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Australia as a Holiday Destination

Australia is a land with a unique flora and fauna that is found nowhere else on earth. It is also a land of many contrasts and a wide variety of climate that ranges from tropical to sub alpine. It is easy to forget that this vast island – continent has only been known to the rest of the world for just 250 years.

Australia is roughly the same size as the U.S.A. (if you exclude Alaska) whilst its population is only one tenth of the U.S.A.’s That means there’s plenty of room for both the Aussies and their visitors! It also makes the Australian continent the world’s most sparsely populated continent - with the obvious exception of Antarctica.
Overall, Australia is the driest continent in the world, but the lush and fertile area that makes up its eastern seaboard provides the majority of its population with a much more hospitable place to live. 

Separating this fertile land from the vast, barren outback region is a mountain range named the Great Dividing Range. At its southern end you will find the Australian Alps or Snowy Mountains as the Australians call them. Both names are equally apt because these mountains receive as much snowfall as Switzerland.

In addition to these amazing variation of climate and terrain, there are also large regions of savannah grasslands and a distinctly Mediterranean climate around the coastal areas of the south west. Many areas of northern and eastern Australia experience a tropical climate and there are both tropical and temperate rain forests to be found. Yet despite all of these huge areas where water exists in abundance, the vastness of Australia’s interior is what makes the continent the world’s driest. 

This enormous area is what is referred to as the Outback and it is perhaps the very heart of Australia in terms of feeling as well as in physical location. It is probably a picture from the Outback that pops into most people’s mind when they think about Australia. There is something so awe inspiring and unique about the total emptiness of this landscape as it seems go on to infinity, that it demands to be experienced by every visitor no matter what else they have come to see. 

Australia is made up of seven states. These are:

Tasmania – an island with a temperate rain forest south east of the Australian mainland and on the same latitude as central New Zealand.

New South Wales - Australia's most highly populated state and located in the south-east of the country. It is here you will find Australia’s biggest and probably best known city, Sydney.

Victoria - the smallest mainland state but also the one with the highest density of population. Australia's second largest city, Melbourne is located near the south coast of this state and as well as enjoying a Mediterranean climate it boasts the World’s largest Greek population outside of Greece!

South Australia - bordered by the Southern Ocean and the home state of Adelaide, Australia’s capital city.

Western Australia – This vast area is Australia's largest and, covers the whole western third of the Australian mainland, thus making Perth, its capital city, one of earths most isolated large cities.

The Northern Territory – This state is very sparsely populated and is tropical in the north and desert in the south. The capital of this state is Darwin and its other main city is Alice Springs. Alice lies in the heart of the Outback, and is the city every tourist sets off from to visit Ayers Rock

Queensland – This state occupies the north eastern corner of Australia, and experiences both tropical climate and subtropical climates. Its principle city is Brisbane which has 1.2 million inhabitants. The great barrier reef is located off the coast of Queensland and the state has some of the finest beaches in Australia.

With so much to see and do in Australia the visitor needs to select his destinations and tours with careful planning. The travel articles found on the best travel tip website are aimed at helping him in this process.

People Moving to Australia

There are so many reasons for people to be moving to Australia. Australia offers many people great new job opportunities. There are many jobs that one can only do in Australia. Scientists who specialize in certain types of animals and environments need to be in Australia. Other people are interested in more modern things in Australia. Some people move for the fun though.

Some people consider moving to Australia purely for work. They are often scientists who are interested in the animals and special environments of Australia. There are many animals specific to Australia. There are the ones everyone knows like koalas and kangaroos but there are also many other types of smaller flora and fauna that people may choose to study. Australia has such a variety of habitats that it attracts a great many specialists. It is not just Australia’s land animals that attract scientists. 

Australia also has a booming coral reef and very active waters. Many scientists are moving to Australia to study things like the thumb sized killer jellyfish. People have been doing all they can to try and find the nearly invisible jelly because of all of the harm it does. Many even theorize that it is the cause of mysterious drowning all across the world.

