Australia - Australië

This article is about Australia as a country. For the continent, see Oceania.

---

Australia[1] is a country, which is located southeast of Asia. It is one of the seven continents. It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, west and north sides and on the east by the Pacific or Pacific Ocean.

Regions

Towns

• canberra - capital
• Adelaide
• Brisbane
• cairns
• Darwin
• Hobart
• Melbourne
• Perth
• Sydney

Other destinations

• Byron Bay
• Fraser Island
• Kangaroo Island
• Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
• Whitsunday Islands
• Smithfield Heights
• Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park

Info

Australia is one of the oldest continents of the earth, the rock that can be found here was formed several billion years ago. This has consequences for agriculture on the continent, the vegetation is very fragile, the only fertile region is the crop circle. The soil also contains a lot of salt due to the ocean wind that has been blowing there for centuries. Australia is one of the most urbanized countries in the world, most people live in the cities and little in the countryside. Due to the fragile flora and fauna, people are very strict on the importation of animals or plants. The imported rabbit population has a disastrous effect on nature. Many attempts have been made to control these rodents. In the middle of Australia one can find the rabbit fence find. Australia will probably be the first first world country where global warming will have serious consequences.

History

The first inhabitants of Australia came to this continent in prehistoric times, when the northeastern tip of Queensland still attached to Papua New Guinea. The Aboriginals are the descendants of these ancient people. The first Europeans to see the Australian continent were the Dutch. The VOC ships, in particular, en route to the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) were often introduced harshly to the Australian west coast. The best known is the story of the VOC ship Amsterdam that ran aground on the Houtman Abrolhos islands. In order to find out how Australia worked, Abel Tasman was sent in 1642 by Anthony van Diemen, governor of Batavia, to map the "Unknown South Land". He sailed first to the African east coast and from there followed to the "roaring fourties" (40-45 degrees south latitude). In doing so, by maintaining a course too south, he missed the southwestern tip of Western Australia and arrived at an island that he named after the governor of Batavia: Van Diemensland. Later this island was named after its discoverer: Tasmania. More than a century after Abel Tasman, the English explorer James Cook landed on the east coast of Australia and claimed the land in the name of the English king.

Because the English had to contend with overcrowded prisons in the 18th and 19th centuries, criminals were deported to the new colony at the slightest offence, whereby Sydney was founded as a penal camp. In addition, many English, Dutch and Greeks emigrated to Australia in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Dutch mainly ended up in Tasmania because the climate there was comparable to that of the Netherlands, while the Greeks mainly ended up in Melbourne and Sydney. Partly under the influence of the "White Australia" politics until well into the 1970s, mainly Europeans came to Australia. Today, the country focuses more on the closer Asian countries such as Japan and China and Europe is beginning to lose importance, despite Australia still being a member of the Commonwealth and the Queen of England being Australia's head of state. As the ties with Europe and especially with England become less important, the idea of ​​an independent republic of Australia resurfaces from time to time. This usually happens in the period around the parliamentary elections, where especially the Labor Party (the socialists) appropriate this subject.

climate

The climate and the fact that Australia is the driest continent in the world makes it a great holiday destination all year round. The seasons in Australia are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer (December to February) is hot in Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland. The Great Barrier Reef receives the most rainfall in January and February. In the northern part of Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia, roads can be flooded in the tropical summer from January to March. The ski season is from June to October in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. For the most up-to-date weather information see [2].

Nature

Many animals live in Australia that are not found elsewhere in the world. Examples include the kangaroo and the koala bear. The Aborigines live in harmony with Australian nature and animals. Since the arrival of the Europeans and their animals in Australia, the original animal species have deteriorated.

Population

Australia has nearly 50,000 km of coastline and more beaches than any other country. 80% of the population lives within 100 km of the coast. Australia is very sparsely populated: the population is hardly more than in the Netherlands, but the country has an area that is comparable to the whole of Europe.

art

The culture of the aboriginal people of Australia is one of the oldest in the world. The aborigines make musical instruments (didgeredoo, clapsticks) which they paint. The (primitive) motifs used can be found in many places in Australia and are used as decoration, even two planes from Qantas are completely painted in aboriginal motifs.

More modern art and culture is home to Australia's most famous building, the Sydney Opera House.

