Seribu mil dari mana saja, Australia benar-benar merupakan dunia yang terpisah. Sebelum Tersentuh oleh Dunia Barat selama ribuan tahun yang lalu, Benua Australia itu hanya rumah bagi suku-suku Aborigin. Setelah dua ratus lima puluh tahun terakhir ketika kota-kota besar bermunculan dan dibukanya jalur penerbangan ke seluruh dunia, Australia menjadi salah satu tujuan liburan atau tujuan wisata paling populer di dunia.
Pada abad ke 18 dan 19, Australia hanya dikenal dan populer sebagai benua yang kaya dengan kandungan emas, banyak prospektor emas khususnya dari Amerika maupun Inggris datang ke negeri kanguru ini untuk membuka ladang emas lalu kemudian mengeksplorasinya. Beberapa tahun kemudian, di awal abad yg sama, barulah dunia menyadari bahwa Asutralia sebenarnya kaya dengan obyek wisata alam seperti, hamparan luas pantai emas, gunung bersalju, gurun pasir, danau dan laut biru yang amat jernih.
Australia memang unik dan berbeda. Kita bisa melihat berbagai keajaiban alam seperti Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock dan masih banyak lagi. Pantai Gold Coast terhampar sepanjang jalan di pesisir Australia, sebagaimana halnya perairan pesisir pantai biru terhampar di sepanjang Queensland. Kita pun bisa menemukan tebing jurang yang tinggi seperti Grand Canyon dan gurun pasir seperti Sahara, di pedalaman benua Australia ini.
Lebih lanjut, seorang rekan kami Travel Guide yg menetap di Australia berpendapat ,
"For those who don't fancy venturing into "the bush" the great cities of Australia rival anywhere in the world. Most people's gateway to the country Sydney is strikingly beautiful. The Old Quarter of The Rocks harks back to the early colonial years while the modernism of the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Stadium Australia dwarf one's imagination. But if Sydney is Australia's San Francisco then Melbourne is the country's LA - a fashion conscious, dynamic city with great energy and vibrancy. Don't forget the country's other larger cities, Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin and Perth, each of which have their own charm and unique appeal."
ia juga menambahkan ,
"But where Australia's magic really lies is when the comparisons to other places fail. 80 per cent of its flora and fauna is unique to the territory, and they're not all poisonous. The Aboriginal culture is a unique phenomenon, a centuries old theology that perfectly fits in with Australia's diversity and is perhaps the only thing that manages to encompass one of the world's most fascinating destinations. "
Hm, Australia memang unik dan menarik! kalau ada kesempatan dan dana, sebaiknya luangkan waktu untuk berlibur jalan-jalan ke Australia, ga bakalan nyesel deh ...
Okay, sekarang saatnya untuk menyimak baik-baik, obyek wisata apa aja sih di Asutralia yang bisa kita lihat dan temukan? yuk mari kita simak, beberapa obyek di Australia yang bisa kita kunjungi. ready? Here they are ...
Uluru - Ayers Rock (Northern Territory)
Ayers Rock
The most enduring image of Australia is the imposing vista of Ayers Rock, or Uluru as it is properly known. Almost exactly in the centre of the country, this huge 350m high monolith has been a sacred site for the Aboriginal tribes for thousands of years.
The local Anangu people prefer that visitors respect the cultural and spiritual significance of Uluru, and refrain from climbing it. If you do insist on climbing there are marked areas to stay within and be aware that it is quite a strenuous climb. Ensure you visit the Cultural Centre at the resort to enrich your understanding of the local environment and people.
King's Canyon and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) are within easy reach of Uluru and Ayers Rock resort and are well worth the effort to visit. The bottom of the 250m-deep chasm of King's Canyon is filled with lush vegetation known as the "Garden of Eden" and stands in startling contrast to the surrounding desert terrain. The domes of Kata Tjuta tower 200m higher than Uluru, and, for many people, are just as impressive as their more famous neighbour. There are 36 separate domes and hidden within are several Aboriginal sacred and cultural sites that you are asked to respect.
The Great Barrier Reef & the Whitsundays (Queensland)
Whitsundays
Off the Queensland coast, and stretching for over 2000km, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's most spectacular natural features. Home to millions of marine animal species, the living reef has a unique eco-system of its own and although fragile it literally teems with colourful and wonderful life. Naturally it is one of the world's most popular sites for diving and snorkelling. Sparklingly clear waters mean that the reef is clearly visible from tour boats as well if you don't fancy getting wet.
Other than diving and reef spotting, there's snorkelling, fishing, and simply spending time on some of the 74 Whitsunday Islands - paradise come true.
Wine Tours
Hunter Valley vineyards
New World wines are becoming very well established internationally and Australian wine is familiar to everyone. The wine industry is on a huge scale and although vines are grown in almost every Australian state, two of the best regions are the Big River Country and the Barossa Valley of South Australia, and New South Wales's Hunter Valley. In the latter alone, there are just over 70 wineries. Most allow some kind of visit and of course a tasting and it's a great way to spend a lazy afternoon. Check for the vineyard closest to where you're staying.