There are more than just intellectual reasons for moving to Australia. Australia has many modern cities that have all the same needs for competent well-trained employees as anywhere else. If you are the type of employee that a company there is looking for, then you may easily find yourself in line to be recruited and moving to Australia. 

Some people may find themselves with skills that are more desirable overseas than others. People who speak many languages for instance are rare and very useful to all manner of companies. Also actors and models may find themselves in any number of places depending on how famous or desirable they are. There are other types of more practical skills too that are very specialized like nuclear scientists. Companies cast a wide net when recruiting because there are so few people in the field that are qualified.

Some people though can do their jobs from anywhere. The reason they are moving to Australia may just be to have fun. Australia is a great place for recreation. Many people love to surf and do other types of beach and ocean activities. Australia has some of the best surfing waters. People come from all over the world to experience them. They also have the coral reefs to explore and dive in. 

There are also people who like to water ski and do boating and fishing. All of these activities are done uniquely in Australia because of its beautiful waters. There are other types of environments to have fun in. There are fun activities to do in the deserts. Some people really enjoy driving and sand surfing in dunes. There are also forests to hike through.

The land down under – Australia

Australia is called ‘the land down under' because it is below the equator. It is one of the seven continents of the world and the smallest among them. It is also a country. Australia, officially called Commonwealth of Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere which including woodland, grassland and desert. Animals in Australia 

When people think of Australia, the first image come to mind is kangaroo with a big bad in its body and the cute Koala who always embraced a tree. There are various species on this complex continent. Among them, deadly spiders and snakes are most dangerous but not threatening enough to stop people from visiting this land as there are marsupials that are waiting for the tourists. Marsupial is probably the most successful species which survive in Austria until now. 

As a matter of fact, marsupial is a type of mammal from Australia which is not completely developed when it is born and is carried around in a pocket on the mother's body where it is fed and protected until it is completely developed, for example, koalas and kangaroos. Kangaroos are the largest group of marsupials in Australia. It has small and short front legs but long and large hind legs. There tails look very strong. Another conspicuous character of this animal is that the way it walks is known as hopping. 

The pockets of the female kangaroos pouches which are used for baby kangaroos that were born prematurely and had to stay there for almost eight months. When it comes to Koala, it nearly has become an example of being ‘cute'. It also belongs to marsupials and could be a close relative to kangaroos, but because its appearance, people sometimes call it ‘Australian bear'. This is an arboreal animal which living on the tree and feeding themselves by leaves of gum tree. Books about Australia It is much better to read some books about one place before you visit. 

However, this guide could be good or bad as a good book can make the most of your journey, on the contrary, a bad book may let you down by setting you a unrealistic expectation. Here are some recommendations for you which published from 1990 to 2000 and cover the history, the development and the interesting things in Australia. After you read some of them, you can get a more wonderful experience in Australia. "Postcards From Australia, My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch.

This Place is Lonely, Look What Came from Australia, Here Is the Coral Reef, Destination : Australia, A True Book: Australia and New Zealand, My Farm, Colors of Australia, Dingoes at Dinnertime, Australia, Wonderful Animals of Australia, and My Place. " Car rental in Australia Travelling throughout this magic continent, hiring a car is absolutely a wise choice. You can hire a limo for beaches and a SUV for deserts respectively. The car hire companies for you to compare and choose in Australia are Avis Car Rental, Budget Rentacar, Europcar Car Hire, Hertz Car Rental, Thrifty Car Hire.

Australia Travel Information

Australia Travel information are basically meant to inform travelers about various necessities which they have to have before entering the country. Australia travel info guides that the country is famous for deadly spiders, snakes and sharks, etc. From the prehistoric gorges of Kakadu National Park, to the white sails of the Sydney Opera House, Australia has ample number of tourist attractions. Known for surf, sun and sand. Australia has lot many travel destinations for tourists.

