The island continent or Terra Australis is one of those mythical destinations whose legend is no longer to be made: Outback, Opera, crocodiles, kangaroos, Great Barrier Re ef or even didgeridoo are all words that evoke the great outdoors and adventure. The atypical fauna punctuates each discovery: the strange wombat, the sweet koala, the prehistoric cassowary, the enigmatic platypus or the famous Tasmanian devil. Animals are everywhere and the Aborigines attribute to them a main role in the Dreamtime which is told to us by songs, dances and extraordinary rock paintings. However, the destination is not only for dundees, the cities are vibrant and modern, each with its own personality: Sydney the must-see with its elegantly curved Opera House, Melbourne the punk and rebel. Halfway between the two, Canberra, the scholar too often forgotten. In the south, Adelaide marks the end of the Great Ocean Road and the passage to the wild and deserted West Coast. Born from the mining and oil boom of the region, Perth is the largest city. To the north, tropical Darwin is only a few kilometers fromIndonesia. Going back east, Cairns is the gateway to the islands and the Great Barrier Reef, while the Gold Coast shines from its high skyscrapers. The most difficult thing will be to choose your itinerary because a trip to Australia will not be enough to see everything.

When to go Australia ?

The tourist seasons are not uniform in Australia. They take into account the part of the continent you are in, the time of year and the school vacation schedule of different visitors. For foreign tourists, the peak period for going to Australia is July-August in Queensland, Northern Territory and Northern Western Australia, and December-January in the South, Tasmania and the Perth region. However, the tourist offer is very wide, especially in terms of accommodation, so it is rare not to find something to suit your needs, except during specific events (New Year's Eve in Sydney, sports competitions, public holidays, concerts).

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How to go Australia

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How to go alone

It is very easy to travel alone in Australia. Hundreds of thousands of young people visit the country alone every year thanks to the Working Holiday Visa. There is plenty of public transportation and modern infrastructure. However, if you are going on an adventure to remote areas or hiking in the national parks, please always give your itinerary to another person.

How to go on a tour

Australia is a very popular destination. Many travelers offer tailor-made or turnkey tours. One coastline is generally favored per trip, most often the East Coast, from Sydney to the Great Barrier Reef. The northern national parks, the desert center, the west coast from Perth to Broome or the south from Melbourne to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road are often the subject of a second trip.

How to get around

By car. There is only one main road that goes all the way around the continent, Highway n° 1. The distances between each city are however consequent. An international driving license is required, in addition to your national license. We drive on the left.

By plane. For questions of time and budget, it is easier to travel by plane. Many companies compete for the market, offering reasonable prices.

By bus. Buses are the most common and economical means of transportation.

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Discover Australia

Australia offers the promise of a far-off exotic experience. Located at the end of the world, in the southern hemisphere, these long-isolated austral lands are steeped in history and incomparable riches. From the dry, hot heart of the Outback to the tropical rainforests, the island continent stands apart for its wilderness and unruly immensities. But this complete change of scenery and sense of disproportion conceal other, more intimate secrets: Australia is the ancestral land of the Aborigines. First explored, then colonized, this land has witnessed the development of 60,000 years of Aboriginal civilizations as singular as they are complex. From the settlement of the first colonies to today's social issues, from its endemic fauna to its island culture, discover the magic of a multi-faceted country. Enjoy an unforgettable turnkey experience: it's only by getting to know this country that Australia's charm really takes hold!

Pictures and images Australia

La Gold Coast, Queensland. Patrickoberem - iStockphoto
Vue aérienne du Lake Eyre SATC
Centre-ville de Sydney. Tommaso Lizzul - Fotolia
Seaton Cove, Bay of Fires Conservation Area. Tourism Tasmania & Stuart Crossett

The 12 keywords Australia

1. Aborigines

They are the original inhabitants of Australia. The Aborigines live mainly in the states of New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Rich in a culture and cosmogony dating back thousands of years, their living conditions are nevertheless difficult, and they are still fighting for recognition of their rights and lands.

2. Bush

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This widely used word is the name for the Australian outback. Everything that is not part of the city areas is defined as bush, isolated areas inhabited by bushmen. The landscape is often arid and the vegetation rather shy. Beyond that begins the Outback, with its imprecise borders and much more hostile landscape.

3. Footy

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Not to be confused with soccer as it is defined on this side of the globe! Take an oval ball, 18 players, a bit of soccer and rugby rules and you will get what is for many Australians a real religion! This sport is very popular in Australia and is called footy or Australian rules soccer.

4. Kangaroo

It's the country's most emblematic animal. Present throughout the country, this jumping mammal is the world's largest marsupial. It is estimated that there are over 40 million of them spread across Australia. They are easily spotted in the wild in every state of the country, preferably at dawn or dusk.

5. Marsupial

The marsupial group is a subclass of mammals that lives in Australia, Tasmania or New Guinea. From the Greek marsipos, "bag", the female has an abdominal pouch(marsupium) in which her young take refuge until they can feed themselves. The best known are the kangaroos, wombats and koalas.

6. Outback

This immense, vertiginous space is typical of the Australian desert and its arid, sparsely populated areas. Located inland, beyond the bush, the most remote regions of the Outback are nicknamed "Never-Never". Visit Queensland and the Northern Territory to discover this remote world, as magical as it is mystical.

7. Beaches

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Australia has over 30,000 kilometers of coastline, which translates into no fewer than 10,000 beaches! Often deserted, sometimes wild, they rub shoulders with cliffs, ocean, rainforest and other remote islands. The majority of Australians live close to the sea, and the beach is an essential part of their daily lives.

8. Strine

Like all languages, Australian has its own slang, affectionately known as " strine ". It's often made up of direct expressions, with many shortcuts like "Arvo" for afternoon, "Brekkie" for breakfast or "G'day" for good day. The word "POME" refers to the English (Prisoner Of Mother England).

9. Surf

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A sport, a tradition, even a religion! Surfing dates back to the 1950s and is now part of a long-established cliché about Australia. Associated with theoutdoor culture, surfing is present everywhere on the island-continent: you can surf on practically every coastline, and the country boasts some of the best surf spots in the world.

10. Vanlife

Vanlife is a quest for adventure, a philosophy, an art of living! Synonymous with road trips, vanlife is above all a state of mind: traveling and living for a set period of time in a converted vehicle. More and more Australians and foreign visitors are adopting this lifestyle to discover this immense country and satisfy their thirst for freedom.

11. Walkabout

Traditionally, it was a stage in the initiation of young Aborigines who followed in the footsteps of their ancestors and went into the bush andoutback for several months, surviving thanks to their knowledge of nature. This expression refers to the temporary and solitary return to a traditional way of life

12. WHV

If you are between 18 and 35 years old, you will have the opportunity to obtain the Working Holiday Visa (WHV). A true Holy Grail for backpackers, the WHV allows you to work to finance your trip for one year. It is even renewable for two more years for those who have done farm work.

You are from here, if...

If you never go out without your sunscreen and sunglasses: The adage "Slip, slop, slap", which means "put on a hat, a T-shirt and slather on the sunscreen", is pretty well known in Australia.

If you consistently adopt a spirit of camaraderie: Don't be surprised if someone asks you " How are you doing today ", even at the supermarket checkout.

If you have an accent that stands out from all other English-speaking accents: Some British and American speakers even have trouble grasping the Australian language!

If 1000 km of road doesn't scare you: Used to traveling long distances, Australians easily embark on several days of road trips.

If you eat Vegemite for breakfast: A real star among spreads, this delicacy is unanimously acclaimed in Australia.

If you go surfing before work: Australians are early risers. What better way to start the day than with a little sport?

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