Australia Introduction
An Introduction to Australia
Australia is a big, beautiful country with vast, expansive spaces and not a lot of people. It is a flat, arid land, with peculiar rock formations and a strange, dangerous wildlife. The Outback stretches for mile after mile, baking under blue skies and a bright sun.
Australia represents an idyllic lifestyle of sun and sand, outdoor activities and lazy days. A sunny climate gives Australians an easy-going attitude to life that makes it particularly appealing to all, especially for Europeans who want to escape the cold and rain. Beach culture reigns with the majority of inhabitants living along the coast in vibrant, youthful cities.
Australia is massive, the world's 6th largest land mass. Any country that takes nearly three days to drive from one side to the other is large. Despite its size it has remained relatively untouched. The population is only 22 million, and when you consider that the three cities of Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney amount to half this number, then it means that there are large areas completely uninhabited. Nature has ruled in these parts for thousands of years, and will continue to do so. Travelling around Australia takes imagination the size of the country, and fortunately there are hundreds of things to see and do.
One of the iconic images of Australia is the Uluru (Ayres Rock), which dates back to the dawn of time; Kakadu National Park hasn't changed since its creation and is still as beautiful as it ever was; Melbourne has captured a European vibe and offers art and culture in a bustling city lifestyle; Cairns brings you diving on the Great Barrier Reef, one of the best dive spots in the world; hikers are overjoyed to find themselves lost in the Blue Mountains, only 2 hours west of Sydney. In all, Australia has a lot to offer.
Many are in a constant search for the 'great unknown'. In Australia, this is called 'the outback', and is open to anyone willing to challenge themselves and discover a forgotten land. In some places it can take hours to drive to your nearest neighbour. This makes sending out party invitations quite difficult, though you can make as much noise as you want...
Many Aboriginal people, especially in central Australia, have managed to maintain a traditional lifestyle (albeit with modern accoutrements), speaking their own languages and living according to their law. They have been shaped by the land and are the true natives of the country.
Australia is not only famous for its people, but for its wildlife. It has some of the world's deadliest creatures - the box jellyfish, the great white shark, the taipan and brown snake, and let's not forget the funnel web spider. But don't let that put you off...
Because of its isolation Australian's feel less connected to the rest of the world, as if they are their own separate entity. It is this isolation that has caused Australian's to be the best they possibly can be - in everything. Australia are ranked as the best one-day cricket team in the world, the best rugby league team in the world, the second best rugby union team. They are very good when it comes to sport. Put it this way, they have a very competitive spirit...
Australia is more than an idyllic lifestyle, and it is easy to see why so many tourists make the trip, but the best way to discover that is for yourself.
