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Australia Holidays

Australia HolidaysThere is just one word to sum up experiencing an Australia holiday – vast! It is a continent in itself, and would take days of solid driving to cross. Vast is also an appropriate word to sum up the amount of excursion opportunities and sights that Australia offers.

From the magnificent and cultured Sydney Opera House and its performing arts, to the awesome outback of Alice Springs and its unique indigenous wildlife through to the powerful and spiritually commanding Ayres Rock, an Australia holiday simply has it all.

View all our holidays to Australia

Read on for some essential sightseeing details.

Australia Holidays - Fact & Figures

Australia is a land of immigrants. All but 300,000 Australians descended from immigrants who began arriving with the settlement of British convicts in 1788. Native Australians are called aborigines. Australia is a progressive western society with almost uniform literacy. As of July 2001, Australia's est. population is 19,357,594. Out of the population, 92 % are Caucasian, 7% are Asian, with only 1% aborigines and other ethnic groups. Australia is approximately 2,967,897 square miles in size.

Australia is an island that is a continent. It is the smallest continent in the world. Its longest river is the Darling River that flows for 1,700 miles. About one third of Australia is desert.

Australia Holidays – History

In 1770, the explorer Captain Cook discovered Australia, and less than two decades later in 1788, immigration to Australia began, when the British started to send its convicts to it colony in the Southern Hemisphere. The British further imposed their will on the 1 st of January 1901, declaring Australia part of it's Commonwealth. In more recent times, in 1973 racially discriminatory immigration policies were ended, and in 1998 the Australian Constitutional Convention voted to sever all ties with Great Britain, but a national referendum on the proposal saw the notion quashed.

Australia Holidays – Weather

Australia's climate is extremely arid and dry throughout the land, and there are very little extremely cold regions to speak of. Summer last from December to February.

Seasonal temperature fluctuations are amongst the greatest in the world, from above 50 ° C in Summer (December to February) to well below zero in Winter months.

Around 80% of Australia has an annual rainfall of less than 600 millimetres per year, 50% of which having even less than 300 millimetres.

Holidays to Australia can be combined with optional excursions to New Zealand, Bangkok and Singapore; our Specialist Sales Department can tailor make holidays, so if you are thinking of visiting friends or relatives during your trip, we are all to happy to meet your requirements.

Australia Holidays – Kinglake National Park

Only 65 km north of Melbourne, this 21,600 hectare park lies on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range. Scenic lookouts offer dramatic views of the Melbourne skyline, Port Phillip Bay, the Yarra Valley and across to the You Yangs. Forests, fern gullies and waterfalls are the other attractions.

Australia Holidays – Simpsons Gap

At Simpsons Gap there is opportunity to see rock wallabies which are the smaller cousin of the kangaroo. This is possibly one of the best known attractions in the West MacDonnells National Park and is located only 18 kilometres from Alice Springs. A good time to visit on your Australia holiday is later in the afternoon or early morning when the chances of sighting Black Footed rock wallabies are better. The Ghost Gum walk provides an interesting introduction to the native plants of the region. Also the short walk to Cassia Hill gives excellent elevated views of the Ranges and the Simpsons Gap area.

Australia Holidays – Standley Chasm

Midday is the best time to be standing in Standley Chasm. As the sun reaches its zenith, it shines down directly on the loose rock in this narrow cleft in the ranges and the sheer walls light up with fiery intensity. The rest of the day the chasm is cool, shady and still impressive, surrounded by masses of vegetation including cycads, ferns and river gums. The pretty 1 kilometre trail from the car park and kiosk to the chasm follows Angkerle Creek.

Australia Holidays – Ayres Rock/Uluru

Uluru (Ayers Rock), in the centre of Australia, is the world's biggest monolith at 3.6 kilometres long, two kilometres wide, 348 metres high and 9.4 kilometres round. Uluru, which belongs to the Anangu Aboriginal people, changes colour in different lights, particularly at sunrise and sunset. Walks around Uluru with Aboriginal guides on your Australia holiday offer a spiritual interpretation and an understanding of its history. Visitors can retrace the path the Liru ancestors made to Uluru and see scars left on the rock from battling Kuniya thousands of years ago

Australia Holidays – The Olgas

Located around 48 kilometres from Ayres Rock and 200 metres taller than it's neighbour, The Olgas comprises of a set o f 36 individual domes. The original aboriginal name for the Olgas is Kata Tjuta which literally translates to ‘the place of many heads'. On your Australia holiday take time leisurely strolling through such wonderful scenery as the Valley of the Winds or Olga Gorge and catch a glimpse of the amazing wildlife on show in the region, such as the Thorny Devil. The Sunset at the Olgas is spectacular, with dusky blues and purples to fierce oranges and reds that light up the sky. Spend a few nights here and witness the incredible colours of the sunset and sunrises.

