BESIDES visiting laid-back Adelaide, go for activities such as hot-air ballooning, hiking and wine tours, or check out lavender and honey farms. Visit Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park to view kangaroos in their natural habitat. Be sure to visit Kangaroo Island, with its native bushland, wildlife and pristine beaches. Beach houses, local wines and sunsets are par for the course.
On the web: www.southaustralia.com
NEW SOUTH WALES
VIBRANT Sydney, the famous arts and culture hub of Australia with its trademark Opera House, offers plenty to do and see in terms of shopping and nightlife. But also get out of the city to hit the coast, countryside or mountains, where the famous Blue Mountains and Three Sisters can be found.
On the web: www.visitnsw.com
QUEENSLAND
NICKNAMED the Sunshine State thanks to its warm weather, state capital Brisbane has a healthy alternative culture, with local hip-hop and graffiti finding a home there. Natural attractions such as Noosa Laguna Bay, with its white sands and blue ocean, mean a holiday beach paradise. Nature-lovers will enjoy this gem of a state, which offers whale-watching, bush walking, and trips to offshore islands like Fraser's Island and the Hinterland. A popular excursion is a trip to the pretty township of Eumundi, just 20 minutes from Noosa Heads, particularly on market days.
On the web: www.tq.com.au
VICTORIA
MELBOURNE offers great shopping, bars, and live entertainment. Visit the seaside enclave of St Kilda's, where Australian cult labels can be found in shops. Victoria has plenty to offer nature-wise too. Four hours out of the city are towering limestone rock formations called the Twelve Apostles (above). Other awe-inspiring formations are the Gibson Steps, the Loch Ard Gorge, The Arch, the London Bridge and the Grotto.
On the web: www.visitvictoria.com
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
CALLING itself 'the real Australia' thanks to its unspoilt beaches and landscapes, this is where the city of Perth can be found. With 315 days of sunshine a year and its proximity to the coast, Western Australia is the ideal place for water sports and nature sight-seeing. Don?t miss Rockingham Wild Encounters Experience, where you can get up-close to nature, swim with wild bottlenose dolphins, meet little penguins at Penguin Island or paddle amongst sea lions from September to May.
