Australia

Australia...just the name calls up excitement...a land of adventure and surprise, home of the strange and the wonderful, a land of open space and friendly attitudes, a place where you'll be welcome to experience life in a different world.

The fact is, Australia is huge, about the same size as the United States. It's not a place you can see in a few days, yet every day spent there is a memorable experience, whether it's in the great red Outback with its highlights of purple and green and blue sky that seems to go on forever, discovering life in a prehistoric rainforest, in any one of its cities brimming with vibrancy, or upon a sparkling sandy beach, all laced with unique animals and ancient Aboriginal culture!

Where to begin?
To help you, here are some highlights, followed by a chart of distances.
Play. Learn. Dream. Then contact the Diva for help putting it all together.

New South Wales

Canberra is the capitol of all of Australia, located between Sydney and Perth. It's status as capitol guarantees there are plenty of museums and galleries as well as the Captain Cook Memorial, the Royal Australian Mint and the southern hemisphere's largest permanent display of prehistoric material, the National Dinosaur Museum.

Melbourne offers visitors the style, elegance and attractions of a sophisticated city as well as all the natural beauty and unique wildlife you expect from Australia, including the famous Little Penguins of Phillip Island and the spectacular Great Ocean Road.

Sydney has been called the most beautiful city in the South Pacific. When one thinks of Australia, it's often Sydney's Opera House that springs to mind, but this gracious city has so much more to offer: fantastic climate, gorgeous beaches, a vast array of water activities, amazing food, beautiful coastal scenery, nature and wildlife, World Heritage National Parks, fascinating heritage and Aboriginal culture.

Northern Territory

Alice Springs is a desert oasis, complete with palm trees and camel rides. Even the Down Under Diva herself couldn't resist taking a ride!

Darwin, a multi-cultural frontier city, boasts a unique blend of cultural heritage, intriguing shopping opportunities at the famous Night Markets, and access to several of Australia's national parks.

Ayers Rock, the world's largest monolith, is only one of many Aboriginal sacred sites in Kata Tjuta National Park. Take a walking tour with an Aboriginal guide to learn about its connection with the Uluru people and its importance in dreamtime legend.

Queensland

Brisbane, Australia's third largest city, boasts and easygoing atmosphere and tropical climate popular with both tourists and Australian natives. Enjoy the nightlife and art. For animal lovers, see Australian wildlife up close at the Crocodile Hunter's Australia Zoo, Lone Pine or Alma Park Zoo. For outdoors types, head out to sea on a fishing charter, or set sail on a sailing tour or cruise of Moreton Bay. 

Cairns in northern Queensland is the perfect hub for Great Barrier Reef visits and other nature adventures, from 4-wheeling in the Outback to the breathtaking awe of the rainforest. The shopping and nightlife are terrific too, so this sophisticated but friendly town has something for everybody.

Great Barrier Reef, the world's large coral reef system, stretches over 1600 miles along the coast of Queensland. There are many ways to see this ecological treasure, from luxury cruises to guided dives. Look what the Diva found when she went Diving!

South Australia

Adelaide, South Australia's capital, is a gem of a city, small but sparkling with natural beauty. It is home to the South Australian Museum, which contains the largest collection of Aboriginal artifacts in the world, while the town's eastern end is home to the Botanical Gardens and the National Wine Center.

Coober Pedy is a must for opal lovers looking for adventure. Located far out in the scorching Outback, the intrepid locals constructed most of this city underground!

Tasmania

Hobart, with it's humble beginnings as a penal colony, is one of the oldest cities in Australia. It's mild climate makes it a great destination any time of year for shopping its arts and crafts scene and taking in the history.

Western Australia

Perth, home of black swans and white sand beaches, was home to Aborigines over 40,000 years ago! Offering a mix of history, culture and stunning natural beauty, it's no wonder Perth is growing as a must-see destination.