Facts:
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world.
It's about the same size as the 48 mainland states
of the USA and 50 per cent larger than Europe, but
has the lowest population density in the world - only
two people per square kilometre.
Area: 7,682,300 sq km
Population: 19.5 million
Capital city: Canberra (pop: 313,000)
People: 94% European descent, 4% Asian, 1.5% Aboriginal
Languages: English, Aboriginal languages (plus numerous
other European, Arabic and Asian languages)
Religion: 75% Christian, 1% Muslim, 1% Buddhist, 0.5%
Jewish
Government: Independent member of the British Commonwealth.
GDP: US$418 billion
GDP per head: US$22,000
Annual growth: 4%
Inflation: 2%
Major products/industries: Minerals, oil, coal, gold,
wool, cereals, meat, tourism.
Major trading partners: Japan, South Korea, China,
New Zealand, US and the EU.
Visas: Every nationality except New Zealanders need
visas. Tourist visas and Electronic Travel Authority
(ETA) visas are valid for three months. ETAs are just
under US$11. Longer-term visas can be applied for.
Time: There are three time zones: Eastern Standard
Time is UTC +10; Central Time is UTC +9.5; and Western
Time UTC +8.
Electricity: 220-240V
Weights & measures: metric
Currency: Australian dollar
Meals
Budget: US$3-5
Mid-range: US$6-14
Top-end: US$15 and upwards
Lodging
Budget: US$6-17
Mid-range: US$18-60
Top-end: US$60 and upwards
Australian seasons are the antithesis of those in
Europe and North America: summer starts in December,
autumn in March, winter in June and spring in September.
Seasonal variations in temperature are not extreme
except in the deserts, where scorching daytime temperatures
can approach freezing by night. Otherwise, it's rare
for temperatures to drop below zero on the mainland
except in the mountains. As you head north, the seasonal
variations become even less distinct except that summer
is much wetter and more humid.
The southern states are popular during the summer
months, but the best time to visit is probably the
shoulder seasons of spring or autumn when the weather
in the south is mild, Queensland is still warm, the
humidity is not too draining in the north and there
are fewer flies in the bush. Spring in the outback
can be spectacular if rains encourage wildflowers.
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