Australia is a fairly young nation that inhabits an extremely old continent. Rocks in Western Australia date back 3,500 million years, and the island’s first inhabitants arrived from Southeast Asia 60,000 years ago. During Europe’s age of exploration in the 15th century rumors of a southern land were confirmed but not much exploration took place on the land itself. As the Dutch gained control of Southeast Asian colonies from Portugal, they claimed Australia and funded some exploration during the 17th century, but found little economic benefit to the land. So, it was not until the British took over in the mid-18th century that settlement of Australia began. The First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove in 1788, ships bearing the convicts who established a settlement under very harsh conditions.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries the aborigines were quickly isolated from the emerging society, the interior was explored, more settlers arrived (voluntarily now), more colonies were established, and occasionally more prison ships were sent to supplement the work force. Being so spread out, each settlement has a very distinct history. Acquisition of large tracts of land accompanied by an 1851 gold rush led to the rapid growth of Victoria, while the colony of South Australia declared itself a convict-free zone and became a center for religious dissidents.

But despite how it sounds, Australia is not populated entirely by the descendents of convicts. In fact, few people today can trace their roots back to these original settlers. This is due in part to the discovery of gold in Victoria and New South Wales that attracted immigrants from Europe and Asia. 

In 1901 the colonies of Australia united to form a federation committed to retaining its European ties, specifically to England. That meant fighting for England during World War I and taking heavy losses, yet many people consider the trials faced in the war to be what bound the country together and created a modern, united nation. During the period between wars hundreds of thousands of immigrants came to Australia, and a productive period began, including the start of construction on Sydney Harbor in the 1920s. 

In World War II the Australians again came to the aid of the British, but as the Pacific front began threatening Australia itself, they refused to send more troops to Europe, choosing instead to fight alongside the United States and forming a bond with this other upstart country. The close proximity of the war made Australia anxious to bolster its own economy and increase its population in case of future unrest. The government relaxed its immigration policy and immigration levels rose into the millions, with less than half of the new arrivals coming from England. 

The increased population and exportation of raw materials created a wealthy nation and during the 1960s the government responded to demands to expand the rights of Aborigines and to give them back control of their native lands. Progress was made, though Aborigines still do not have the quality of life enjoyed by the rest of the country. 

As the 20th century progressed Australia continued to prosper and began focusing more on forming ties with Asia than with Europe. The summer Olympics that took place in Sydney in 2000 solidified Australia’s image as a prosperous and multicultural nation that welcomes outsiders to take part in its fun and laidback way of life.

 The tradition shared by all Australians, no matter their origin, is a love of nature and sport. They are an athletic people whose cities work to incorporate their natural surroundings into the urban landscape. Football, rugby, horse racing, surfing—all forms of sport are exuberantly embraced. Visitors to Australia cannot help but be caught up in the energy. 

Get a taste for the variety of physical activities at any of the country’s outdoor festivals. Watch native bush dances at the Mudgee Wine Festival in New South Wales or the Aboriginal Dance Festival at Cape York every June. Bet on your favorite outback stallion at the Birdsville horse races in Queensland, spend Easter weekend watching the International Surfing Championship at Bells Beach near Melbourne or be wowed by the kites filling the sky at Sydney’s Festival of the Winds. 

If frenzied crowds are your thing don’t miss the finals for football (in Melbourne) and rugby (in Sydney), both in September. Or if you just want a peaceful, relaxing vacation, stay at a simple yet luxurious resort on the Great Barrier Reef and spend your days floating among tropical fish and exploring underwater kingdoms. The possibilities are endless in a country that has turned fun in the sun into an art form as well as the national pastime.

 More than 70% of Australia is an arid desert. The lack of seismic activity in the area means that mountains have slowly eroded, preventing rain-bearing clouds from forming. But the erosion has revealed natural wonders millions of years old that make the Australian outback unique in the world. The outback is also home to rare wildlife, the world’s only wild camel population (left behind after an exploratory mission), and ancient Aboriginal sites. However, the aridity means that 70% of the population lives along the coast to take advantage of the better climate. 

The country is divided into three major regions: the Great Dividing Range that runs North-South on the eastern side of Australia, the Central Lowlands, and the Western Plateau (home to those 3,500 million year old rocks). In the northeast the climate is decidedly tropical. The northeast is also home to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World.

So although the weather in the cities remains temperate year-round (surfers take note—there is no bad season), you must prepare for extreme heat if you venture into the interior.

 The majority of Australia’s well known art is of the natural variety, and in some cases nature is helped along a bit to create the beautiful gardens that seem to wind their way through every major city. Australia is also home to museums cataloguing the influences of Europe and Asia on the national culture. But the most fascinating art scene may be that of the Aborigines. Maybe this “scene” isn’t very modern (what’s a few thousand years anyway?), but it is definitely impressive. 

Paintings on rocks and in caves detailing their daily life and spiritual beliefs are scattered throughout the country, but some of the major sites include Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, the Central Desert, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Uluru is the imposing Ayers Rock that dominates the landscape), and the Hawkesbury area of Sydney. The boomerang, although developed for practical purposes, is definitely a work of art and its graceful (yet deadly) arc through the dusty air is an inspired sight. Traditional Aboriginal music includes the low-down nasally twang of the didgeridoo that has become for many the sound most associated with Australia.

In a country where the majority of the population lives at the beach, seafood has got to be the national cuisine. From the most upscale urban dining experience to a tiny neighborhood joint, the one thing you can always count on is that it’s fresh. If you are in Sydney for Christmas, take part in local custom by joining the rest of the city on Bondi Beach for a traditional shellfish feast.

Australia’s great wines can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime, but for a special treat check out the Mudgee Wine Festival in the Spring or the Yarra Valley Grape Grazing on the first weekend of March. Adventurous types can also sample some the country’s more exotic meats like kangaroo and snake; though not enjoyed on a regular basis by most Australians, they are a fun way to sample local flavors and make your trip that much more memorable.

 * The seasons are the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere, something you should take into consideration when planning your itinerary.

* Eastern Australia is 2 hours ahead of Western Australia.

* Follow the lead of the locals before going topless on the beach. And don’t forget the sunscreen!

* Tipping is not required, but a 10% tip is common in restaurants, bars and taxis.

* Smoking is banned in public places.

* It is considered impolite to eat and drink on public transportation, in taxis and inside shops.

 * Eyewitness Travel Guides: Australia. Published by DK.

* In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson, published in 2000 by Broadway Books.

* Dreamings: The Art of Aboriginal Australia, edited by Peter Sutton.

* Watching Wildlife: Australia by Jane Bennett et al., published in 2000 by Lonely Planet.

* The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia’s Founding by Robert Hughes, published by Vintage in 1987.

* Claiming a Continent: A New History of Australia by David Day, published in 2001.

* The Explorers: Stories of Discovery & Adventure from the Australian Frontier. Edited by Tim Flannery, it was originally published in 1998 by the Text Publishing Co.