Planning a Trip

Distance plays a big part in planning any trip to Australia. First, it's a very long way from almost anywhere (except New Zealand). And, once you arrive, the distances between the places you most want to see are likely to be huge -- this is a vast continent, as big as western Europe and about the same size as the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Melbourne and Brisbane are a long day's drive from Sydney, and driving from Sydney to Perth takes the better part of a week.

About 90% of Australia's 21 million people huddle in cities around the coast covering a mere 2.6% of this vast continent. The reason is simple: Much of Australia is harsh Outback country, characterized by savanna land, spectacular rocky outcrops, shifting deserts, and dry salt lakes. This is spectacular and unforgettable country, but the soil is poor and the rainfall scarce, and some rivers don't even make it to the ocean. The roads that traverse the interior are sometimes barely distinguishable, and most people choose air travel or stick to the coastal fringe.

In contrast, on the coast -- particularly in the east, where most people live -- nature's bounty has almost overdone it with splendor and diversity. Here, Australia is blessed with one of the greatest natural attractions in the world: the Great Barrier Reef. There are rainforests in Queensland, alpine scenery in Tasmania, wildflowers in Western Australia, rolling wine country in South Australia, a great coastal drive in Victoria, bird-filled wetlands in the Northern Territory, and countless sand beaches more or less everywhere.

Australia consists of six states -- New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD), Victoria (VIC), South Australia (SA), Western Australia (WA), and Tasmania (TAS) -- and two internal territories, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Northern Territory (NT). The national capital is Canberra, in the ACT.

Meet the People Down Under

If you are an American who wants to see an Australian Rules football game in the company of a knowledgeable local in Melbourne or swim at Bondi Beach with a Sydneysider, contact Friends Overseas -- Australia (tel. 718/261-0534; www.friendsoverseas.org). This program is designed to match visitors with friendly Aussies of like age and interests, so you can spend time with them. The membership fee is US$25.