Culture

Despite the fact that the Aussies pass for "Former Convicts" it is very easy to make contact. Most Australians are crazy about sports, but they love rugby, cricket and horse racing (betting on horses is legal in Australia). The day of the big horse race in Melbourne (the Melbourne Cup) is even a kind of national holiday. Yet they all support the "Good Sport" principle: if Australia or the home team don't win, they always take it sportingly and will drink a beer with the supporters of the opponent after the game.

Australians are also always prone to practical jokes and well-intentioned names while enjoying a large mug of beer. They are also used to saying all kinds of weird things about the country in the context of these "practical jokes". Popular subjects of this (self) mockery are:

• Australia's wildlife (particularly comments starring sharks and crocodiles).
• The central government and officials in canberra.
• The Great Drought in the Outback.
• The vast distances in the country.

Holidays

Arrive

Passport and visa

For citizens of EU countries (essentially for all nationalities except New Zealand), a valid passport and visa are required. You can get an electronic tourist visa for 3 months directly via the internet to request on the site of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. A three-month tourist visa is free and is the only type of visa that can be applied for through the electronic program. In all other cases you will have to go to the Australian Consulate in Berlin. Commercial companies like Visa Service can help you with this. Tip: if you are going to Australia more often within 4 years, apply for a six-month multiple entry tourist visa at the embassy. This costs a relatively small amount and entitles you to enter Australia several times within 4 years of issue, each time with a maximum stay of 6 months.

Customs & Quarantine Service

It is absolutely forbidden to bring plant and animal materials into Australia. Before arriving in Australia you must complete a form regarding the possible import of plant and animal materials. If you have any doubts about what you are carrying, report it on the form provided on the plane and then report it to the Ministry of Agriculture officials at the airport. They can assess whether you can import your food or whether it poses a danger to agriculture in Australia. The fines for violations of these rules are high, the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture can impose a fine of AUD 220 for minor violations!

By plane

Numerous airlines, offering competitive prices, fly to Australia on a regular basis. There are direct flights from Asia, the US West Coast and the Middle East to major international airports, of which Sydney and Melbourne are the most popular, but also Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, cairns and Surfers Paradise have airports with international facilities, however Surfers Paradise only has international flights to New Zealand and Japan.

If you want to avoid the crowds on arrival, choose a flight to one of the less busy airports (Cairns, Darwin, Adelaide or Perth) and/or a flight that arrives in Australia in the afternoon or early evening . The latter has two advantages, firstly, most flights from the United States arrive in Australia early in the morning, along with many flights from Southeast Asia, which can lead to long waiting times at immigration and baggage handling. It is also better against jet lag if you arrive at the end of the day, you can go straight to your hotel or place to stay and go to sleep and adapt to the time zone faster.

Nowadays you can no longer fly directly to Australia from the Netherlands. The KLM [3] stopped with the direct service Amsterdam-Sydney in 2000. From Western Europe you only have direct flights from London Heathrow and Frankfurt with Qantas [4] and British Airways [5]. An alternative is to travel with Singapore Airlines [6] from Amsterdam with a change in Singapore or with Malaysian via Kuala Lumpur. These are also the fastest connections in terms of time. You leave Amsterdam at noon and arrive in Australia at the end of the afternoon (local time) the next day. The total travel time in this case is approximately 20 to 22 hours. Another fast and relatively cheap connection due to the low taxes and fees is with Emirates [7] from Amsterdam with transfer in Dubai to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth or Brisbane. A number of flights between Dubai and Sydney are operated with the brand new "Superjumbo" A380.

By train

Due to the island situation, there are no train connections with other countries.

By boat

There are no scheduled services by boat to Australia. However, a reasonable number of cruise ships enter the port of Sydney at.

Travel around

By plane

Within Australia there are 3 major airlines that maintain connections between the cities on a regular basis.

• Qantas - Australia's flag carrier also maintains most of the domestic network.
• jetstar - The low-cost subsidiary of Qantas
• Virgin Australia - The Australian branch of the Virgin Empire of the well-known British businessman Sir Richard Branson maintains a low-cost network, mainly between the major cities on the east coast of Australia.

By train

The rail network in Australia has the disadvantage that almost every state has its own track gauge. New South Wales has the European "standard gauge" gauge of 1,435 mm. Queensland and Western Australia run on ("Cape") narrow gauge 1,067mm gauge and Victoria and South Australia run on 1,600mm broad gauge. To avoid having to change trains at every state border, as was the case well into the 20th century, the main railway lines Sydney-Perth, Sydney-Melbourne, Sydney-Brisbane and Adelaide-Darwin have been converted to standard gauge so that these connections passenger trains can be run without transferring at the state border.

