Article Written By: puretravel
The first thing that one notices when contemplating their Australia holidays is that the continent down under is huge. Encompassing nearly 3,000,000 square miles, Australia is host to tropical and temperate regions encircling a central desert. The north and northeastern coastal areas are tropical and account for the majority of the country s tourism. Off the northeast shores lies one of the amazing wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the greatest draws for world traveling snorkelers and scuba divers on the planet.Many diving adventures to the Great Barrier Reef depart from Cairns or Port Douglas on the Queensland coast. Many dive operators offer not only day excursions but also extended liveaboard expeditions to the many dive sites on the reef and in the Coral Sea. Most day trips set out to the inner reef gardens for divers to cavort with a plethora of tropical marine life. Liveaboard dive trips are from 2 to 7 days and transport the diver to the amazing Coral Sea with its plunging walls, crystal water and a treasure of pelagic animals.Australia holidays to Queensland would not be complete without a trip to the rainforest. What is touted as the world s most beautiful rainforest experience is the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. The beginning terminal is just 15 minutes from Cairns where visitors enter a 6-person gondola and travel just feet over a pristine forest. Other rainforest tours include river cruises on the Daintree River to observe reptiles, mammals, birdlife and even saltwater crocodiles. Other rainforest experiences are by four-wheel drive and there are many hiking trails through the primal forest.The culture of Australia starts with the Aborigines. This group settled these lands over 40,000 years ago. They came and somehow managed to live on this brassy land for thousands of years without help from the outside world. When the outside world came, the Aborigines lost a lot. Though the government today is doing things to revive and help the Aboriginal culture, some things do remain intact. The didgeridoo, for example, is a wooden instrument used in Aboriginal music even still today. Dance, moreover, is used as a way to express the Aboriginal songlines culture. However, other music traditions started with European classical and sailor folk and ends today with rock and hip-hop. For those seeking Australia holidays, the attractions are endless in this country that is a virtual playground of mountains, forests, rivers, lakes and the sea.
This Article Has Been Published on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 and Read 246 Times