============================== AUSTRALIA ============================== Australia, the world's smallest continental landmass, is a vast and sparsely populated island state in the southern hemisphere. The most mountainous region is the Great Dividing Range which runs down the entire east coast. Because of its great size, Australia's climates range from tropical monsoon to cool temperate, and there are also large areas of desert. Much of Australia's wealth comes from agriculture, with huge sheep and cattle stations extending over large parts of the interior. Mineral extraction is also very important. Area (Sq. Km.): 7,682,422 Population: 16,365,000 Capital: Canberra Language: English Religion: Anglican 26% Protestant 25% Roman Catholic 25% Government Type: Democratic, federal state system. Currency: Australian dollar High Commission: Australia House, Strand, London, WC2B 4LA. 0171-379-4334 There are a lot of ways to get to Australia and a lot of reasons for doing so. The country is VAST! The once Family reunion visit which constituted what there was of tourism to this country has now been joined by a lively and rapidly growing - some might say booming -tourism industry. There's so much to see and with air fare falling all the time, there's never been a better time to see Auntie Lily or go scuba diving off the Great Barrier reef. See separate sections on: AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY NEW SOUTH WALES NORTHERN TERRITORY QUEENSLAND SOUTH AUSTRALIA TASMANIA VICTORIA WESTERN AUSTRALIA Time: Australia spans three times zones NE/SE: GMT+10 Central: GMT+9.5 West: GMT+8 Electricity: 220-240volts Air travel: National Airline is Quantas with daily flights from Manchester & London. Approx. flying time 24 hrs. International airports: Sydney Brisbane Perth Melbourne Adelaide Darwin Hobart Townsville Cairns Local airlines: Ansett Australian Air NSW East-west Avdev Air Queensland Northern Australian Eastern Western Sea: International cruise lines dock at Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. Rail: Over 40,000 km of track cover the country. The INDIAN PACIFIC is a three times weekly coast to coast service. It takes 3 days. Cheap air fares: Check out with your travel agent for cheaper fares to Australia with: Garuda Air India Cathay Singapore Air NZ BA and Quantas Gulf Air As a general rule the more direct a flight, the more expensive the least direct a route ,the cheaper. Stopovers in Hong Kong, Jakarta, Singapore or Bangkok are quite reasonably priced, break the journey and keep the price down. Many UK travel agents use CONSOLIDATED flights and these are the things to ask for. UK TOUR OPERATORS: Travel 4 Kuoni Ansett Rainbow Hotels: Every state has an international chain represented that run first class hotels though there is also a wide selection of motels and motor inns run a la Americana... «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Foreign Office Advice: Normal care and precautions should be taken. For more information ring: Foreign Office Travel Unit 0171-270-4129