You can with the train traveling in Australia from north to south and from east to west. "The Ghana", as the train, which is well known all over the world, travels in two days, equipped with every comfort, from Adelaide in South Australia to Darwin in the far north, via Alice Springs in the "outback". The Outback is the heart of Australia, also known as The Red Centre.

Also known is the Indian Pacific which one drives from Sydney nasty Perth, across the continent from east to west v.v. This route contains the longest straight rail route in the world: about 450 km through the Nullarbor Plain between Adelaide and Kalgoorlie.

Most long-distance trains in Australia offer first class, luxury and economy class compartments, couchettes and reclining seats. In addition, many trains offer the option of a la cartedinners and light meals. The lounge car has a bar with snacks.

Reservations are recommended for the longer train travel through Australia. Reservations for certain services are already possible 9 months in advance. You can also buy most tickets in Australia. In addition, in many cases you will receive a significant discount (up to 50%) if you book your ticket more than 2 weeks in advance.

Within Australia there are several famous train routes such as the Indian Pacific (Sydney - Perth) and the Ghan [8] (Adelaide-Darwin).

By car

Australia has a network of well-maintained roads and highways. You can drive through the country at your own pace with a regular car or with a car with four-wheel drive. You can rent a car at the main airports and in the cities. The companies have competitive prices. Visitors are allowed to drive around Australia with a driver's license from their country of origin, but must also hold an international driver's license. An international driving license in the Netherlands is available from the ANWB and is valid for one year. In Belgium, this is provided by the municipalities and is valid for three years. You must be at least 21 years old to rent a car/camper.

Any comments regarding the traffic rules are in place here: In Australia, just like in England, you drive on the left. The maximum speed on highways outside built-up areas is 100 km/h or 80 km/h, this is clearly indicated on all roads. The maximum speed on the motorways is 110 km/h. Within built-up areas, the speed limit is 60 km/h (50 km/h in many places in New South Wales). In so-called "School Zones" (these are the roads that pass in front of the schools), 8: 00-9:30 and from 13:00-14:30 on school days a maximum speed of 40 km/h. This is clearly indicated by large signs and often also with flashing lights Melbourne A special rule applies at intersections: all traffic that wants to turn right must sort in the front left and may only cross the intersection when it is completely free. This is usually arranged with traffic lights.

Bicycle

Despite the great distances, cycling in Australia is perfectly possible. This is mainly due to the fact that the country is relatively flat. Please note the following rules:

Cyclists are allowed to cycle on the emergency lanes of the motorways. For cyclists wearing a helmet is mandatory, wearing fluorescent (conspicuous) clothing is recommended.

By bus

Different bus companies offer various sightseeing tours.

In addition, provides Greyhound Australia express bus services throughout the country. Keep in mind that the distances in Australia are very large and that you can, for example, Brisbane nasty cairns You are on the road for 24 hours by bus. Besides Greyhound, there are other - cheaper - companies that can take you to various other destinations: Premier Motor Service Australia and Oz Experience

By boat

On a large island like Australia with its many ports, traveling by boat is an obvious choice. You can choose between kayaking, sailing, ferry or spectacular cruises with luxurious adventures between the tropical islands. The most famous islands lie along the Great Barrier Reef in the east. The Whitsunday Islands are such a series of tropical islands with white sand beaches and azure waters and palm trees. Many cruise ships offer trips and accommodation to the Whitsundays. You can sail, snorkel and dive. One of the best known, especially among Australians, is Hamilton Island. This island is also accessible by plane with scheduled services, there is a runway for large aircraft. From this airport there is a boat service to nearby Hayman Island, connecting to all flights.

Between Melbourne and Tasmania is a ferry service similar to the ferry connections in Scandinavia and between England and mainland Europe.

Language

The official language is English, however, due to Australia's history as a penal colony and under the influence of the Aborigines, its own dialect has developed and you will encounter expressions that you will not hear anywhere else.