Travel in Australia is full of fun as the country is a prosperous developed economy and has a multicultural society. Australia ranks high among various countries in respect of human development index, quality of life, health care, life expectancy, public education, economic freedom and the protection of civil liberties and political rights, Recent polarization of the world has seen, Australia uniting with the United States to fight against global terrorism.

Registration
Traveler traveling to Australia should register to the State Department so that they receive assistance in the situation of requirement. Free online registration facility is being made available by the government wherein travelers can register their travel plan. The registration has been made mandatory for travelers for the reason that it helps when the traveler is at some emergency, the government contacts with the family members.

Possess Valid Visa and passport
If you want to travel to Australia, a valid passport and Visa has necessarily to be carried along so that in case of any inquiry the same can be furnished. Additionally, there should be proper information about who to contact in any emergency.

Checking overseas medical insurance coverage
Travelers should check whether their medical insurance has cover to their overseas ailments or not. If there is no medical insurance for overseas country, please make it sure that you have some kind of medical insurance to cover during your outside stays.

Family should know about tour plan
Travelers are advised to have briefed their family members about the travel so that they are able to contact for any purpose.

Know law of the land
Travelers are expected to be law abiding citizen and comply with the local laws. In order to be a decent traveler, one should familiarize himself with local conditions and laws.

Avoid being a target of crime
Recently, Australia has been in news for racial attacks on India; however, it is not spread for all the races. It is better to avoid target of crime. Though Australia is an advanced country and has low crime rate, travelers are expected to wear minimum jewelries. Travelers should not leave their baggage unattended in public place.
Language
English is an official language in Australia. However, some other European languages including of French and German too are spoken.

Smoking
Australia is cautious about the harmful effects of smoking. The country believes in sustainable development and for that reason it prohibits smoking at public places.

Measures
Officially, Australia uses the metric system wherein distance is measured in kilometers, speed signs are in kilometers per hour. Petrol/gas is sold by the litter and temperature is measured on the Celsius scale.

Tipping
As always, tipping is a personal subject matter and can be paid at restaurants, bars and pubs, taxis and hairdressers, etc. Travelers should remember that it should not exceed to 15% of the total cost.

Alcohol
Drinking alcohol in public is prohibited by law in Australia.

Breathtaking Australia Vacations

Holidays are fun, and when you are planning to travel Australia, there is no doubt that you are going to witness the best. The history of this country ranges back to around 50,000 years. The culture of the country comes from the difference in the languages and cultures of the aboriginal or native people of the country. An eclectic mix of all these cultures makes this country as wonderful as it can be. Australia vacations promise you some of the most wonderful days of your life. This land of brave soldiers and sporting heroes will remain in your mind and heart till eternity.

Australia stands at the sixth place when it comes to the size of countries. On this flattest continent, you would find a number of places of tourists’ interest. The cities are one better than the other. None of the Australia trips would be complete without a visit to Queensland. You can visit the Gold Coast and enjoy sunbathing. What make the state perfect are the beaches and the amazing weather. This is the pure essence of an Australia holiday.

There are hundreds of famous places to visit in Australia. Sunshine coast has stunning panoramic views that overlook Noosa and Mooloolaba. Nearby is Rainbow Beach, which is a coastal town that is full of life, miles of colored sands and a completely relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for your memorable Australia vacation. Whitsunday is a paragon of any diver paradise. It lies in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, with 74 islands that stand out like shimmering oases for divers.

Another state that you ought to visit during an Australia holiday is New South Wales. This is the country oldest state and has a number of tourist places. The scenic beauty of the place makes you understand why Australia vacations are so valued and special. Await some surprises when you visit Victoria which is a comparatively smaller state than other ones. The country is packed with some of the most wonderful of the sights and one such state that takes you by complete awe is Tasmania. This state again has an incomparable natural heritage. Australia vacations are plain enough to prove this statement right.

