Australia – A Country and a Confederation

Australia is both a country and continent, yet is significantly smaller than all 48 states of the United States combined. Australia is divided from Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, New Zealand, Tasman Sea in Southeast Australia and Antarctica via Indian Ocean to its south.

Beaches

Australia boasts over 10,000 beaches and offers some of the world’s most stunning stretches of white sand shorelines, making Australia an idyllic beach holiday destination. Find your perfect beach read or simply enjoy watching the waves with friends – there’s sure to be one nearby.

Bondi Beach in Sydney is an idyllic destination for sun worshipers looking for some serious sunbathing action. Here, surfers, backpackers and serious sunbathers all display their bronzed bodies along its shores – not forgetting it also serves as the starting point for the six-kilometre Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk!

Lucky Bay in Western Australia’s Goldfields-Esperance region is another breathtaking beach. Secluded yet accessible by water taxi from Booderee National Park, Lucky Bay attracts snorkellers, divers and beachgoers looking for wallabies and kangaroos hopping along its sand. However, keep in mind that many Australian beaches are unpatrolled so should only swim between red and yellow flags, which indicate safe areas.

Wine

Australian winemakers are exploring new grape varieties from France, Italy and Spain such as Arneis, Fiano (grape), Nebbiolo Tempranillo and Malbec.

While Australia may be best-known for its big and bold Shiraz wines from Barossa Valley, there are other wines worth discovering here as well. Elegant fruity Sauvignon Blanc from Margaret River or Adelaide Hills could be worth sampling, or an unoaked Chardonnay from Yarra Valley or Henschke in Lenswood might tickle your fancy too.

Rutherglen and other Victoria regions produce age-worthy Pinot Noirs, along with aged sweet wines made from red skinned Muscat Blanc varieties, that have aged gracefully over time. Additionally, both regions are good places to find unusual grape saperavi, typically grown in Alsace; both offer fantastic examples. Winemaking in Australia is governed by the Wine Australia Act 2013, with five wine regions comprising its winemaking ecosystem: Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.

Meat Pies

Every culture boasts some delicious food where meat and vegetables are baked inside dough: dumplings in Asia; samosas and empanadas in Latin America; ravioli and calzones in Italy; as well as Australia’s beloved (and likely national) meat pie.

British meat pies were first created over three hundred years ago, and have become an international sensation ever since. Early settlers brought this delicious tradition with them when they settled Australia; today meat pies are part of everyday life here; whether as fast snacks, quick lunchtime meals on-the-go or filling dinner options; Australians enjoy them everywhere!

Home cooks love them because they are easy to prepare. Enjoy a homemade beef pie paired with an intensely fruity Australian Shiraz like Barossa Valley Shiraz to transport yourself straight down under! This classic meat pie recipe usually combines minced beef with chicken or pork filling for maximum flavour – often served alongside ketchup or garlic aioli for a satisfying and comforting meal for any special occasion!

Gold Rush

Australian’s gold rushes brought people from around the globe in search of fortune. Between 1851 and 1871, Australia saw its population increase from 430,000 to 1.7 million as prospectors from Britain, China, North America and Europe came in search of precious metal.

One such discovery, known as Welcome Stranger nugget (pictured above), remains as one of the largest ever found, estimated at being worth an estimated 5.2 Million Australian Dollars today.

Colonial policies had an enormous influence on how gold discoveries were managed and handled, including incentive offers that encouraged miners to disclose the location of their finds (unlike US practices at that time).

Life on the goldfields could often be harsh and violent. Tens of thousands of “diggers”, often desperate men in desperate conditions, would gather together in rough camps where they worked long days and became vulnerable targets for bushrangers. Furthermore, issues like “claim jumping”, wherein someone took mining space belonging to someone else without proper documentation from them being reported was an added problem – something no one was supposed to be doing anyway!