Australia offers the traveller a friendly,hospitable welcome, great food, wine,superb accommodation and a wealth oftravel options at any time of year, bethey discovering the immense Outback,experiencing Aboriginal culture,encountering the continent's somewhatquirky wildlife or exploring thecosmopolitan cities. Most of thisbrochure is organised geographically,however, over the following pages wehave highlighted the main experiences:recent history, modern Australia and theAboriginal people as well as astaggering array of landscapes andwildlife. Many people's trip to Australiaincludes staying with family or friendswho have emigrated there. We candesign your trip around your time withthem and, if you wish we can includethem in your travel plans. MEETING THE PASTFrom the moment the first settlers appeared atBotany Bay and convicts arrived in Tasmania, tothe goldrush fever that grew new towns in thedesert, Australia's tales are of pioneering,rugged adventures in an inhospitable land andstories of survival against the odds shaping thecountry we see today. Australians take theirhistory very seriously, and guides effortlesslybring the colourful past to life. CONVICT HISTORYSkilled raconteurs outline the personal tales ofthose serving out prison sentences in a strangenew world and both Tasmania's Port Arthur(page 75) and Sarah Island penal coloniesprovide chilling reminders of the hardship facedby convicts. The wonderful architecture built onthe back of convict labour in areas such asSydney's Rocks (page 15) and Fremantle (page47) in the 19th century now form the modernhubs of the cities' leisure areas. Experience Australia10SETTLER HISTORYGuided walks around the city centres of Hobart,Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney recountthe adventures of the early settlers and thecreation of distinctive societies in each of theprincipal states. As adventurers took their firsttentative steps into Australia's interior, individualexplorers and prospectors shaped thedevelopment of this mysterious continent. Thishistory can be woven into your trip: we havesought out accommodation in converted minesclose to the Atherton Tablelands (page 27),adapted prison cells in the port of Fremantleand underground cave hotels in the opal-miningbelt of Coober Pedy (page 64). As well as these,there are hundreds of charming 19th centuryproperties that are blessed with old worldcharm. We follow the trails of the Afghancameleers (page 56) who forged a telegraphroute through the country's Red Centre, tour theBarossa vineyards established by persecutedLutheran minorities (page 62) and stay on fifth-generation Outback stations such as Bullo RiverStation (page 40), some larger than manyEuropean countries. To get a taste of Australia's rich heritage, youneed only look around you as you travelthrough the diverse and enchantingenvironment. If you are interested in lingeringover the more fascinating areas we can help youplan the best trip to really gain an insight intotheir history.Port Arthur, Tasmania

MODERN AUSTRALIAAustralia's breezy lifestyle is perhaps its mostenthralling and exhilarating draw and the reasonso many visitors return time after time. Australiais a social experience and wherever you go,whether dining in the cities, watching sport,relaxing on the beach or exploring the Outbackyou will find a warmhearted welcome and awillingness to share.THE OUTBACKAlthough most of Australia's population lives inthe narrow coastal regions, many of the realcharacters inhabit the dusty interior of theOutback. As the roads head away from themajor cities the trappings of sophistication fallaway, and it is in the Outback stations wherejackaroos herd cattle by motorbike andhelicopter that you can still feel awe at theexpansive horizons and wild beauty thatseduced the first settlers. Exploring the Outbackis best done by 4WD vehicle and a sample ofhighlights include the remote red sands of CapeLeveque and the Kimberley in Western Australia(page 53), the saltpans of the Gawler Ranges inSouth Australia (page 65) and the openexpanses of the Northern Territory (page 40).CITIESAustralia's cities are sophisticated, with anoutdoor café lifestyle that blends the cultures ofthe world into an easy society. Sydney'sgorgeous views of the Opera House, theHarbour Bridge and its wonderful beaches makeit an integral part of anyone's first visit toAustralia. Melbourne is equally enticing to thosein the know, fuelling the generations' old rivalrybetween these two cities. Elegant Adelaide ischarming and surrounded by some of Australia'sbest wine regions as well as having thewonderful Kangaroo Island on its doorstep. Asthe hub of Western Australia, Perth issurrounded by a plethora of attractions, fromthe beautiful beaches to the historicalarchitecture of Fremantle and the rolling wineregions of the Swan Valley.EXPERIENCE AUSTRALIA11FOOD & DRINKThough Australians gravitate naturally to thebarbecue, their cuisine has come a long wayover the last few years. The influences ofimmigrants from the Mediterranean, spices fromneighbours in the Pacific and Asia, and anabundance of homegrown produce haveevolved into Australia's fashionable 'fusion'cuisine. Each of the southern states takeconsiderable pride in their wines, many ofworld-class quality and all eminently drinkable.Australia's key growing areas include the HunterValley (page 17) in New South Wales, the YarraValley (page 68) on the outskirts of Melbourne,Clare and Barossa valleys (page 62) in SouthAustralia and the Margaret River (page 48) inWestern Australia. Once you reach the Outback,however, you are more likely to celebrateAustralia's long-lived culinary achievements: theice-cold beer and the hot meat pie.BEACH LIFEYou don't need a surfboard to appreciate theendless white sands that ring Australia. InSydney you can choose from the shelteredSydney Harbour or the hustle of Bondi or Manlybeach. Follow the coast north or south anddifferent atmospheres make every beachdistinctive, from the somewhat hippy flavour ofByron Bay to the seclusion of Jervis Bay.Between Melbourne and Adelaide lies the GreatOcean Road with the Twelve Apostles, thrivingseal colonies and the famous Bells Beach. BairdBay lies west of Adelaide with wildlife inabundance, while on the West Coast are someof Australia's most majestic, sweeping, whitesand beaches facing the Indian Ocean, fromremote Cape Leveque in the north to Perth's citybeaches. Probably the most idyllic shores arethose found in Queensland, from the blisteringwhite crushed coral of Whitehaven beach in theWhitsunday Islands and the secluded bays ofsome of the remote Great Barrier Reef islands tothe rainforest that creeps along the sands ofCape Tribulation.SPECIAL EVENTSAustralia does not take sport seriously; it iscompletely obsessive about it and attending asporting event certainly gives you an insight intothe country's psyche. Do not limit yourself tointernational sports such as cricket and rugby:perhaps the best game to come out of Australiais 'Aussie Rules', a rough and fast gamesomewhere between rugby and Gaelic football.There are numerous events taking place inAustralia throughout the year so why not takeone in during your visit? Melbourne hosts theMelbourne Cup, Australia's Grand National, inNovember and then the Grand Prix in March.Broome sees the Shinju Matsuri Pearl Festivalwith its dragon boat racing on the last weekendof August and Alice Springs witnesses thebizarre, dryland boat races of the Henley-on-Todd Regatta in early October. Whatever yourinterests just ask our specialists for details ofevents taking place during your visit.Melbourne