Australia is a huge country with most of its population locked in a few major cities along the coast. If you are planning a trip do not under estimate the distances needed to travel between locations. The cheapest and fastest form of travel is by air otherwise most of your tour will be getting there. Each state has unique features, however all have fantastic scenery, wildlife and national parks equal to any world wide.
 
Australia is a multicultural country with a huge migrant presence. English is the main language spoken however there are many  translations services with the Australian Government Department of Human Services providing an answering service on Ph: 131 202.

Transport: Air (an extensive service that is fast and cheap), train (slow, limited service and expensive), bus (slow over huge distances) and hire car. Be aware that the distances can be huge. Petrol is expensive. Travelling in the outback without proper precautions can be extremely dangerous. Some travellers have been saved while other have perished in the harsh conditions.

Weather: As Australia is such a vast country it is covered by differing weather patterns. Down south the climate provides a cold wet winter from June to August and hot dry summer from  December to February . In winter the snow fields offer fantastic skiing. The top end of Australia has two seasons, the wet from November to April and the dry from May to October.   Weather events such as tropical cyclones, monsoon rains, bushfires and floods can be generally avoided with a quick check of the weather map prior to departure.

Food: Regardless of your preference for select food types and preparation multicultural Australia has it covered. African, European, Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants abound in the larger cities. Supermarkets and speciality grocers can provide a myriad of choices for the cook-it-yourself expert. Food prepared according to religious requirements is also readily available.

Laws: Australia is a democratic country with a basic presumption of innocent until proven guilty legal basis.  If you get into trouble contact your country's consulate or embassy.  Some state capital cities have consulates while all embassies are in Canberra.

Driving: right hand dive vehicles with road signs in metric.

National holidays: New Years' Day 1st January, Australia Day 26th January, Good Friday to Easter Monday Religious days that changing according to the religious year, ANZAC day 25th April remembering the sacrifices of our military, Queen's Birthday and Labour Day celebrated at different times across the country, Christmas Day 25th December, Boxing Day 26th December. Each state and local area can celebrate their own unique public holidays such The Warrnambool Cup Day, The Adelaide Cup and The Melbourne Cup.

TV News: Try the ABC and SBS News services. SBS provides multi language news broadcasts. These news services are free from commercial constraints. These new services have changed and are now after ratings however they still remain the best out of a sad bunch. For fast new try ABC 90 second news.

Radio News: ABC News Radio is the best with a totally independent service. They also provide information about natural disasters such as bushfires and floods.

Newspapers: There are no commercially independent newspapers. Try ABC News online.

Australia has some of the best beaches in the world. Surfing, fishing from the rocks and swimming are an important part of Australia culture however they have their dangers. If you are not a local check first, as you are here for a holiday, not an accident. Sadly many tourist have been killed or injured because they are unaware of dangerous local conditions - rogue waves, sharks and rips. If a beach is not patroled by Lifesavers don't go in the water (DON'T GO IN THE WATER).  If there are Lifesavers swim between the flags. The flags on the beach mark out a safe area where swimming is permitted. You are on holidays so why not enjoy your time and not endanger your life leaving your family and friends DEVASTATED. "271 people drowned in Australian waterways between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015", Royal Life saving SOCIETY AUSTRALIA.

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