Australia Holidays – The Ghan

Although oddly named, The Ghan is firmly established as part of Australian tourism legend. Established in 1929, The Ghan Train first departed Adelaide for Alice Springs in 1929, and eventually, after 70 years of on – off construction, The Ghan is able travel all the way to Darwin, which was the original dream envisioned upon it's conception. Should you choose a Ghan rail journey on your Australia holiday, you will be whisked across Australia, passing some of the counties most instantly recognisable landmarks, including Ayres Rock, the Red Centre and Alice Springs.

Australia Holidays – Darwin

One of Australia's most picturesque harbours, Darwin is surrounded by the glistening jewel-like waters of the Arafura Sea, which encompass a thoroughly modern city with a population of close to 100,000 people. Located in the north western corner of the Northern Territory in the geographical area known as ‘Top End' Darwin is a classical tropical sea port, and is located between Beagle Gulf and Port Darwin.

Darwin is one of Australia's most multicultural cities, with over 70 different racial and cultural groups represented within its vast habitat. In turn, Darwin has developed a wonderful sense of a cosmopolitan environment, with many lifestyles and customs prevailing in the embracing surroundings. Due to its natural isolation from other Australian States, Darwin has grown into a uniquely cultured state, adopting both Australian and Asian customs and traditions.

Visitors to Darwin may wish to visit one of Darwin's many extensive nature parks, of which there are 20 in all, offering everything from magnificent mammals and brilliant birds to fantastic flora and superb sealife. Parks to take special interest of include Kakadu National Park, Coburg Marine Park, Umbrawarra and Butterfly Gorges and Tjuwaliyn Hot Springs.

Australia Holidays – The Great Barrier Reef

Lying about 300 kilometres off the Capricorn Coast, larger than the Great Wall of China and the only living organism visible from space, You can reach coral sites by air and water taxi, and scuba dive or snorkel. the Great Barrier Reef is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world. In total, the living reef of over 1,000 islands, so sandy bays and others rainforest isles, measures an incredible 2000km in length, shimmering with otherworldly colours all the way along the Queensland Coast. Queensland's warm subtropical climate is perfect for year-round diving and the water is clearer than crystal. A simply sensational diving experience and wonderful snorkelling conditions await for would – be explorers on holiday in Australia.

Australia Holidays – Sydney

Back in suburban Australia, the attractions are no less powerful. A good example of grandiose grace is the Sydney Harbour Bridge, spanning Sydney harbour. At almost 1150 metres long, 49 metres wide and with an arch span of just over 500 metres, the widest longspan bridge in the world is a truly gargantuan structure – to give you a good idea of it's size, it's total surface area is the equivalent of 60 sports fields! Spectacular views can be had at the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout, which at 87 metres above mean sea level, allows a breathtaking view of the bridge, harbour and ship trade.

Back down on terra firma, the world famous Sydney Opera House offers its patrons a wide range of entertaining day and evening performances. This sail –shaped wonder houses operas, ballet, comedy, physical theatre and cabaret, as well as 5 star restaurants and cafes and bars for light refreshments – a perfect jaunt for romantics on holiday in Australia.

Australia Holidays – Canberra

The serious business of Parliament is accessible in the Capital of Australia, Canberra, where the Parliament of Western Australia conducts tours for members of the public every Monday and Thursday. Those of you that like the idea of important political affairs will enjoy a visit on a parliamentary sitting day, where a guided tour takes you to observe the opening of a day in the Legislative Council and Government Business in the Legislative Assembly - non-sitting days see the tour takes participants to the Legislative Council gallery and then onto the floor of the Legislative Assembly.

Art, culture and history enthusiasts will love The National Library of Australia with its plethora of rare, wonderful and exquisite artefacts, ranging from books, to historical manuscripts, a newspaper archive and paintings of international importance. The 220 kilometres of book shelving should give you some indication as to the width and breadth of important items and enclosed culture and knowledge housed here.

Archers Direct Holidays in Australia

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Archers Direct Tours, Cruises & Resort Holidays

For a world of holidays that won't cost you the earth, you've come to the right place. From escorted coach tours and train tours to resort-based beach holidays to cruises and short breaks. From Europe to the USA & Canada to Australia, we have getaways to suit everyone – all featuring the amazing value that only direct booking can offer. Year round holidays (summer holidays, winter holidays, Christmas holidays & Xmas holidays, half term holidays, Easter holidays) include January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November & December. We fly from the following UK airports: London airports – Heathrow airport, Gatwick airport, Luton airport & Stansted airport as well as Birmingham airport, Bristol airport, East Midlands airport, Edinburgh airport, Glasgow airport, Manchester airport & Newcastle airport.

View all our holidays to Australia