If you love to savor some good wine, then vacation in Australia will never leave you disappointed. While visiting Southern Australia and you will get a chance to enjoy the wineries and taste some flavorsome wine. If southern Australia has wine, the western part of the country has a rich marine life and the northern part has the rainforests and red plains. Trips to Australia deliver more than what you ever expected. And if you travel south across the border into New South Wales, don't miss Byron Bay. It's got a terrific coastline with wide, sandy beaches as far as you can see. A drive up to the Lighthouse at Cape Byron will reward you with sweeping views across the coast and the Pacific.

The best time for Australia trips is the spring season. The spring season lasts from September to November. Holiday planned in between these months will give you memories that last for a lifetime. The city of Melbourne also has some amazing events that you can be a part of. Surfing and diving will leave you stress free and the wildlife is bound to get you crazy. The land of kangaroos has so much to offer to the travelers. Be it the state of Sydney or Canberra, Australia trips are bound to take your breath away.

A Quick Look about Australia

Australia is a modern country rich with a per capita income comparable to that of the U.S. The biggest Australian state is the Western Australia and covers one third of the continent. It may be said to be the largest state in the country but it doesn't mean that they have the biggest population as well. In fact, despite of its large size, it is a residence to only around two million people. What's very important to its economy is the Australia's agricultural sector which includes sales of beef, alcohol, wheat and wool. 

Japan takes 18 percent of Australia's output and is the biggest importer of the country's agricultural product. Most of the Australian products are exported to Japan, USA, China, New Zealand, South Korea, UK, Taiwan, Singapore, India, and Hong Kong SAR. Almost 5 million who originally came from overseas are living in Australia. Sydney is the most chosen city to work and live in Australia. If you wish to live and work in this country, you need to spend two years as a permanent resident before you can apply for Australian Citizenship. 

Of course, you will reach this process if you have settled all the Australian visa form which is distributed by the immigration wherein you will have to take assessment test to know what option for visas to Australia is suitable for you. Most of the migrants applied for travel visas Australia online because it is more convenient to process than the traditional way of processing visa forms. From Australia's immigration policy used to target most of the British, the emphasis now has turned to attract from anywhere who has the skills to contribute to Australia's development. 

When talking about temperature, Australia's highest temperature, 51 degrees C (123 degrees F) and was recorded at Oodnadatta, South Australia in 1960. Its lowest temperature was minus 23 degrees C (minus 9 degrees F) measured high in the mountains at Charlotte Pass, New South Wales. Australia has one third is composed of desert. The largest desert is Great Victoria Desert which covers fewer than 5 percent of the country. To be exact, it covers 348,750 square kilometers which makes it around one and a half times bigger than the UK or slightly smaller than Montana. 

Australia is said to be the world's smallest continent and the world's sixth largest country. Making it slightly smaller than the United States mainland which is 7,827,848 square kilometers (does not include Hawaii and Alaska). The world's largest species of crocodile is found in the tropical north of Australia. This crocodiles are called the salt water crocodile and are strictly protected in Australia. It is a fact that each year one or two people are eaten by crocodiles in this country. 

One of the interesting facts about Australia is they are not very heavy drinkers compared to other countries. 7% less alcohol is the average Australian drinks compared to Britons which is 25 % less alcohol. Most of the Australians are crazy about sports and most participated sports are aerobics, tennis and golf.

Study in Australia

Everyone speaks of Australia as a very cool place to live or visit, but what he studied?

Australia is a leading global provider of education and training. There are more than 400,000 students from 200 countries studying in Australia each year!
There are several reasons why you should study in Australia.

Education in Australia is both challenging and flexible. Australia is a safe, modern and dynamic that is a leader in the Asia-Pacific region and plays an important role worldwide. Australian education is recognized worldwide.

There are several reasons to choose Australia as a destination of choice. Education in Australia is both flexible and challenging but above all he is internationally recognized and respected. Australia is a safe, modern and dynamic that is a leader in the Asia-Pacific region and plays an important role in the world.
 