Short "glossary" for Australia visitors to help you understand the language better:

• Bloke - Man
• Sheila - Woman
• Stubby - Bottle of beer, usually sold in six packs and kept cool in a stubby holder
• Abbo - Aboriginal
• Croc - Crocodile
• Gone Walkabout - Seemingly aimlessly wandering the land.
• Outback - All land outside the cities, but mostly used for inland Queensland and Northern Territory.
• XXXX - (Pronounced: Four X): Beer brand from Castlemaine Brewery in Brisbane.
• The Black Stump - Place where city dwellers believe the Outback begins.
• Bulamakanka - Indefinable place, far away in the Outback.
• didgereedoo - Hollowed out tree trunk used by aborigines as a wind instrument.
• Clap sticks - Hardwood sticks that beat the rhythm while playing the Didgereedoo.
• boomerang - Weapon of the aborigines that, if thrown correctly, returns to the pitcher if the target is missed.
• bullroarer - Elongated piece of wood on a rope which causes an enduring whistling/buzzing sound by being thrown around. Also known as the mobile phone of the aborigines.
• Fair Dinkum - Original, real
• Extent - In Australia everyone is your "Mate" and this expression is often used to address someone, for example: "G'Day Mate" (greeting).
• pommie - Englishman. This expression is derived from "Prisoners Of Majesty" (POM) and goes back to the era when Australia was an English penal colony.
• Banana Bender - Queensland resident. Every country has a population group that is considered "stupid/crazy": compare the thoughts that the Dutch have about Limburgers, Germans about Ostfriesen and Canadians about Newfoundlanders. That's how the Australians have the Queenslanders.

To look at

• 

  Outback of Australia

• 

  Tasmania

• 

  Great Barrier Reef

• 

  Sydney

To do

To buy

The unit of currency is the Australian dollar, AUD (100 cents equals one dollar). There are 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollar bills. Coins of 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, 1 and 2 dollars. Please note: the coins, with the exception of the 1 and 2 dollar coins, are exactly the same in size and weight as their counterparts in New Zealand and the Fiji Islands! There are opportunities to exchange automatic machines in international airports, banks or large hotels.

The most accepted credit cards are: American Express, Bankcard, Diners Club International, MasterCard and Visa. With your bank card with the Maestro or Cirrus logo you can withdraw money from your Dutch or Belgian account at the ATMs of the major banks (ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank or Westpac). Keep in mind hefty transaction costs per withdrawal. You can also withdraw money with your debit card. The cost of this is considerably lower than that of your credit card. Your bank can tell you more about this.

Cost

Since the exchange rate of the Australian Dollar against the Euro is quite favorable (EUR 1.- is about AUD 1.37), a lot of things in Australia will seem cheap. For example, you can spend the night for a few tens per person per night and eating out does not have to cost too much.

what to buy

Due to the great interest in Aboriginal culture, it is not surprising that all kinds of Aboriginal attributes, such as didgereedoos, boomerangs and clapsticks, are offered in the many souvenir shops. In addition, all kinds of objects painted with aboriginal motifs are offered. There is also a wide range of typical Australian (Swagman) hats. The most famous brand is Akubra. These hats have a wide brim, which is not an unnecessary luxury with the always very strong and intense sun rays. Other clothing and footwear made of leather are also widely available. Well-known are the boots of the Ugg brand and the jackets of DrizzaBone.

Provided you comply with international customs restrictions, you can bring some bottles of wine from Australia. The best thing is of course to buy them from the winery in one of the wine-growing regions (Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley or Margaret River). Usually, however, you will go to a specialty store, since liquor is not available in the supermarket. In the NT (Northern Territory) you can only buy alcohol on presentation of your passport.

The shops are open on weekdays from 8am to 5:30pm. On Saturdays, many shops in rural areas are closed in the afternoon. The supermarkets in the larger cities and in the large shopping malls in the suburbs are usually open daily from 9 am to 9 pm.

Food

Food and wine have become the expression of a "way of life" in Australia. Varied tastes can be found in the markets and in restaurants that offer various dishes influenced by local, Japanese, Thai, Greek, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Chinese or French cooking techniques. But you'll also find a pub with a terrace with one of the best views in the world offering fish and chips accompanied by a local beer. Eating outside is the most ordinary thing, in the desert, under the starry sky from Uluru to the rainforest. Another aspect of the food culture is the barbecue where you make your own barramundi (known in Australia fish species) can roast. Besides the many "exotic" foods, the food is also very "English": fish & chips are a well-known staple food. The most popular breakfast is "vegemite"

Australia is the fourth largest wine exporter in the world and some of its wines are among the best in the world. The main wine regions are Clare Valley, Maclaren Vale and Barossa Valley in South Australia, the Yarra Valley in Victoria, the Hunter Valley in New South Wales and Margaret River in Western Australia and Richmond in Tasmania. You can tour around and discover the wine regions and the people and their traditions and lifestyle and the landscapes for yourself. Have a glass or two with them in their cellar, or at a wine bar or cafe.

