Australia is also known as the land down under, made famous by the song by “Men At Work”. Beer does flow and men chunder. Beer does flow freely but Australia is also well known for its fine wine and good food. Besides the fine gourmet meals, Australia has a lot to offer to visitors from all over the world.

Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. It is almost a continent on its own and a giant island. It has only about two people per square kilometer, the lowest population density in the world. Australia has over 10000 beaches, more than any country in the world. There are over 40 million kangaroos in Australia, the most well known animal unique to Australia. The longest stretch of straight railway track is 478 km in Western Australia.

Flying to Australia is easy. There are now about 30 airlines flying regularly from UK to Australia. One of the best times for cheap air tickets is early in the year. However do look out for special last minute offers which happen during all year round. You can also stop over in most Asian countries like Singapore, Japan or Thailand. Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns and Hobart have international airport terminals while Sydney and Melbourne airport enjoyed the most number of visitors.

Australia second biggest state is Queensland which is 4 times the size of Japan, otherwise known as the Sunshine State. It is home to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns. The oldest state in Australia is New South Wales. That is where the capital Sydney is. Do not miss its fantastic harbor, the Harbor Bridge, the famous Sydney Opera House and the Bondi Beach. Tasmania, an island, is the smallest city in Australia. It is surrounded with beautiful mountain landscapes. More than 40 percent of the island is a World Heritage Area with national parks and marine reserves.

Do not miss the scenic drive along the Great Ocean Road if you are in Victoria. The Northern Territory is about 3 times the size of France which includes breathtaking landscapes and wonders including the beautiful National Parks such as Uluru-Kata Tjuta where the famous Ayers Rock is.

South Australia, where Adelaide is situated, is famed for its laid back atmosphere, great wine from the Barossa valley regions and its beautiful coastline. Western Australia includes Perth, a charming seaside capital. Its population is only one and a half million people. However it has some of Australia’s and the worlds more remote and awe inspiring landscapes.

From Kakadu National Park to Darwin extends an area known as the ‘top end’ of Australia. It is where warm weather, stunning contrasting outback terrain and delicate vegetation and unique fauna merge, to provide an eco-system vacant of modern society, making it another of the great places to stay in Australia.

Water-lilies drift on billabongs, flocks of magpie geese and cockatoos hang suspended in thermal currents, with caves and rock faces embellished in ancient aboriginal art becoming artefacts from an age passed.

Kakadu – owned by the Aboriginal people – covers approximately 20,000 square kilometres of some of Australia’s most untamed and alluring wilderness. Scattered with rainforest alcoves, forest swamps and dwarf scrubland, Kakadu is home to some of Australia’s most exclusive and rare animal species. However, caution must be taken when exploring this magnificent expanse because the crocodiles that also live here are occasionally prone to chewing on the odd foolish tourist who doesn’t follow their tour guide’s safety instructions!

Ignorant Tourists beware!

Climate ranges from about 19 degrees celsius in July (dry-season) and up to a maximum of about 30 degrees, with a minimum of 25 degrees in January (wet-season) and up to 32 degrees maximum.

Two of the easiest-to-get-to rock-art sites are Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock, with many of the paintings being over 60,000 years old. Luxury travel in the top end is via 4WD with some of the most stunning sites to be seen by pre-arranged and guided safari tours.

Several of the more well known ones are:

• Guliyambi East Alligator River Cruises – which show the stark contrast of the landscape and denotes the scenic river setting
• Magela Cultural and Heritage Tour – which journeys across isolated and restricted areas and allows you to experience aboriginal culture at its rawest
• Dreamtime Safaris – Stay with the Tablon tribe as they demonstrate their way of life in an exclusive luxury camp setting which provides alternative accommodation

Should you be a collector of rare Aboriginal art, then several art galleries that you can not afford to miss while in Darwin are Aboriginal Fine Arts, Cultural Images, Ampiji, and Indigenous Creations, while Kakadu has The Marrwuddi Gallery and Warradjan Cultural Centre.

Luxury accommodation in the top end includes a tree-top wilderness retreat in the tropical rainforests on the shore of Seven Spirit Bay and the beachside resort of Skycity in Darwin.

Planning your luxury Australia travel itinerary, why not consider the following 10 best things to do in Sydney Australia? Australia is a vast continent where you can stroll on white sands, snorkel in blue waters, wander through green rainforest or drive across an endless red desert.

You can enjoy some of the Worlds best restaurants, wineries, galleries and shops. Or you can share Australians’ love of sport – from a round of golf on a kangaroo-covered course to a seat at a fast-paced Aussie Rules football match

Here in no particular order are our top 10 things to do in Sydney Australia …

1 – Take a thrilling scenic helicopter flight to the Blue Mountains. Stunning views of the City and Sydney Harbour, the Blue Mountains National Park and the spectacular Jamieson Valley all feature in this 45 minute ride before you are set down on top of the Blue Mountains to enjoy a gourmet barbeque lunch in secluded surroundings.

2 – Indulge in a City Sights Discovery tour, visiting the charming historic Rocks area, taking in Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for an unrivalled view of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and Bridge. Pause briefly for morning tea in the beautiful Sydney Harbour National Park before travelling onwards to South Head. After a short stroll along the cliff tops, continue to Bondi Beach and Centennial park before returning to Circular Quay.

3 – Sail the oceans blue for a cruise around Sydney Harbour under sail for a magnificent 2 hour personalised tour around one of the most beautiful harbours in the world.

4 – Visit the picturesque Hunter Valley to discover Australia’s first wine region. Join your private winemaker for a tour of the distinctive wines in a private guided tasting at the best of the region’s wineries. A gourmet lunch awaits you where you can enjoy great wines and gourmet dining in the Hunter Valley’s best restaurant.

5 – Lunch at a genuine Australian working sheep and cattle station, where your hosts provide you with an insight into life on the land, showcasing the striking Australian bush and its unique wildlife. Return to Sydney with a twilight flight over Sydney Harbour.

6 – Treat yourself to a night at the opera at the Sydney Opera House. Upcoming performances of the Swan Lake ballet, Don McClean, Edward Scissorhands, The Clarke/Duke Project and Neil Sedaka, as well as classics like Ravel’s Bolero, Stravinsky’s Firebird and Don Giovanni.

7 – Enjoy Australian and international art exhibitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

8 – Take in the natural history at the Sydney Aquarium and Taronga Park Zoo. The aquarium is one of the largest and most spectacular aquariums in the world. Journey through the rivers and oceans of Australia and be astounded by the diversity, whilst at Taronga Park Zoo find the critically endangered Booroolong Frogs, or the first Elephant pregnancy in Australasia, all within sight of Downtown Sydney. Whilst you are there, don’t miss the Sky safari!

9 – Learn to catch the waves at Manly or Bondi Beach with surfing lessons designed to make you into the hottest “chic” on the beach.

10 – Visit an ancient Aboriginal site and outstanding lookouts of the Blue Mountains National Park. Examine rock formations and the quaint little village of Leura before heading to Katoomba and the magnificent Jamieson Valley and the renown Three Sisters.