Here are some good reasons for studying in Australia: 

a) quality, b) affordability, c) a complete experience for education, d) the reputation, and e) Security

Quality

Australian institutions have an international reputation for excellence in all areas of education and training. In fact, Australia offers best practices in the world for quality assurance of education and training. The education system is subject to continuous checks and controls by the government, industries and professional bodies to maintain and improve its already high standards. Several institutions in Australia have also ISO 9001 certification, which guarantees the quality of services they offer.

Australian universities are widely recognized in many areas. In fact, the Times Higher Education rankings placed seven Australian universities in the World's Top 100 universities in 2006. Australia has a reputation for the creation and adoption of new technologies and innovative. Australian universities have placed great importance in the development of world class facilities and research centers of excellence. This reputation was confirmed with eight Australian researchers receive the Nobel Prize in various fields.

Lastly, you will find that graduates from Australia are very successful in finding employment after graduation and develop successful careers in the world. When you study in Australia, study programs, you have often been developed in consultation with various industries. This guarantees that the studies you undertake are relevant and meet the needs and requirements of businesses and industries themselves seeking highly qualified individuals with an internationally recognized qualification.

Affordability

Living expenses and tuition fees in Australia are much less expensive than other countries like United Kingdom and United States of America. The structure of the Australian education system is both affordable and high quality. In addition, international students have the opportunity to work up to 20 hours per week on a casual basis during their studies and full time during vacations provided they hold a work visa question. This offers students the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and / or earn extra money to support themselves while in Australia.

A comprehensive educational experience. Studying in Australia is an experience full of life! International students in Australia while doing to their program of study chosen, have the opportunity to improve their studies by participating in many extracurricular activities offered by all Australian institutions. Most Australian institutions include internships, exchange programs and volunteer program in the regular curriculum to allow students to add value to their experience in international studies. In Australia, institutions know that companies are looking for graduates with a profile complete with international experience and understanding the world around them. 

In addition, the prospect of multicultural Australia allows students to meet people from hundreds of countries worldwide. Remember, there are students from over 200 countries studying in Australian institutions! Where in the world can you walk into a classroom and have the opportunity to network and make friends for life with people from all corners of the globe? The geographical location of Australia also allows the opportunity to travel to other countries in the Asia-Pacific. That is if you consider yourself a citizen of the world!

Reputation

Australia was a popular destination for the study of thousands of international students and has been for many years now. In 2006, around 400,000 international students from around the world studied in Australia. Australian institutions are sensitive to cultural and religious needs and provide adequate, safe, welcoming and quality of services provided to foreign students studying in Australia. 

Australian institutions have years of experience and expertise in hosting and supporting international students and this is provided by the extended support services. They attach great importance to your experience in Australia is as easy as possible and quickly adapt to your new environment. They will help you as best they can to ensure you enjoy your time in Australia and make the most of your study experience. In fact, all Australian institutions must provide comprehensive support to students for their international students by Australian law.

Security

The Australian government has passed legislation to protect foreign students while studying in Australia. In Australia you get a more stringent safeguards in the world for international students through the "education services for students from overseas (SDO) Act 2000.

The ESOS Act is a law that regulates Australian institutions that provide education to foreign students. The ESOS legislation ensures that they meet nationally consistent standards in education delivery, facilities and services. He also directs a nationally consistent approach to registering education providers so that quality programs and support services for students, remains high.

Travel to Australia: Making Memories Down Under

If you are interested in travel to Australia, you definitely are interested in finding out what you different Australia holiday and Australia accommodation options are at this time.  With that in mind, when it comes to figuring out what type of Australia holiday will be most enjoyable to you, when it comes to finding out which Australia accommodation will best meet your needs, you need to consider what the purpose of your travel to Australia will be in the first instance.  In this regard, when it comes to travel to Australia, there are four general categories into which your own plans may fall:

  •       Family Holidays
  •       Romantic Australia Holiday
  •       Business Trip
  •       Student Travel


Family Australia Holiday

If you are planning a family Australia holiday obviously one of your goals when it comes to Australia accommodation options will be affordability.  While you undoubtedly will want an array of amenities that will appeal to the different members of your family, you will also want to make sure that you can get what you desire in the way of amenities at a reasonable price.  In this regard, you will want to take the time to check out what you can find in this regard at discount Internet travel websites.


