A Guide to Australia

Australia is a country full of surprises for visitors. Best known for its iconic wildlife such as fluffy koalas and hopping kangaroos, Australia also hosts unique creatures like platypuses – an egg-laying mammal – and echidnas that offer visitors something truly memorable.

Australia is famous for its love of nature. Australians take great pleasure in getting outdoors and spending a relaxing day at the beach, or watching cricket and Australian rules football (AFL).

1. Beaches

Australia draws beach lovers from around the globe with its stunning shorelines and sun-kissed sandy playgrounds, drawing in tourists year after year. Home to over 11,500 beaches that provide seemingly endless stretches of white sand interspersed with vibrant turquoise waters in wide swirls – such as Whitehaven Beach in north Queensland – it offers something for everyone.

Do you prefer surfing or simply lazing about in the sun? These top 10 Australian beaches provide unforgettable sights and experiences. In Sydney, head over to Manly Beach for swimming while watching local surfers master the waves; Melbourne’s St Kilda Beach provides ideal spots for people watching, picnicking and relaxation; then head on over to Bondi Beach nearby which consistently ranks as one of the world’s finest shorelines – something Manly doesn’t offer!

2. Wildlife

Australia boasts both rainforests and savannah grasslands, making it home to an array of wildlife perfectly adapted to its tropical climate, such as flightless southern cassowaries, two types of kangaroos that climb trees, saltwater crocodiles, dingoes, rabbits and red foxes which have become feral after European settlement and compete with local endemic fauna for survival.

Australia is famous for its iconic animals such as kangaroos and koalas which appear on its Coat of Arms alongside emus. Additionally, Australia hosts 56 parrot species such as large palm cockatoos with their characteristic calls as well as playful kookaburras known for their signature laugh. Less visible but no less fascinating are nocturnal wombats and Tasmanian devils which both feed off carnivorous marsupials.

3. Culture

Australia was initially formed through British, Indigenous, and migrant cultures combining to shape its early years as a colony. Over time these influences have amalgamated to produce an identity distinct to Australia that remains strongly tied to Western civilization; English as its national language and Christianity are two defining components.

The founders of our nation were acutely aware that they were creating something from scratch and strived to ensure it would be both harmonious and egalitarian. They held progressive ideologies regarding human rights as well as respecting democracy as an essential democratic process.

Australia is now one of the most multicultural nations on earth, boasting more than 200 languages spoken and most Australians at least bilingual. Most Australians identify as Christian; however all faiths are welcomed and tolerated; there is also an emphasis on equality and informality.

4. Food

Australia boasts an international food culture which has left an impressionful culinary legacy behind. You’ll find both traditional dishes as well as modern interpretations of timeless recipes to satisfy all palettes here.

Australians love their coffee, and the cafe scene here is well-known internationally. There is also plenty of breakfast offerings such as avocado on toast with poached eggs.

Lamingtons are sponge cakes covered in chocolate and coconut that make a delicious grab-and-go snack at bakeries, football matches, or any special events.

Aussies are famous for their barbecues, featuring sizzling sausages, burgers and fish on a hotplate. Indigenous ingredients are frequently featured in modern Australian cuisine; macadamia nuts and quandongs add unique textures to desserts, breads and lamb roasts alike.

5. Weather

Australia is home to an array of climates due to its size and location; from desert environments in north Queensland and Tasmania’s Wet Tropics to temperate rainforest areas like Western Tasmania’s Tassie fens.

Winters in southern Australia tend to be frosty and can even experience snowfall on occasion; rainy periods tend to occur more frequently during spring and summer in Tasmania than other Australian states due to its proximity with Antarctica.

Australia experiences hot, dry seasons with limited rainfall while its far northern areas experience monsoon-type monsoon conditions featuring thunderstorms and lightning displays. Due to high pressure systems moving swiftly through Australia’s atmosphere, its climate varies drastically between seasons; summer generally falls from December through March while autumn lasts until May before winter hits between June and August.