Australia is not merely earth’s largest island; it is one of the planet’s most diverse and comprehensive environments. Few people would argue that Australia’s greatest draw is its natural beauty. This massive continent is home to both tropical rainforests and bone dry outback desert. It has vast rugged mountain ranges and seemingly endless idyllic beaches. The Great Barrier Reef, off the northeastern coastline, can even be seen from space.

Thanks to its long isolation from other land masses, Australia is home to some amazingly unique creatures such as kangaroos, koalas and emus. It’s also the ancestral home of the Australian aboriginals, one of the oldest races of humans on the planet.

Australia’s cities cover all the bases, each with its own take on food, culture, and the art of relaxation. From the bohemian and understated Perth in the western hinterlands, to the dynamic metropolis of Sydney with its superlative harbour and urban beaches, visitors have plenty of choose from. Melbourne has a Victorian flavour to go with its fervor for cultural and sporting events, while Brisbane’s riverside environment makes it the perfect gateway to the lush, tropical northeast.

Australia’s towns and cities have excellent accommodation. You can go as plush as you like in five-star luxury or kick back on the deck of your beach bungalow. A multicultural population ensures plenty of incredible ethnic cuisine in a land where dining al fresco has been turned into a real art form. Although most of Australia’s population lives in the south and east, don’t overlook flying over to the western shores where the sea, sand and nature are unparalleled.

Australia has one of the most fascinating and ancient cultural histories on the planet. This isolated continent’s first inhabitants, the aboriginals, arrived on the island around 70,000 years ago and have lived here ever since.

Australia’s modern history, however, begins with the arrival of the Europeans in the 16^th century. After thousands of years of seclusion, the aboriginals found themselves faced with first Portuguese then Dutch explorers looking for resources to exploit.

It was the British, however, who made the greatest lasting impact on this land. In 1770 Captain James Cook sailed along the entire eastern coastline, stopping off at the soon-to-be infamous Botany Bay. Based on his reports, the English decided to colonise Australia, and in 1787 sent the First Fleet to Botany Bay with 11 ships, 750 convicts, soldiers and supplies for two years.

Adding to the original population of convicts, a flurry of free settlers began arriving in Australia over the proceeding decades. When gold was discovered in the 1850s, this distant colony changed forever as a massive influx of prospectors and speculators flooded into Australia, boosting the economy and changing the social dynamics. Aboriginals were forced off their traditional lands to make way for farmers, miners and cattle ranchers. The Industrial Revolution in England was in full swing at this point, and Australia was seen as a major source of materials.

In 1901, Australia officially became a nation when the different colonies joined together in a federation. The Japanese tried to take control of the island during the first part of the 1900s, but with American help they were emphatically defeated. This marked the beginning of the alliance between Australia and the United States which continues today.

After WWII, a wave of European immigrants moved to Australia, revitalising its economy and adding new dimensions to its cultural fabric. The nation is part of the Commonwealth and maintains close ties with the US and Britain.

Being deep in the southern hemisphere, Australia has opposite seasons to those in Europe, northern Asia and North America. Summers run from November through February, while wintertime is between June and August. Since Australia is so large, it encompasses both a tropical zone in the north and a temperate zone in the south. The tropical zone experiences just two seasons; a wet winter and a dry summer. The temperate zone gets all four seasons.

During the summer months the entire country is warm. The southern states can get quite hot, but also offer the best beach weather. The northern regions have their wet season during the summer, so expect plenty of rain and high humidity. During the dry winter months, northern Australia has warm sunny days and pleasantly cool nights. The southern regions can get a bit chilly during these months, but there is reliable sunshine to provide solar warmth. Visitors can even find snow in the mountains of Victoria and New South Wales.

One of the best times for a visit is during the spring or autumn (which are at opposite times to seasons in the northern hemisphere). Both shoulder seasons have mild weather, sunny skies and relatively few tourists. The outback bursts into bloom during the brief spring, while the autumn colours are beautiful in the Victorian Alps. Be sure and bring plenty of sunscreen, sunglasses and hats as Australia is known for its intense solar radiation all year round.