What Can I Expect From A Visit To Australia?

Deep down, we're all looking for that "authentic" travel experience. We don't want The Hilton Australia. No, we want to stay with an Australian aboriginal family in the bush. We don't want to eat at McDonalds Australia; we want to eat a vegemite sandwich or an emu burger.

We don't want to visit the Queensland Australia zoo; we want to take a 4-wheel-drive vehicle right out into the Australian outback where we can catch a glimpse of wild dingoes and red kangaroos in their natural habitat. To visit Australia is to peer into a rich cultural heritage and experience a more laid-back beach lifestyle, if only for a week or two.

Australia has wildlife! It is one of twelve "megadiverse" countries that accounts for 75% of the world's biodiversity, says the Department of Environment and Climate Change. The existence of Australian animals on the island fascinates biologists, who attribute the tremendous biodiversity to being allowed to proliferate without human interference for so many years. Remember, Australia wasn't even officially declared a country until 1901.

It's not every day that you can see 45 species of kangaroo hopping through the brush, an enormous emu running with its gangly ostrich-like legs, or hear a laughing kookaburra in the tree. Some animals can only be found down under. The Tasmanian devil, for instance, is only found in Australia.

To Australian guides, it may be nothing to see a playful platypus, 100 varieties of poisonous snakes, 56 species of parrots, a koala or a wild dingo, but travelers are always somewhat bewildered by the sudden emergence of animals they had only previously seen on TV or at the zoo. The bush and the Australian outback are unique experiences, so try to arrange a four-wheel-drive tour to catch the wildlife in their natural habitats!

Visit Australia to see natural wonders. The Great Barrier Reef next to the party town of Carins is the best place to dive in the world. Backpackers can take an "introductory dive" with a tour company for $75 AUD per trip. For a more in-depth view that's off-the-beaten-path, you'll need your scuba license or a fair amount of cash to get on a private boat.

Another amazing natural wonder is Uluru, which is also called "Ayers Rock." The Anangu Australian aboriginal people believe this 348-meter, color-changing rock holds sacred power and it is situated right in Kata Tjuta National Park, where you can traverse many different hiking trails. Thirdly, at Monkey Mia you'll have the chance to feed wild dolphins in Shark Bay, a protected World Heritage area.

Also, Queensland's Daintree Rainforest (the oldest in the world) is home to 30% of the nation's frog, marsupial and reptile species, 65% of the bat and butterfly species, and 20% of the country's birds. These are just a few of the natural wonders you will be privy to on an Australian vacation. Australia also boasts some of the best hiking, road trips and a "Little Sahara" desert region.

Visit Australia to experience music. In addition to having thriving jazz and country scenes, Australians love a whole host of rock, but offer up certain distinctive styles. For instance, The Atlantics played surf-oriented rockabilly, much like what was happening in California during the 1950s - 1980s too. The Bee Gees, The Loved Ones, Olivia Newton-John showcased some of the diversity found down under.

Australia is also home to many "pub rock" bands like: Mental As Anything, Midnight Oil, The Angels, Cold Chisel, Icehouse, INXS and Men at Work. In the 90s, AC/DC, Savage Garden, The Living End and Silverchair brought notoriety to sleepy beach towns of Australia.

Today, "pub rock" still thrives as the traditional Aussie sound, with bands like The Vines, Jet, Airbourne and Wolfmother. Australian music is a great reason for any young artist type to embark on an Australian adventure.