Australia is defined by its red expanses of sandy desert, its unique wildlife (such as kangaroos and koala bears) and the cultural influence that it still enjoys from its ancient Aboriginal people. This influence permeates much of modern Australia; from its musical instruments to its cuisine and lingo. Australia is a country of awe-inspiring natural beauty and deep cultural and historical heritage. Despite being the world's smallest (and flattest) continent, Australia certainly has gained significant acclaim in the tourism industry for its diversity, landscapes and hospitality.

The culture of this land is based on migrants, Aborigines and the men and women that battled bush, beast and the beating sun in order to establish their homes here. The natural landscape of this country is particularly noteworthy, and lures visitors and researchers from all over the world to its sandy spans of dunes and stunning beaches.

The Aboriginal culture is deeply intertwined with that of the other Australian residents. Ancient tribes left remnants of their lives in the form of rock art and bark paintings, which narrate their lives and customs effectively. The colonialists who arrived in the early 1600's were faced with many challenges based on the incredibly harsh land couples with the unfair rulership by the British. These beginnings for both the indigenous people and those who arrived later have created an attitude of tolerance, acceptance and encouragement. Today, almost a quarter of Australian residents were not born in the country and a total of over 220 languages are spoken by the inhabitants (English being the most widely known and used).

The wildlife and plant species that have made their home in Australia are fascinating in both nature and multitude. Approximately 400 species of birds (which make up only half of the current bird species in the continent) are unique to Australia. Up to 80% of the marine species in the waters on the southern coast of the continent are unique to Australia. Over 25 000 species of plants can be found here, of which half are in the Western region of the continent. With such a natural abundance, it is no wonder that nature enthusiasts the world over are lured to this valuable destination year after year.

The main exports that support the Australian economy are opals (providing 99% of the world's black opals and 95% of the world's precious opals), gold, Merino sheep and cattle. In fact, tourists from all corners of the globe frequent this country for top-notch gold and opals.

Aboriginal tribes were the inventors of interesting items like the boomerang (a curved stick that returns to the thrower once tossed) as well as stone tools for grinding and cutting (used by other cultures only much later).

Australians are particularly sports-oriented and excel in rugby and cricket, amongst many other sports. Their teams compete at the highest level and enjoy international support.

Australia is a fantastic holiday destination for several reasons. It provides the entire spectrum of activities, sights and sounds. This mosaic is guaranteed to keep even the most seasoned traveller busy during their stay. Stunning beaches, stretches of isolated desert and dense forested areas combine to form one the world's most varied destinations. Because of the diversity of its inhabitants, Australia is also particularly welcoming of all races, cultures and languages. Summers are hot and winters are temperate, creating a vacation spot that is suitable in and out of season. Another reason for its popularity is Australia's close proximity to many other popular destinations, such as the China, Thailand, Japan, New Zealand and Fiji. This makes this continent the perfect base from which to discover the beauty and allure of its exotic neighbours.

To discover the rich abundance that is Australia is to experience some of the world's most spectacular fauna, flora, people and landscapes.

Andrew Keet has been intrigued by Australia http://www.australiaforever.org/ for most of his life and plans to immigrate there in the near future.