Australia - Something For Every Traveler

By Gordon Phillips

SUMMARY: If you want to travel somewhere that's full of diverse sights and experiences, then Australia is the place for you. Whatever you're looking for, chances are that the 'Land Down Under' can provide it. It's possible to take multiple vacations in the one visit.

If you want to travel somewhere that's full of diverse sights and experiences, then Australia is the place for you. Whatever you're looking for, chances are that the 'Land Down Under' can provide it. It's possible to take multiple vacations in the one visit.

For those who love big cities, then you can stay in Sydney or one of the other capital cities. In Sydney, you can enjoy a cruise on the spectacular Sydney Harbor, check out the Sydney Harbor Bridge, or enjoy one of the many cultural events held at the magnificent Sydney Opera House.

If horse racing is more your thing, then Melbourne has some of the best horse racing facilities in the world. If possible, time your visit for the first Tuesday in November, when the Melbourne Cup is run. It's probably the only horse race in the world with its own public holiday! If gambling is more to your liking, then the city of Perth is home to a world-class gambling resort.

But if you just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of big cities, Australia is home to a multitude of unspoiled landscapes in the outback. Want to try and make a fortune while you're on holiday? Try mining for opals in the surreal city of Coober Pedy. Do you like discovering different cultures? Experience the culture of the Aborigines, and learn more about their arts and crafts that use traditions passed on for thousands of years.

For wide-open spaces, there's nowhere quite like Central Australia, home to the stunning Ayer's Rock (also known as Uluru). You can see kangaroos and emus nearby as you watch the kaleidoscope of colors displayed by the massive rock.

As an island, Australia is home to a huge variety of water sports. Try snorkeling or diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, or do some sailing around the Whitsunday Islands. The unspoiled seacoast near Darwin is beautiful, and unlike anything you've probably seen before.

Although Australia is a relatively new country for western civilization, there is still history to be found, particularly on the island of Tasmania. Here there are old-fashioned bridges and buildings, guaranteed to make you feel like you've stepped back a hundred years in time.

But one of the best things about traveling to Australia is the people. Renowned for their sense of humor and Aussie welcome, it's the people who will remain in your memory long after you return home. They help to make your Australian vacation something that you will never forget.