Australia is a stable, culturally diverse and democratic society with a skilled workforce and a strong, competitive economy. With a population of more than 20.6 million, Australia is the only nation to govern an entire continent. It is the earth´s biggest island and the sixth-largest country in the world in land area. Australia is one of the world´s oldest landmasses and has been populated by human beings for an estimated 60 000 years. Before the arrival of European settlers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples inhabited most areas of the continent. Australia´s contemporary history is relatively short, with the first European settlement established by Great Britain on 26 January 1788. Australia has 10 per cent of the world´s biodiversity and a great number of its native plants, animals and birds exist nowhere else in the world. Australia is committed to conserving its unique environment and natural heritage and has a range of protection procedures in place, including World Heritage listings and many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Australia´s population includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and migrants from some 200 countries. In almost 60 years of planned post-war migration, Australia has welcomed more than 6.5 million migrants, including more than 660 000 refugees. During this time, the population has almost tripled from about 7 million. Migrants have brought with them language skills and other capabilities that are valuable in today´s global economy and workforce. Although English is the official language in Australia, more than 4.1 million Australians speak a second language. As a result, Australia offers the familiarity of a Western business culture with a workforce capable of operating in many different business environments.Australia has a well-developed education system with participation rates among the highest in the world. Each year, Australia welcomes an increasing number of international students, with current figures rating Australia 3rd among English-speaking countries as a student destination. The quality of life enjoyed by people in Australia is one of the highest in the world. Australia´s clean physical environment, health services, education and lifestyle combine to make it an attractive place to live. Australia´s ancient Indigenous traditions and multiculturalism are reflected in the diverse cultures and forms of artistic talent present in the country.

The Australian Capital Territory ( ACT) was established in 1911 to create a capital for the newly federated country of Australia. Some 2330 square kilometres (900 square miles) was set aside, 53 per cent of which today remains nature park or reserve. Canberra, the urban centre of the ACT, is a thriving modern city of 325,000 people with stylish restaurants, hip bars, boutique shopping, fun for the kids and a busy calendar of events and festivals. The surrounding rural areas and stretches of natural bushland are home to charming rural townships such as Tharwa and Hall, award-winning wineries, and stunning nature parks. Just 45 minutes drive from the city is Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve which offers walking trails, ranger-guided activities, Australian animals in their natural habitat, delightful wildflowers during spring and rich Indigenous and pioneer heritage.

In 1770 Captain James Cook sailed into what is now called Botany Bay. Cook later claimed a section of Australia's East Coast for Great Britain under the name of New South Wales. The colony became a state in 1901 after Australia was officially declared a nation. The original inhabitants of NSW, the Aboriginal peoples, have lived in the area for more than 45,000 years and many reminders of this period still exists today. In Sydney and the surrounding regions alone there are more than 2,000 Aboriginal rock engraving sites and many of Sydney's suburbs have Aboriginal names such as Woolloomooloo, Parramatta and Yagoona. The national parks, state conservation areas and marine parks of NSW are home to a vast array of exotic birds, animals and plant life including many threatened and endangered species. Australia's highest mountain, Mount Kosciusko, towers 2,228 metres above the snowcapped ski fields in the southern alps of NSW while Australia's longest river, the Darling River, flows 2, 740km from northern NSW to join with the Murray River near the Victorian border in the state's south-west.

Australia's Outback Northern Territory is bordered by Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. Blessed with an abundance of natural environments the NT is famous for its spectacular wildlife. This is an environment that ebbs and flows with the seasons, of contrast and colour, where change is the only constant. Of awe inspiring iconic wonders - the World Heritage National Parks of Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta (Ayers Rock). Of flora and fauna as diverse as desert blooms are to lotus lilies and the fearsome saltwater crocodile is to the Brolga, the elegant dancing bird that is our emblem.

