| It can be a challenge to come up with a list of the | | | | white sandy beaches line the coast for 40 miles, |
| top five attractions in a country that's as big and | | | | backed by high-rise apartments, luxury hotels, shops, |
| diverse as Australia. If you have visited the "Land | | | | casinos and restaurants. The area also boasts several |
| Down Under" before, you may have your own | | | | theme parks such as Sea World and Movie World, as |
| suggestions. Although, if you have not yet visited | | | | well as around 40 golf courses. |
| Australia, the following places will give you a good | | | | The closest big city to the Gold Coast area is |
| start, they include man-made and natural wonders, | | | | Brisbane, capital of Queensland. It's a friendly laid back |
| dramatic scenery, beautiful beaches and Aborigine | | | | kind of a place, offering a wide range of shopping |
| culture. | | | | and restaurants. But if you really want to escape |
| Great Barrier Reef | | | | from the crowds on the Gold Coast beaches, explore |
| Off the eastern coast of Australia lies one of the | | | | some of the small islands in nearby Moreton Bay. |
| world's greatest natural wonders. The reef's statistics | | | | The Outback (Ayers Rock and Alice Springs) |
| are impressive, it is around 1200 miles long, and is | | | | Many visitors to Australia come just to see the |
| home to around 1,500 varieties of fish and around | | | | famous Outback - one of the last truly unspoiled |
| 400 species of coral. You may also be lucky enough | | | | areas in the world. It's difficult to comprehend the |
| to see manatees, sharks, and turtles as well as | | | | size of the Outback, it covers an estimated 2.5 million |
| humpback whales that give birth during the winter | | | | square miles. The Outback is not all desert, the |
| months. | | | | northern part boasts high mountains, deep gorges |
| There are several ways to see the reef. Many | | | | and spectacular waterfalls. Driving across the Outback |
| companies offer cruises - lasting from several hours | | | | is an unforgettable experience, although you should |
| to a full day, and you can also sleep on the reef | | | | always carry essentials such as extra water and fuel, |
| aboard a 1890's sailing boat. Virtually every cruise | | | | spare tires, and perhaps a satellite phone |
| boat also offers the chance to see the reef by | | | | The unofficial capital of the Outback is the town of |
| diving, an opportunity not to be missed, even if you | | | | Alice Springs, made famous by the book and movie |
| are new to diving. Also, many visitors to the reef | | | | A Town like Alice. Alice Springs makes a good base |
| cannot resist mailing postcards from Australia's only | | | | to explore the area as well as to shop for Aborigine |
| floating post office, anchored about 45 miles | | | | souvenirs. Within easy reach of Alice is the huge |
| offshore from Port Douglas. | | | | monolith once known as Ayers Rock, now known by |
| Sydney Opera House | | | | its Aborigine name of Uluru. The rock is impressive at |
| One of the most recognizable and striking buildings in | | | | any time of day, but if you have the chance, try to |
| the world, Sydney's famous opera house was | | | | be there at sunset. |
| designed by the Danish architect Jorn Utzon. Even if | | | | Darwin and Kakadu National Park |
| you do not like opera, the building is worth visiting, it | | | | Darwin is about as far north as you can go in |
| is actually a major center for the performing arts | | | | Australia, in fact the city is closer to parts of Asia |
| where you can see not only opera, but classical | | | | than to many parts of Australia, and has quite an |
| music, dance and rock concerts. And there are free | | | | oriental feel to it. |
| performances outside the building on Sunday | | | | Within easy reach of Darwin are several areas of |
| afternoons. | | | | natural beauty, including Australia's largest national |
| Sydney Opera House does resemble the billowing | | | | park, Kakadu. The park covers around 6,000 square |
| sails of a ship, quite appropriate, as the building lies | | | | miles, and offers varied landscapes ranging from |
| alongside one of the world's most beautiful harbors. | | | | wetlands to dramatic sandstone escarpments. Over |
| Not far from the Opera House is the area of Sydney | | | | 200 species of birds and around 75 species of reptile |
| known as Circular Quay, a bustling area of shops, | | | | can be seen here. |
| bars and restaurants. And from Circular Quay, you | | | | Kakadu is still under Aborigine control and is one of |
| can easily catch a bus or ferry to almost any other | | | | the few places where their traditional way of life is |
| part of the city, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Royal | | | | still practiced. You can see their art on display at the |
| Botanic Gardens and the historic Rocks district, the | | | | park's cultural center and at various rock-art sites, |
| oldest part of the city. | | | | and if you are lucky, you may glimpse the Aborigines |
| The Gold Coast | | | | themselves. |
| The Gold Coast is Australia's playground. Beautiful | | | | |