Sydney (New South Wales)
Sydney Opera House
The biggest city in Australia, and the busiest, Sydney's hosting of the 2000 Olympic Games was widely considered to be the best such event in the modern history of the games. You can tour the magnificent Stadium Australia where the main events were held, but there is much more to see in this beautiful city.
The twin icons of Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge dominate the harbour and a tour of the former and a climb of the latter are unforgettable experiences. Australia's finest art galleries and museums are also contained within the city, while an international range of restaurants, clubs and bars keep entertainment levels high. Best of all is the all-pervasive friendly atmosphere which makes Sydney many visitors' favourite destination in Australia.
Beaches
Bondi Beach
Aussies have not only embraced but have defined the modern beach lifestyle the world over. The entire coast of the country is amply blessed with beautiful beaches, and for the people who live nearby the beach is central to recreation and social life.
From the built-up beaches of Surfer's Paradise and the Gold Coast to abandoned stretches of the Southwest of the country around Perth, there's more coastal sands than you could hope to discover in a lifetime. Walk and fish the remote stretches of sand on the Western Coast, or hire yourself a boogie or surf board, grow your hair long and hit the waves on Bondi. And whichever you choose, round it off with a traditional Aussie beach barbie.
The Kimberleys (Western Australia)
Kimberleys
Although the Kimberleys are not Australia's most famous destination, they are certainly worth a trip. Located in the Northwest of the country, the region still has the feel of unexplored frontier about it, and is quintessential wild Australia hundreds of miles from any big city.
The vast expanse of the Great Sandy Desert (named in typical no-nonsense Aussie style) is to the south while the Kimberleys themselves hide the Bungle Bungle sandstone mountains and fabulous river gorges that once were part of a coral reef. When the magnificent storms of the wet season starts, it is as if you are transported to another, primeval, time.
Home to just 30,000 people the sense of isolation is only heightened when you come across one of the ranching towns that dot the plateau or head for the bigger settlements and you're rewarded with unspoiled stretches of crenellated coastline, great for fishing and cruising.
Active Holiday
The Australians are an adventurous lot, used to having a huge country to play in and keen to squeeze every bit of thrill and ounce of enjoyment out of life as possible. Any type of adventure and outdoor activity is abundantly represented, and undertaken with a bizarre mix of laid back insouciance and pumping adrenaline.
White water rafting, bungee-jumping, sky-diving, scuba diving, sailing, surfing, climbing, skiing, game fishing, ballooning... the list is endless. The tourist cities such as Sydney and Brisbane offer loads of chances to do any coastal activities or head for the Snowy Mountains in NSW for cracking snow sports.
And do not pass up the chance to dive the Great Barrier Reef. If you fancy seriously exploring the Outback we recommend you take an organised tour or employ an experienced guide - it's a big place and if you get lost you're not likely to get found again.
City break
Many people imagine Australia as a vast expanse of scrubland, mountains and desert, and most of it is. But the cities are also worthy of a lot more attention than people might think. Most people will take in some of Sydney's cultural charms but you should also check out Brisbane's frenetic friendliness.
Melbourne meanwhile employs fashionable style against Sydney's US scale and is a pleasant city of pavement cafés and trams. Out West you can mix in an exploration of the empty territories with a dose of laid back urbanity in Perth on the coast. One of the lesser visited cities is in fact one of the most pleasant - compact Hobart on the island of Tasmania has a lot to offer the visitor seeking some less crowded comfort.
Australian Wildlife
Kangaroo
80 per cent of Australia's flora and fauna is not found anywhere else in the world. From the cute koala to the frankly terrifying bushmaster snake each creature has its place in a unique eco-system.
You can take a bush safari into the Outback or one of the many national parks to see some of the creatures in their natural habitats. But even if you self-drive across country the abundance of wildlife is such that you're bound to see some of Australia's curious creatures somewhere along the way. Kangaroos are the most prevalent but if you're lucky and sharp you might also see snakes, lizards and koalas to name just a few. Some creatures like the utterly unlikely duck billed platypus (the world's only venomous mammal) are easier to see in captivity, and yet others like the taipan or brown snakes are definitely better seen from behind glass.
All of Australia's cities can boast modern facilities where animals are properly cared for so head for the local zoo if you can't afford the time to take a trip into the bush.
Aboriginal Culture
Aboriginal Art
For 50,000 years before European Captain Cook first dropped his anchor in Botany Bay the Aboriginal peoples of Australia had walked the land. They developed a highly sophisticated culture based on close links between the natural and spiritual world and their story is a fascinating one of no little tragedy as they were increasingly marginalised by settlers.
Nowadays, the Aboriginal legacy is carefully preserved both by the current generations of native people and in the modern cultural institutions of Australia. Exploring the history of this ancient race through their stories of the Dreamtime, rock paintings and other art, and learning how they survived for thousands of years in the harsh outback environment helps you to attach a deeper significance to the history, animals and landscape of Australia.
Sebenernya, banyak sekali keindahan serta keunikan yang bisa diceritakan seputar Wisata Australia ini, tapi lebih baik lagi kalau anda sendiri yang pergi ke sana dan membuktikannya sendiri!
yuk kita ke Aussiee!!!
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