Stunning beaches, untouched rainforest, desert for as far as the eye can see… where will you spend your holidays?

Australia is a vibrant multicultural nation with an outdoor lifestyle. The beautiful weather, relaxed pace of life, and the fondness for barbecues contrasts with cosmopolitan cafes and nightlife, international cuisine, and thriving work opportunities.

Australia is a great place to raise children, and has a strong education system. It is a casual, friendly country, with a passion for sports, and a “fair go” for all.

Australia is a temperate nation, with most of the country receiving more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year.

In summer (December to March) the average temperature is 29°C.  Summer is warm with occasional hot spells and mild nights.

Winter (June to August) averages 13°C for the country as a whole, with warm days and mild nights in the northern areas, becoming cool and showery in the south (although there are still plenty of sunny days).

Australia's economy has boomed over the last few years due to its constantly increasing exports from huge mineral reserves.  A high standard of living, exciting career opportunities and a new start await you and your family in Australia!

• Population: 21,000,000
• The land mass of Australia is 1.5 times that of Europe
• Average age: 34 years
• Australia is the earth's largest island and its smallest continent
• One in four Australians were born overseas
• The longest river is the Murray River (2,520 kilometres), which forms a natural border between NSW and Vic. (1)
• The highest mountain is Mt Kosciuszko, (2,228 metres) which is situated in NSW (1)
• The name indicates the location: 'Terra Australis' means 'Southern Land'. Australia lies between 10 and 39 degrees South latitude, between the Indian and the Pacific oceans. (2)
• Australia was the first country in the world to have a complete system of bank notes based on plastic (polymer). These notes provide much greater security against counterfeiting. They also last four times as long as conventional paper (fibrous) notes. (3)

Sources:

1. www.abs.gov.au
2. www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com
3. www.dfat.gov.au/facts/currency.html

• http://www.tourism.australia.com
• http://www.australia.com