Queensland covers the wholeof the north-eastern part of the continent and is the second largest state in Australia. In the seventies Queensland was a real Mecca for hippies who came herefrom all over to escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life and communewith nature. Today the area attracts a new generation of rebels and ecologists.It is no real surprise as Queenslandenjoys a lot of sun, clear blue skies, crystal clear oceans and some of themost beautiful, endless white beaches in the world. Its tropical islands anddense humid rain forest provide perfect conditions for both those looking fortotal relaxation or something more active. There is certainly something for everyone in Queensland:the neon lights of Surfers Paradise, deserted beaches, the Great Barrier Reef, island resorts, forest paths, wide open spaces andnational parks.

South Australia is a place for unforgettable adventures, close encounters with nature, exciting events and outback landscapes. Adelaide is South Australia's elegant, easy-living capital, where the people will make you feel at home and you'll get all the buzz of big city living without big city bills. You can take a morning dip with dolphins just 20 minutes from the city centre, in beachside Glenelg. Tour the National Wine Centre - offering the complete wine experience - or the fabulous Adelaide Central Market, bustling with people seeking gourmet specialities from around the world. From Adelaide, it's less than an hour to some 200 cellar doors and tempting food and wine trails. Drink wines loved the world over in Barossa, Coonawarra and the Clare Valley. Journey to the outback to see the awesome Flinders Ranges. Or head south to Kangaroo Island to visit Seal Bay and clamber over fascinating landscapes like Remarkable Rocks. You can be the captain of your own houseboat and cruise the tranquil waters of the mighty Murray River with friends. Learn to water ski or canoe the river's quiet backwaters.

Tasmania is an island of about 64,000 square kilometres and lies 240kilometres south-east of the Australian coast and is the country´ssmallest state. It only has a population of half a million and almosthalf the island is covered in forest. The biggest attraction of Tasmania is its enormous, unpopulated space,the majority of which is protected as natural wilderness. It ispossible to even fish for a few days and not see the presence of asingle person. This also means that it is much easier to spot eaglessoaring overhead or some fish which, due to their paw-like fins andspecial gills, can go on land. You can also encounter a number ofmarsupials including wombats and Tasmanian devils. There are small villages scattered all over Tasmania where you canstill often see the homes of the original British settlers. In thepeace and quiet that reigns here you can very quickly forget about thehustle and bustle of normal life. The easiest way to get to Tasmania is to take the ‘ Spirit of Tasmania´ ferry which travels between the island and Melbourne all day and night. Cradle Mountain and St Claire´s Lake National Park The most famous of Tasmania´s wilderness areas. Here you can findlakes, extensive heath land, mountain views and excellent mountaintrails. You can also come across wallabies, spiny anteaters andwombats. Both Australian and foreign tourists come to the CradleMountain and St Clare´s Lake National Park which also has the deepestlake in Australia. Tasmanian Devil
It looks a bit like a badger with black or dark brown colouring andwhite crescent-like markings on its stomach and lives only in Tasmania.Its name derives from both its howl and the fact that it is veryaggressive and will not run away even from animals which are muchstronger than itself. Devonport
Is a town on the banks of the river Mersey. Famous for its beautiful white lighthouse and local handicrafts.

Hugging the tip of the Australian east coast, Victoria is Australia's second-smallest state, covering 227,600 square kilometres - roughly the size of the British Isles. Packed into such a compact area is a wealth of diverse regional areas and attractions, from sweeping coastline and pristine beaches to national parks and forests teeming with wildlife to wineries, lakes and mountains offering skiing, climbing and hiking. Best of all, many of Victoria's unique and varied landscapes are easily accessible as day trips from Melbourne. Despite its small size, the Victorian climate varies across the state. The north is much drier and warmer weather than the south. Australia's seasons are the reverse of those in the northern hemisphere.

Western Australia takes up almost one third of the continent of Australia and a large part of this state is desert. Each spring, as if by magic, the arid ground is transformed into a colourful sea of flowers. There are less than two million people in the whole state of Western Australia and two thirds of them live in Perth.