AUSTRALIAN FACTS

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The Australian States

An overview for overseas visitors

SIZE: Australia is roughly the size of Europe or mainland USA. Although it has been inhabited continuously for over 60,000 years by human beings, it was only settled by white folk just over 200 years ago.

POPULATION: Australia's population reached 19 million in August of 1999, of whom around a quarter of a million are descendants of the original inhabitants - our Aboriginal people (and very few of those would have no white ancestry today).

STATES: This country is divided into six States and two Territories. They are Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, plus the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory (our federal capital - Canberra). It is hoped that the Northern Territory will be granted full Statehood in the near future. It is where a large proportion of the Aboriginal population reside and can be found at the centre of the northern coast of Australia.

LANGUAGE: The language spoken is English, as might be imagined, since the first colony and settlements were Englishmen. However, the Aboriginal people still speak all their own languages as well as English and now there is such a large proportion of Australians that were born overseas, many still also speak their original language.

CURRENCY: The currency is in Australian dollars and cents, worth about 50% of the American currency of the same denomination i.e. Aus$1=US54cents. However, the Australian dollar is worth about 20% more than the New Zealand dollar (NZ$1). One pound sterling will buy more than two dollars Australian. Usually around $2.20-$2.40.

CLIMATE: Australia is divided into two regions really - the northern half is sub tropical to tropical and here there are only two seasons - The Wet and The Dry. Touring is recommended in the Dry months only, because of monsoons, flash floods and cyclones being common in The Wet, which takes place from November through to April each year. Tour companies only operate in The Dry season. In the more southerly areas, say from a line across from Perth on the western coast to mid New South Wales on the east coast, there are four seasons, with which people in the northern hemisphere will be familiar. This means that some of the world's best snowfields and skiing is available in our Winter (from July through to September), then there are magnificent wildflower displays in the semi desert and mountain areas in Spring, (September to November), followed by long hot summers when the beaches and offshore islands are at their most popular (December to March) and finally (April, May June) autumn, when all the European trees planted by settlers over the past 200 years look their most colourful. Australian native trees, not being deciduous, look much the same all year round - very green.

DIY TOURING: Australia has over 3,000 tourist, caravan, RV and trailer parks of a very good standard and most offer excellent self contained family cabins, with two bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom, colour television and all mod cons from around $45 nightly. There are also motels to be found almost everywhere, the average price outside capital cities being around $50-80 nightly, depending on the standard. There is also heaps of top class back packer accommodation to be found at around $15 per bed, plus a wide range of cosy bed and breakfast opportunities at around $100 or more nightly for two. There are numerous car hire companies from whom one can rent a vehicle, as well as motor home and motor camper hire at major airports and in most cities. But, beware, if you want a vehicle with toilet facilities you must specify so. Very few Australian rv's or caravans have toilet compartments, although many hire companies are now ensuring larger proportions of their fleet vehicles do. All will provide local maps and city directories on loan by request. This is a safe country in which to travel. Gasoline is called petrol in Australia and it is purchased by the litre at around $1.00 per litre. Much dearer than the USA, but much cheaper than England or New Zealand. Traffic proceeds along the left hand side of the road, as in England, South Africa and New Zealand, but on the opposite side to America, Europe and many Asian countries.

BOATING: There are extensive facilities for boat hire in this country, including bare boat charter and deep sea fishing boats and yachts, with or without crew, in the Whitsunday's and the Great Barrier Reef area off Queensland. See our notes on that State to learn more.

DISTANCES:

Road Distances are in kilometres and based on the most direct route! and may not be the most practical

Adelaide		2131	1210	3212	745	2749	1431
Albury	867	1431	350	4015	305	3525	588
Alice Springs	1690	3057	2753	1522	2435	3767	2929
Ballarat	632	1815	734	3829	113	3356	972
Bendigo	672	1710	629	3884	150	4421	867
Birdsville	1174	1570	2080	2359	2475	4636	2076
Brisbane	2131		1295	3493	1736	4390	1027
Broken Hill	509	1577	1108	3276	839	2813	1175
Broome	4036	4317	5099	1963	4781	2416	4883
Cairns	2862	1841	3139	2796	3233	6016	2868
Canberra	1210	1295		4229	655	3812	304
Darwin	3212	3493	4229		3957	4342	4060
Geelong	719	1810	729	3931	74	3468	867
Geraldton	3094	4806	4157	3895	3839	416	4333
Kalgoorlie	1965	3606	3028	4505	2710	598	3204
Katherine	2871	3152	3723	341	2592	4001	3719
Mackay	2803	1062	2357	2961	2452	5452	2090
Melbourne	745	1736	655	3957		3494	893
Mildura	400	1755	810	3465	544	3002	1033
Mount Gambier	463	2008	1007	3675	425	3212	1245
Newcastle	1608	852	479	3982	1068	4150	175
Perth	2749	4390	3812	4342	3494		3988
Port Augusta	336	1977	1399	2876	1081	2413	1575
Port Hedland	4519	4911	5582	2557	5264	1770	5551
Rockhampton	2258	671	1966	2985	2057	5061	1699
Sydney	1431	1027	304	4060	893	3988
Tennant Creek	2197	2526	3260	1015	2942	4274	3093
Townsville	2525	1467	2765	2556	2857	5728	2494
Wagga Wagga	959	1480	257	4171	435	3565	489
Hobart to Launceston	200	klm's

The Australian States

Holiday Australia - Your Guide to Australia