States and Territories
Australia consists of six states and two territories. Each state and territory has its own parliament, flag and floral emblem. Australia became a federated nation after the union of the six colonies on 1 January 1901 . Bound by one parliament, one constitution and one flag, Australia celebrated its Centenary of Federation in 2001.

While it's common knowledge that Australians speak English, Australia also has a unique colloquial language that can confuse visitors when they first hear it. From 'fair dinkum' to 'cobber', our colloquial language is common throughout the land. Don't worry, you'll pick it up!

Australians are also known for their love of life and enjoyment of the great outdoors. While we have a reputation for being a little wild at times, our love of fine dining, the arts and music go hand in hand with our love of sport, the beach and BBQs. Wherever you go in Australia , you'll find a passion for getting the most out of life.

Aboriginal Australia
For more than 50,000 thousand years, Australia 's Aboriginal people have lived and thrived in Australia 's unique and challenging natural environment.

Today it is believed the Aboriginals are the world's oldest living civilisation.

People, Culture & Lifestyle

Every stretch of the country has its own creation ancestors, sacred places, languages, ceremonies, totems, art, clan groupings and law.

From Uluru to the Tiwi Islands , Aboriginal guides help visitors experience Australia from an aboriginal standpoint. Guided tours include bushwalking, creation storytelling, tours to see ancient rock art, and more!

Flora & Fauna

Native animals
Encounters with Australia 's wildlife are astonishing and fun. Animals such as the Kangaroo, wombat and platypus exist in the wild nowhere else on earth, and one of the most memorable experiences you can have is to cuddle a koala.

Wildlife can be seen in the zoos and in the wild in world heritage listed parks and rainforests.

Birds
Australia has around 800 species of bird, 400 of which are unique to this country. The wealth of bird life, from the boisterous laugh of the kookaburra to the brilliantly plumed rainbow lorikeets, makes Australia a haven for bird lovers.

Forests
In contrast to the red earth of the outback, Australia is a land of lush green, with forests alone covering five per cent of the landmass.

Australia has beautiful and diverse green regions, many located close to major metropolitan areas. The distinctive smell of a eucalypt forest shouldn't be missed!