Romantic Australia Holiday

Like many people, you may have long dreamed about taking a romantic Australia holiday with your beloved.  If that is the case, you will want to check out those Australia accommodation options that will allow for an array of amenities that will enhance the romantic nature of your Australia holiday.  In this regard, you might want to consider such amenities as hot tubs, lovely dining options and so forth.  There are some nicer Australia accommodation choices that offer to you virtual tours of their properties.  By taking such a virtual tour, you will have a great idea of what these different properties have in the way of amenities that can really make your romantic Australia holiday come alive.


Business Australia Trip

If your travels to Australia will be for business, you will want to look for a Australia accommodation that offers a business center.  By selecting a property with a business center you will be in the best position of being able to make sure that you will be able to accomplish all of your important tasks while you are on the road.  Most of the Australia accommodation options that you will find in this regard offer their full business center services to guests at no additional charge.


Student Australia Travel

Finally, is you are a student who intends to take an Australia holiday, cost and your budget necessarily will be a concern.  By really taking the time to plan your Australia holiday in advance, and by using the great resources of the Internet, you will be able to arrange for a truly affordable Australia holiday – that includes affordable Australia accommodation options as you travel the country.  You will be able to take a memorable Australia holiday that you will be able to well afford.

Australia Universities Fascinate a Magnetic Spell over Foreign Students

Australia, the land of kangaroos is not only famous for its world champion cricketers but also for its renowned universities. The Australia universities and colleges impart world class education and training to the students. An Australian degree filled with knowledge, skills and passion can be the source of personal and professional growth. This has attracted most of the young ambitious students to see a dream to get an Australian degree.

The Australia universities proffer both flexible and challenging education. Their degrees are also recognized and respected all over the world. With the modern and dynamism in education system this country has played as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region and also world wide.

Here we can discuss some magnetic reasons to study in Australia.

The cost of living and study expenses are considerably low than other countries like USA, UK. A full time graduation and post graduation courses in Australia costs around 10,000 to 20,000 Australian dollars. Here the universities provide high quality and affordable study structure that suits most of the foreign students. For better study Australia University also offer part-time job opportunity up to 20 hours a week and full-time job during the vacations. This provides the foreign students to acquire valuable work experience as well as earn some extra money to support in their study while staying in Australia. To work full-time in Australia, students have to hold both relevant working visa as well as student visa.

It is the norm to score high in the IELTS exam, to get an admission in good Australia universities. The IELTS score must be 6 or more that that. If a student has scored equal to or more than 213/300 in computer based TOEFL exam, he can also take admission in a top university in Australia.

Student visa is a must at the time of admission in Australia but in Germany it is not that important for students who belong to Canada, Australia, Japan, Switzerland, Israel, New Zealand and United States of America. For students does not having student visa Australia Universities do not allow them to get an admission. The student has to send his copy of electronic Confirmation of Enrollment sent by the University he had applied, to the Australian embassy for the Visa.

However, the extensive support services of years of experience and knowledge of the Australia universities has made the international students to get most out of their study experience. Studying in Australia one can enjoy a blend of multicultural prospective by meeting students from different parts of the world. In the safe and friendly atmosphere in Australia any foreign student can easily and quickly adjust the new environment. They can take part in the many extra curricular activities offered by all the universities and many other institutions.

The Leading Australian Universities Named Australian National University, University of Sydney, University Of Melbourne, Victoria University, and University of Canberra have been always the point of attraction for many foreign students from around two hundred nations around the world. If you are planning to gain an Australian degree in its dynamic and innovative learning environment it will surely help you to bang on a bright future.

