Australia is a land of contrasts be it the smallest continent or the largest island. It is an enchanting destination as it has unique flora and fauna and the beautiful weather or the diverse cultures culminating into a burst of colour and excitement, Australia has something special stored away for everyone. Australia is a land offering the excitement of discovery at every step. Most people harbour a particular image of Australia, such as the Opera House or bloodred Ayers Rock. Yet these famous icons do scant justice to the richness of Australia's natural treasures and its cultural diversity.

Australia offers a wealth of travel experiences, from the vastness and drama of the outback, to the spectacle of the Great Barrier Reef and its islands, the cosmopolitanism of Sydney and arguably some of the best beaches in the world. Visitors expecting to see an opera in Sydney one night and meet Crocodile Dundee the next will have to re-think their grasp of geography in this huge country. It is this sheer vastness, and the friction between the ancient land steeped in Aboriginal lore and the New World cultures being heaped upon it, which gives Australia much of its character.

Major Attractions of Australia

Great Barrier Reef :

One of Australia's greatest assets is the magnificent reef that runs along virtually the entire coast of Queensland. Considered one of the world's natural wonders, it is the most extensive reef system and the biggest structure made by living organisms on earth.

Uluru (Ayers Rock) :

Uluru is a site of deep cultural significance to the local Anangu Aboriginals and the most famous icon of the Australian outback. The 3.6km (2.2mi) long rock rises a towering 348m (1141ft) from the pancake-flat surrounding scrub, smack in the middle of the country, and is especially impressive at dawn and sunset when the red rock spectacularly changes hue.

Great Ocean Road :

This route along the south-western coast of Victoria is one of the most spectacular coastal drives in the world. It winds around ragged cliffs, windswept beaches and tall bluffs, passing through lush rainforest and towering eucalypts.

Snowy Mountains :

Located in the south-western corner of New South Wales, the Snowy Mountains are the highest section of Australia's Great Dividing Range. Kosciusko National Park covers most of the mountains. The main town in the region is Jindabyne, situated just outside the park boundary on the edge of a beautiful lake.