Capital: Canberra
Currency: Australian dollar

Weather: Desert in the centre, tropical in the north. Varies elsewhere where temperatures can drop to -8°C and summers can be extremely hot.

This huge country has sophisticated cities, enormous expanses of desert, brilliant beaches, islands, mountains and all the culture and nightlife you can cope with. Try to sample a bit of each.

Sydney: is the great outdoor and party city. Landmarks include the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, Darling Harbour, Circular Quay and The Rocks area, site of the original Sydney. Beaches are the focal point for many and include Bondi and Manly. The Blue Mountains, an hour west by train, are excellent for bushwalks, biking, waterfalls and gum trees.

Canberra: Australia's capital is more of a garden than a party city, but not as dull as many Australians would have you believe. It has some of the most aggressive magpies in the world, music, science, folk and ballooning festivals. The man made Lake Burley Griffin in the centre is good for water sports and surrounded by parks and green space.

Adelaide: is also often written of as a backwater but turns out to be a pleasant surprise for those who bother to go.

Melbourne: sees itself as the country's cultural capital, with loads of theatre, art, ballet and music on offer. The city hosts international comedy, film, arts and fringe festivals. Chinatown is at its eastern end and dates back to the gold rush. The Victorian Alps north of the city are excellent for hiking and biking. You can also ski there from June to October. Perth, on the west coast is close to miles of white sand beaches and Indian Ocean surf. The nearby port of Fremantle is the place to go at weekends. The Western Australian Museum specialises in natural history and has an excellent Aboriginal Gallery. The SciTech Discovery Centre provides a feast of hands on exhibits including a Kaleidoscope House and a virtual flight over Perth followed by a dive beneath the sea in the Mega-Morphin Heli-Sub Simulator.

Darwin: in the north is the base for exploring the Top End. Famous for its cyclones and humidity, it's very much a hot, tropical city. Brisbane lies between the popular resorts on the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast with their beaches, theme parks and high rise. Further north are Townsville, Cairns and The Great Barrier Reef. Lamington offers an escape from the Gold Coast with miles of walking tracks in subtropical rain forest among exotic birds and wallabies.

Tasmania: is often overlooked by visitors. It's off the south coast, slightly smaller than Scotland and relatively unspoiled. The capital Hobart has its fair share of theatres, cinemas, pubs and clubs, but the island is mostly a place for those who enjoy mountains and wilderness.

There are eight national parks and some of least explored areas of Australia. The east coast has the best beaches, the west is wilder with steep mountains, gorges and rain forest. The Outback, an area of scrubland, mountain wilderness and desert, makes up the rest of Australia and is preserved in the many national parks. One of the best known is Uluru-Kata Tjuta in the Red Centre, home to Ayres Rock. Kakadu in the Northern Territories is a quarter the size of Britain and the place for birds, crocs, wetlands and aboriginal art. A visit to the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre is a must.

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