Discover Australia

The world-famous shell-shaped Opera House, the climbable Harbour Bridge with its BridgeClimb tour over the pylons, and the surfer's paradise of Bondi Beach make Sydney one of the most striking cityscapes in the world — framed by a glittering natural harbour.

The largest coral reef system on Earth stretches over 2,300 kilometres off the coast of Queensland and is even visible from space. Divers and snorkellers discover a unique underwater world with thousands of species of fish and coral here.

The sacred monolith in Australia's red centre dramatically changes colour from ochre to glowing red at sunrise and sunset. For the Aboriginal people, Uluru is a spiritually significant site whose climbing is no longer permitted, out of respect for their culture.

Hidden street-art laneways, a world-renowned coffee culture with countless roasteries, and huge sporting passion — from the Australian Open to the Melbourne Cup — make the city Sydney's cultural rival, with a charm all its own.

Flights from Europe take around 20 to 24 hours including a stopover, usually via hubs like Singapore, Dubai or Doha. Sydney and Melbourne are the main gateway airports with the most international connections.

English is Australia's official language, spoken with its distinctive accent and its own colloquial expressions (Aussie slang) that travellers quickly get used to.

December to February is summer in the south and suits Sydney and Melbourne well. The tropical north around Cairns has its dry, more pleasant travel season from May to October, with less rain and humidity.

Yes, Australia is one of the pricier destinations worldwide — hotels, restaurants and rental cars are usually above Western European price levels, especially in the big coastal cities.