Visiting Australia

You do not have an Australia holiday; you have an Australia adventure.

Travel to Australia to see a unique continent and a country. While it is the smallest continent, Australia is the sixth biggest country in the world. Only 21.3 million people populate the whole 7.6 million sq km of Australia. There is a lot of empty space, and a lot to see and do, so flying between the centres is the only practical way to travel within the country.

Australia is an island, and that matters because more than 80% of the flora and fauna can only be found in Australia. Species are becoming extinct before they have even been discovered. The uniqueness of Australian wildlife is part of the county’s appeal. It is different from anywhere else on earth and a good reason to visit Australia.
Learn the Lingo

English is the national language spoken in Australia, so for a large part of the world this is a great advantage. Anglophones can enjoy the TV and newspapers, ask for directions, catch the correct train and converse with friendly locals.
Visitors do, however, need some extra vocabulary such as boomerang, didgeridoo, kookaburra and koala. Overseas visitors will also hear many new words and slang terms. Here are a few Aussie slang words that you will hear and enjoy using. You’ll hear many more, and the meaning is usually clear in the context. If not, you can always ask a local for a translation. Visitors from the UK and Ireland will recognize some of the local lingo while much of it will be new for most tourists from North America.
arvo (afternoon)
barbie (BBQ)
bloke (man, guy)
esky (icebox)
fossick (search for something)
mate (good friend or used as a greeting)
outback (interior of Australia)
petrol (gas)
flog (sell)
footpath (sidewalk)
loo (toilet)
ratbag (dishonest person)
shout (pay for someone)
sickie (a day off work due to illness)
stubby (small beer bottle)
ta (thanks)
yakka (hard work)

The term Pom or Brit is used to describe persons of British origin and Kiwi is for New Zealanders; these are used in a friendly and accepted manner. Australians are friendly people and you will often hear “no worries” and “enjoy”- the meaning is really meant in the use of the words and you may even find yourself using them. It is important to greet people and the local term “g’day mate” will be heard on occasion.

The language of ordering a coffee is complicated! Coffee has become very popular and cafés all over Sydney compete to make the best brew. The combinations are endless! Café staff are always pleased to help so it’s best to describe what you want and then remember the name. For example, we have flat white, long black, soy flat white, strong soy flat white, skinny strong decaf latté or soy decaf latté with a twist of almond and so on! To confuse things further, Australians enjoy a morning tea rather than a coffee break.

Fabulous Food

The British influence can still be tasted in the gastronomic delicacies available in Australia, such as fish and chips, although Australia has established its own specialities, including the popular meat pie with sauce. In more recent years, the influx of immigrants from various nations has influenced the cuisine and now it is common to find dishes of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Asian and other origins.

Restaurant prices range across a wide spectrum but, if you are on a limited budget, you can still find tasty food in a diversity of ethnic styles at reasonable prices. Almost every corner shop can sell you the ubiquitous meat pie and often sausage rolls or some similar delicacies. If you have a good appetite, the counter lunch is great value for money. Most hotels and pubs and many clubs serve a hearty lunch or dinner at a modest price.

Sports and Games

The principal sports in Australia are cricket, rugby (league and union) and Australian Rules football.

In the summer sport of cricket, Australia is generally regarded as a world leader, especially in five-day test cricket. The nation has also produced the man usually regarded as the best cricketer ever, or certainly the best batsman, Sir Donald Bradman, who died in Adelaide at the beginning of 2001 at the age of 92.

Cricket is popular and draws large crowds. The greatest struggle is against the old ‘enemy’ England in a battle that takes place twice every four years - once in Australia and once in England - in a series of five five-day test matches. The reward for winning this is the title to the Ashes. The Ashes is a trophy reputedly containing the ashes of the stumps or bails from the first match in which Australia ever defeated England on English soil, on 29th August 1882, although the reality of that is debatable.

The principal arena for cricket is the Melbourne Cricket Ground, built for the 1956 Olympic Games, and in which 97,000 spectators can be accommodated. However, other capital cities also have their famous cricket grounds - the Sydney Cricket Ground, the ‘Gabba in Brisbane, the W.A.C.A. in Perth and the Adelaide Oval.

In winter, Australia is divided between rugby league, union and Australian Rules football. Rugby league is possibly the major sport in New South Wales and Queensland, whilst Victoria is the stronghold of Australian Rules football, with support from South Australia and Western Australia.

Australian Rules football is a fast and exciting game played on an oval field with an oval shaped ball. Two slightly different codes have teams of 15 or 18 players. The ball can be carried by players as long as they bounce it every 10 metres (no mean feat) and it can be passed by being kicked or being punched, but not thrown. If another player catches a kicked ball, he may claim a ‘mark’ and have a free kick, and one of the most exciting moments in the sport is seeing players rise high into the air to take marks. At each end of the field are four goal posts in line. If the ball is kicked between the centre two posts, a goal is scored and six points awarded to the team kicking the goal. If the ball passes between one of the centre posts and an outer post, however, only a ‘behind’ is scored and just a single point is awarded. A game consists of four quarters of 25 minutes of actual playing time each.

Horse racing is also popular in Australia, and the gambling is as much a part of the fun as the horses. Greyhound racing serves a similar purpose. Australia has also produced some fine swimmers and tennis players over the years, as well as one or two famous golfers. As one might expect, surfing is also a sport at which many Australians excel.