, poets and authors as their seasonal changes are magnificent. The Rains follow spring and result in the entire region being blanketed in brightly coloured wildflowers.

The seasonal changes bring unexpected beauty as trees of all shades of green and shimmering rock pools contrast against the desert like rock face. Wilpena Pound, "place of bent fingers", is a unique 30 mile square elevated basin surrounded by sheer cliffs. Concealed within this unusual land formation, through the gorge, lies a wonderland of wildlife. This natural playground has formed tracks leading to various peaks that offer spectacular views of the entire region

The Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road has recently been voted one of The Worlds Great Drives so it is unsurprisingly one of the wonders of the State of Victoria.

Great Ocean Road is 160 miles of breath taking scenery and without doubt one of Australia's most scenic coastal roads. The road was built in the 1930's as a memorial to the servicemen of World War I and caresses the cliff tops of this rugged coastline. The road starts at Torquay, which is a short distance south of Geelong, its route flanked with deserted beaches, small towns and dramatic scenery. There are many stops along the way, including Lorne one of Victoria's most attractive small towns. Lorne is on the Erskine River and bordered by both the ocean and state forests.

Destination Guides

New South Wales
The historic ‘First State’ of New South Wales is an exciting and unforgettable holiday destination. Visitors are spoilt with choice; from Sydney’s big city buzz to the Blue Mountains, from Coff’s Harbour’s Big Banana, to Goulburn’s Big Merino and the outback beauty of Broken Hill.

The scope is truly extraordinary, but the biggest and brightest ‘must-see’ attraction is the incomparable icon of Australia’s success - Sydney. This scintillating lodestar of the Southern Hemisphere has been in the celestial spotlight since the 2000 Olympic Games. Sydney boasts a whole host of new attractions, which make it a sophisticated, multi-cultural, shopping, sightseeing and socializing experience for travellers of the new millennium.

Queensland
Queensland is often referred to as the 'holiday state' and this is certainly a fitting title. The population of approximately 3.5 million live in the states 1,727,000 square kilometres.

Queensland holds activities for everyone, and is the perfect holiday destination. It includes Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef, many islands along the coast, a great number of beaches, rainforests and National Parks.

Queensland is Australia’s ultimate playground - a special kind of tropical paradise.Close your eyes and envisage sun, sand, surf and stunning beaches with a backdrop of lush rainforest, Disney-style theme parks, wining, dining and shopping - this is ‘The Sunshine State’, plus much more. Nature has blessed this sun-soaked place with an abundance of holiday destinations that fulfil vacationers’ dreams.

Queensland’s beautiful capital, Brisbane, is the perfect base for exploration. The ‘City of Sun Days’ offers lush subtropical gardens, elegant buildings, lively arts and the very best in dining and entertainment. Visit the South Bank Parklands on the Brisbane River to see the excellent Cultural Centre and lively weekend markets, take a paddle-steamer cruise or visit the koala sanctuary. Shop at the marvellous Queen Street Mall. The friendly charm of people here will surprise you, and there is a real possibility you will choose to stay and relax in ‘beaut Brissie’.

The glorious Gold Coast is the most popular of Queensland’s holiday playgrounds - a magnet for sun seekers and fun seekers. The focal point is ‘Surfer’s Paradise’. Here you can cruise on the Broadwater, play golf, go shopping, dining, gambling or clubbing to your heart’s content. Then for relaxation you can hit the beach with the mandatory slip, slop, slap, in this ultimate holiday resort. Fantasy lands called Movieworld, Dreamworld, Sea World and Wet ‘n Wild enable thrill seekers to ride rocketing roller coasters and water slides, and the cavalcade of carnival magic delights people of all ages.

Victoria
Victoria is Australia's smallest mainland state but has the highest density of population of any state in Australia.Victoria's capital city is Melbourne the second biggest city in Australia and enjoys healthy rivalry with Sydney.

Renowned for its sense of style and elegance, Melbourne boasts glamorous festivals, a passion for eating and drinking, and a flourishing interest in the arts. The city is a cultural melting pot with over a quarter of the population being born overseas and is the reason for it's lively passion for eating and drinking, which is reflected in thousands of restaurants serving up tasteful experiences from around the world. Melbourne’s standing as the cultural capital of Australia is recognized in a nonstop program of film and food festivals, major art exhibitions and musical extravaganzas. The city is also famous for its range of crowd-pleasing events, from the excitement of the Australian Grand Prix to the beautiful floral displays of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

Outside Melbourne, you'll find a host of regional attractions, from Phillip Island with its famous Little Penguins to the spectacular Great Ocean Road.

Inland Victoria is mainly rural with areas of farming and fruit growing and northern Victoria borders the Australian Alps, a scenic area that provides skiing in the winter.

South Australia
Australia's fourth largest state offers all thoseexperiences synonymous with Australia in one very convenient and accessible area.Slightly larger than Texas, South Australia has a climate similar to California. Our population is only 1.4 million, 1 million of whom live in our capital city, Adelaide.

Western Australia
The big, bold, bountiful land of Western Australia has a remarkable range of top shelf holiday destinations for the traveller. You can choose from; vast wilderness areas, towering forests, bewildering landforms, arid saltbush deserts, pristine coral coasts and colourful cities.

The best place to start your exciting adventure is the beautiful state capital of Perth. A visitor feels very welcome here. Take a leisurely stroll through Kings Park and view the city skyline. Wander through Hay Street Mall and London Court and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the superb shopping precincts. Don’t miss the Cultural Centre, and the Perth Mint. Balmy evenings in the ‘City of Lights’ are delightful. Here you can wine and dine while viewing a kaleidoscope of neon reflections on the sparkling waters of the Swan River.

When dawn breaks on yet another warm, sunny day, take a cruise down to Fremantle, which is virtually a suburb of Perth. The friendly charm of this vibrant port city is most evident at the famous Fremantle Markets, which are full of tempting trinkets and colourful crafts. Catch the ferry to Rottnest Island, which is a jewel in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Quokka spotting is popular here. As you take the bus, cycle or walk around the car-free island you will see this quaint little critter hopping happily around.

Australian Capital Territory
A tour of Australia, the world’s biggest and sunniest island, is not complete without visiting the monumental Australian Capital Territory.

The pursuit of politics, power and parliamentarians is not the only focus of the Australian Capital Territory. It has all the desirable elements of a memorable holiday; national parks, nature reserves, floral festivals, science centres, shopping, and wineries. Canberra was designed by American Walter Burley Griffin around three lakes, and it is a harmonious blend of orderly town planning and aesthetically pleasing architecture.

The focal point for sightseeing is the ‘Parliamentary Triangle’. Allow four hours to visit the highlights; Parliament House on Capitol Hill, Old Parliament House, National Portrait Gallery, National Library, National Museum, Science Centre and the National Capital exhibition. The Parliament House tour is very informative, and the building showcases Australian timbers and wonderful arts and crafts within impressive marble and granite structures. Take a little time to reflect at the Australian War Memorial, regarded as one of the world’s best war museums. Stop and admire the Captain Cook Memorial Jet fountain, which has the capacity to send seven tonnes of water 140 metres into the air.

Tasmania
Tasmania is the island state off the south east coast of the Australian mainland and is one of Australia's best kept secrets. The island is separated from mainland Australia by 240 km (150 miles) of water called Bass Strait. Tasmania is a state of Australia even though it is an island. Largely uninhabited, with deserted beaches, mountains, 17 national parks and rugged coastlines, Tasmania has become a favorite for hikers from the world over.