In addition to wine, beer production is also very important: Australians are among the top when it comes to beer consumption per capita. Angry tongues claim that this is due to the great drought in (mainly) the interior in combination with the great distances. A well-known joke about this is that the distances in Australia are not measured in kilometers or miles, but in liters of beer.

Well-known Australian beer labels are: VB (Victoria Breweries), Castlemaine XXXX ("four X") and Foster Lager

Going out

In Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth are entertainment areas with a lot of entertainment. In the other cities and in the countryside, the local pub a central place in the nightlife. Especially in the outback, the pub is the central meeting point of the locals and is for the tourist/foreigner the place to get to know the people of the outback better.

stay overnight

You can spend the night in a "bed and breakfast" to a five-star hotel, you will always find something to your liking. If you are adventurous you can even spread your sleeping bag ("swaggie") under the open sky. Don't lose sight of the "pub" either. Aussie pubs offer simple but comfortable sleeping places above the bar and are sometimes really special. The local hospitality, easy access to the bar and dining area make staying at the pub worth considering.

To learn

To work

Dutch and Belgian young people between the ages of 18 and 30 can apply for a so-called "working holiday visa" which allows you to stay in Australia for a year and to perform temporary work (not longer than 3 months with the same employer). Many young people leave after their final exams for a year to "Down Under" before they start studying.

Safety

Watch out for the sun! Wear a brim hat, collared shirt with long sleeves, and use sunscreen from at least 15 that is water-resistant. After all, Australia is the country with the most skin cancers. Buy your sun cream in Australia and do not use sun cream from Europe as the composition of the UV radiation is different. Always drink plenty of water and make sure you always have a bottle with you. For more information about safety go to this website

Also watch out for poisonous and biting wild animals: Northern Territory is home to the 10 most poisonous species snakes of the world for. In the tropical part, watch out for the saltwater crocodile ("salties"). There are many sharks in the waters around Australia. Although a so-called "shark attack" does not occur very often, you should still be careful if you want to go swimming in the sea. Tip: If dolphins are around you can go for a quiet swim in the sea, dolphins and sharks do not tolerate each other and dolphins are very "people friendly" and will protect you from sharks to some extent. Another dangerous animal is the "box- jellyfish", a venomous jellyfish species found in shoals off the coast of mainland Queensland during the wet season (October to March). Pay attention to the warning signs on the beaches about these animals: they are there for a reason!

For detailed information on this subject, see also the section "Safety" in the chapter on the Whitsunday Islands

Health

Hygiene when handling and preparing food is closely monitored. It is unlikely that health problems will arise during the stay. However, it is strongly recommended that you take out good all-in travel insurance.

respect

Unlike the Australians themselves, try to treat the Aboriginal people with respect. The Aboriginals are the original inhabitants of Australia and they have taught themselves the art of surviving in a quite hostile environment. Especially in the Outback we Westerners can learn a lot from these nature people!

Some tips in this:

• An ascent of Ayers Rock is still possible. Although certain circles within the Aboriginal world would prefer to see climbing banned, that ban has not yet come into effect. Uluru (the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock) is seen by the Aborigines as a special place, but not as a sacred place. You can climb very early in the morning. Inquire on site about the possibilities.
• You can also take a walk around Ayers Rock. This is best done early in the morning, when it is not so hot yet. Please note that you are not allowed to photograph in a number of places, this also has to do with the spirituality of the Aboriginal culture.
• If you want to photograph Aboriginal people, ask for permission first.
• Never give or sell alcoholic beverages to Aboriginal people. In the Northern Territory, that is a criminal offense! Alcoholism is unfortunately a very big problem among the Aborigines.

Contact

This is a usable article. It contains information on how to get there, as well as the main attractions, nightlife and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but dive in and expand it!

Countries in Oceania
Australia: Australia New Zealand: New Zealand New Guinea: Papua(Indonesia) · Papua New Guinea Polynesia: Samoa · Tonga · Tuvalu Melanesia: Fiji · Solomon Islands · Vanuatu Micronesia: Kiribatia · Marshall Islands · Micronesia · Nauru · Palau

Destinations
Continents: Africa · Asia · Europe · North America · Oceania · South America Oceans: Atlantic Ocean · Pacific · Indian Ocean · Arctic Ocean · Southern Ocean Polar regions: Antarctica · Arctic Also see: Room