Cheapest Flights to Australia

It's never a white Christmas in Australia where Christmas Day occurs in the first month of the southern summer. Unless of course, you are at the top of Mt Kosciuszko where you still might find some unmelted snow.


Take advantage of cheap flights to Australia and head Down Under for your next vacation. You'll experience a country like no other, with a laid-back, relaxed lifestyle, wide open spaces, fantastic deserted beaches - and never want to leave.

Non-stop flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco arrive in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. If you're flying from Honolulu, non-stop flights arrive only in Sydney.

Flight time from Los Angeles is approximately 14 hours to Brisbane; 14 ½ to 15 hours to Sydney; and 15 ½ hours to Melbourne. Departing from San Francisco adds not quite one-half hour onto the Los Angeles flight times.

Where do you want to go in Australia

Before purchasing your flights to Australia, consider what you want to do and see when you're there. Australia is as large as the United States. If you want to see more than just one city or region, plan where you want to visit and search for cheap flights to Australia with different arrival and departure cities.

For example, if you want to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef and meet the little penguins on Phillip Island, searching for flights that arrive in Brisbane (the airport closest to the Great Barrier Reef) and depart from Melbourne, a day trip from Phillip Island, will be less expensive and time consuming than flying round-trip to Sydney and taking separate flights to Melbourne and the Reef.

Brisbane

Brisbane is the gateway to Australia's Sunshine State, where many Aussies and neighboring Kiwis vacation. The Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands are all accessible from Brisbane. From the international airport, you can take a train directly to the Gold Coast to start your vacation on a popular beach. Or take a short flight to connect to a ferry for a few days of sailing in the spectacular Whitsunday Islands.

A flight up to Cairns to visit the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation is little more than 2 hours from Brisbane.

If you're planning to include sailing in translucent turquoise waters, fishing for monster Black Marlin, snorkeling or diving on the Great Barrier Reef, or just relaxing on long white sand beaches on your vacation, Brisbane is a great choice for your arrival destination.

Sydney

Sydney, consistently rated the top city in the world, is home to many of Australia's famous icons. Visit the World Heritage listed Opera House on a special Backstage Tour, learn to surf on famous Bondi Beach, dive with sharks at the aquarium or see the twinkling lights of the city at sunset with the adrenalin rush of climbing to the top of the Harbour Bridge.

Join descendants of the earliest land owners to be welcomed to country on a cruise of the harbor and take a wander to find bush tucker. Or, perhaps, a romantic harbor cruise aboard a luxury yacht with champagne and nibbles is more in order.

Travel out of Sydney to Australia's oldest wine region, the Hunter Valley, for great tastings of wine, beer, cheese and chocolates served up with friendly Aussie hospitality. Or head off to the Blue Mountains for scenic vistas engulfed in a bluish haze, bush walks and horse riding.

Using cheap flights to Australia to start your vacation in Sydney offers a great variety of exciting things to do and see.

Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia's vibrant city with a lust for sporting events and action. Join in the partying at an Aussie rules football game; ride the complementary city tram to see the city's sites; or choose from a variety of boats to take a relaxing cruise along the Yarra River.

Begin your vacation to Australia in Melbourne to visit the Yarra Valley wine region; Phillip Island with the fairy penguins, seals and koalas; and to wander along the scenic Great Ocean Road. From Melbourne, you can easily reach Tasmania to experience ancient rainforests and the endangered Tasmanian Devil or Adelaide for exploring its rich Aboriginal heritage, and nearby Flinders Ranges, Barossa Wine Region and wildlife paradise, Kangaroo Island.

With so many fascinating places to visit and things to do, find your cheap flights to Australia and start packing now for your vacation Down Under. Years ago, Sydney Eyre spent six weeks driving around Australia, exploring the small towns, meeting the two and four-legged locals and sampling the fruits of the vine. Her trip left her with zany wonderful memories and a passion to return Down Under. She is planning her next trip and is on a quest to find the best deals for cheap flights to Australia.