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Australia

Australia is the sixth-largest country by land area. It is comparable in size to the 48 contiguous United States. Australia is bordered to the west by the Indian Ocean, and to the east by the South Pacific Ocean. The Tasman Sea lies to the southeast, separating it from New Zealand, while the Coral Sea lies to the northeast. Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Indonesia are Australia's northern neighbours, separated from Australia by the Arafura Sea and the Timor Sea.

Australia is highly urbanised with most of the population heavily concentrated along the eastern and south-eastern coasts. Most of the inland areas of the country are semi-arid. The most-populous states are Victoriaand New South Wales, but by far the largest in land area is Western Australia.

Australia has an area of 7,682,300km² (2,966,152 square miles) and the distances between cities and towns are easy to underestimate. The Government has published a National Public Toilet Map.

Australia has large areas that have been deforested for agricultural purposes, but many native forest areas survive in extensive national parks and other undeveloped areas. Long-term Australian concerns include salinity, pollution, loss of biodiversity, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.

The national holidays in Australia are:

• 1 January: New Years' Day
• 26 January: Australia Day, marking the anniversary of the First Fleet's landing in Sydney Cove in 1788.
• Easter weekend("Good Friday", "Easter Saturday", "Easter Sunday" and "Easter Monday"): a four day long weekend in March or April set according to the Western Christian calendar.
• 25 April: ANZAC Day (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps), honouring military veterans
• Second Monday in June: Queen's birthday holiday (celebrated in Western Australia in September) (WA observes Foundation Daya week earlier)
• 25 December: Christmas Day
• 26 December: Boxing Day

Driving Tips in Australia

:= Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road and use the metric system of distances and speeds.

Australia is as large as continental USA, but the population is only 22.5 million, so the road network is not as well developed, especially away from the coastal areas.  There are often very long distances between towns which have fuel, water and/or food.

Australian cars are mostly right-hand drive vehicles, and have automatic transmission, although manuals (stick-shift) are still widely available and are cheaper to hire. The gear shift is positioned for operation by the left hand and is usually on the floor.  Selecting a vehicle with automatic transmission could help minimize the period of adjustment for drivers more used to driving on the right. There should be no trouble getting an automatic transmission unless you opt for the cheapest, smallest model.  Note also that the park brake is usually a hand-operated lever in the center of the vehicle.

• The blood alcohol limit is 0.05% throughout Australia, with zero limits for learners and drivers with provisional licences ("P" plates) in some states. Random alcohol and drug tests are conducted by the police. If caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a first offender might expect a fine and a period of driving suspension. This is considered to be a criminal offence. Fines will generally be determined by a court, based on how high your reading is. Refusing a random breath test is also an offence and similar penalties apply as for driving under the influence of alcohol.

• Seat belts must be worn by all occupants.  Children and babies must be restrained in an approved safety harnesses, capsules or booster seat, in some states up to 7 years old. Seat belt laws are strictly enforced, and the onus is on the driver to ensure all passengers are buckled up.
• Passengers 16 and over not wearing a seat belt will be fined along with the driver if caught.
• Speed limits are clearly signposted.   A default 50km/h speed limit applies in urban areas with street lights in the rare event that there is no other signposted limit. Signposted school zones have a 40km/h limit during certain school hours, generally 8am to 9.30am and 2.30pm to 4pm and are signposted in NSW and VIC, often with flashing lights. These limits also apply to days in which teachers but not students attend school. It is important to be aware holidays vary from state to state so crossing borders can suddenly mean you are in a school zone. In South Australia, school zones have a 25km/h limit. In Queensland, school zones on roads with higher speed limits may also be signposted at 60km/h or 80km/h. Victoria may have 60km/h school zones on roads with higher speed limits. The Australian Capital Territory's school zones are 40km/h but apply for the whole of the school day.
• The speed limit outside the cities also varies between states. In Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, the default speed limit is 100km/h. In Western Australia and the Northern Territory the default speed limit is 110km/h and in the Northern Territory it can be up to 130km/h on major highways.

Australia's low population density and large size makes for long driving times between major centres. Some indicative travel times, not including any rest periods, are:

• Melbourne to Sydney: 9-10 hours (900km / 560 mi)
• Brisbane to Sydney: 12-13 hours (1,000km / 621 mi)
• Perth to Sydney: 45 hours (4,000km / 2500 mi)
• Sydney to Canberra: 3.5 hours (300km / 185 mi)
• Adelaide to Melbourne: 8-10 hours (750km / 465 mi)
• Brisbane to Melbourne: 19-20 hours (1,700km / 1056 mi)
• Melbourne to Perth: 40 hours (3,500km / 2175 mi)
• Perth to Adelaide: 32 hours (2,700km / 1677 mi)
• Brisbane to Cairns: 22-24 hours (1,700km / 1,056 mi)

 TOP DRIVING SUGGESTIONS

1. NULLARBOR PLAIN, SA & WA

Distance From Norseman to Ceduna - 1201 kilometres.

Vehicle Standard car. 

2. GIBB RIVER ROAD, WA

Distance From Kununurra to Derby - 709 kilometres.

Vehicle High 4WD. 

3. ALICE SPRINGS TO ULURU AND KINGS CANYON, NT.

Distance 1080 kilometres.

Vehicle Standard car. 

4. GREAT OCEAN ROAD, VIC.

Distance 255 kilometres from Torquay to Warrnambool.

Vehicle Standard car. 

5. HOBART TO FREYCINET PENINSULA, TAS

Distance 437 kilometres.

Vehicle Standard car.

6. THE BIRDSVILLE TRACK, SA

Distance 517 kilometres.

Vehicle 4WD.

7. WESTERN QUEENSLAND ? LONGREACH, BARCALDINE, MUTTABURRA

Distance 286 kilometres from Barcaldine to Winton.

Vehicle Standard car.

8. EDEN AND BEN BOYD NATIONAL PARK, NSW

Distance 108 kilometres.

Vehicle 4WD/standard car.

9. FRASER ISLAND, QLD

Distance About 150 kilometres of driveable tracks and beach.

Vehicle 4WD.

10. THE DESERT CIRCUIT, NSW

Distance 959 kilometres.

Vehicle 4WD/standard car when conditions are dry.