About Australia

:: History :

Australia's original inhabitants, known as Australian Aborigines, have the longest continuous cultural history in the world, with origins dating back to the last Ice Age.

Although mystery and debate shroud many aspects of Australian prehistory, it is generally accepted that the first humans travelled across the sea from Indonesia about 70,000 years ago. The first visitors, called 'Robust' by archaeologists because of their heavy-boned physique, were followed 20,000 years later by the more slender 'Gracile' people, the ancestors of Australian Aborigines.

Europeans began to encroach on Australia in the 16th century: Portuguese navigators were followed by Dutch explorers and the enterprising English pirate William Dampier. Captain James Cook sailed the entire length of the eastern coast in 1770, stopping at Botany Bay on the way.

After rounding Cape York, he claimed the continent for the British and named it New South Wales.

Australia became a nation when federation of the separate colonies took place on 1 January 1901 (although many of the legal and cultural ties with England remained).

:: Climate :

Because of the variety of climate, Australia is a continent that can be visited all year around.

Places to avoid absolutely from mid-November to mid-April :

North Western Australia (Exmouth, Broome, Kimberleys).
In the Top End (Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine) is very hot and humid from mid November until April, some tourist attractions might not be reachable.

Places to avoid (unless you like cold weather) from June to September

Tasmania, Melbourne, Kangaroo Island.
Places to be careful of from December to March

North Queensland (Cairns).
The alternative to North Queensland from December to March is South Queensland. The Barrier Reef can be visited for an exciting day by flying to Lady Elliot Island.

:: Transport :

There are several international airports in Australia : Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Cairns and Brisbane.

For long distances, unless you have a lot of time available, planes and trains are the two best means of transport.

There is a train going from Perth to Sydney (the Indian Pacific via Adelaide), from Sydney to Alice Springs (The Ghan via Adelaide), from Sydney to Cairns (The Great South Pacific Express via Brisbane).

We have chartered airplanes for a variety of group sizes. Not only does it create greater privacy and exclusive service to the client but it is on many occasions a very affordable way to travel.

Qantas is the main domestic carrier with Virgin Blue a smaller carrier. Qantas provide you with group rates and passes for FIT clients.

:: Facts for the travelers :

Visas: Every nationality except New Zealanders need visas. Tourist visas and Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visas are valid for three months.

Health risks: heat exhaustion (Heat exhaustion occurs when fluid intake dows not keep up with fluid loss).

Time Zone: GMT/UTC +10 (Eastern Standard Time), GMT/UTC +9.5 (Central Time), GMT/UTC +8 (Western Time)

Dialling Code: 61

Electricity: 220-240V ,50

Weights & measures: Metric

About Australia

4 Wheel drive