Vacation in Australia
Vacation in Melbourne (Victoria) 
more about Melbourne
- Most Livable City
- Culture Capital of Australia
- Arts Capital of Australia
- Sports Capital of Australia
- Wine and Food Capital of Australia
- Fashion and Shopping Capital of Australia
Vacation in Sydney (New South Wales) more about Sydney
- A Spectacular Harbour City
- Bondi Beach
- Financial and Business Hub
Vacation in Hobart (Tasmania) more about Hobart
- Port Arthur
- Richmond
- Launceston
- Swansea
Vacation in Adelaide (South Australia) more about Adelaide
- Journey Barossa Wine Valley
- Kangaroo Island
- Seal Bay
- Kangaroo Island
Outback Vacation more about the Outback
- Outback Adventure, 5 States in 6 Days
- High Country of the Australian Cattlemen
Vacation To Australia - An Introduction
On your vacation in Australia you will experience a vast continent of diverse landscape and climate. The summers are warm and winters are mild. Wherever you journey on your Australian vacation there is golden sunshine and beautiful blue sky.
With a personalized itinerary you can choose from a variety of places that must be seen on your journey Down Under. However, Australia is a big country and your vacation should be for at least two weeks.
Australia is the size of the mainland USA, (excluding Alaska) and 24 times bigger than the British Isles.
- The total area of Australia is 7.6 million-sq km (4.5 million miles)
- East – West is a distance of 3,900-km (2,400 miles)
- North – South, 3,138 km (1,800 miles).
- Because of its size there are remote regions of Australia that are unmapped.
A journey here is a visit to the oldest continent on earth. The landscape was silent until 60,000 years ago when Aborigines from Asia arrived on its northern shore.
Australian Aborigines have the oldest, continually maintained culture in the world, spanning possibly 60,000 years. Their art, stories and systems of beliefs are undoubtedly the oldest on earth. On your vacation in Australia we have customized itineraries for you to experience first-hand, Aboriginal culture and heritage.
Aboriginal Cave Art, 50,000 yrs old
The next people to arrive in Australia were white settlers who arrived here only 200 years.
Since the Cambrian explosion period, 600 million years ago, the Australian continent has not been disturbed by volcanic eruptions, human wars or by the dense human populations that have ravaged and changed other countries of the world.
The Australian landscape has lain undisturbed, preserving its ancient geography, anthropology and ecology. Many things preserved here are the oldest ever to be discovered on earth and on your vacation in Australia, a customized itinerary can take you on a journey to ancient sites.
Your customized vacation itinerary will be a journey to see
- clusters of living stromatalites (species that produced the earliest form of life)
- cave art and fossils
- meteorite craters
- ancient burial sites
- ancient rainforests
Daintree Rain Forest - oldest in the world
The remains of the largest dinosaur ever to be found, a Sauropod (lived 95 millions ago), was recently discovered in Australia. In 1974 an Angiosperm plant was discovered in tropical Australia, a species that scientists thought had vanished from earth 100 million years ago. These are just two examples of fossils and living flora that can simply ‘turn up’ in someone’s back yard! You never know what you may see on your vacation in Australia.
Of the 25,000 plant species, 80% of these are not to be found elsewhere on earth. The reason why plants do survive is that Australia’s soil poverty has led to plants adjusting to tolerate extremes in a land that for so long was isolated from without and within.
Australian animal life, avian fauna and marine life also are distinctive and as numerous as they are unique.
Australian Koala
AUSTRALIAN ICONS:
The largest living eco-system on earth, the Great Barrier Reef (the size of Italy) has 1,500 species fish, 400 species of coral and 4,000 species of molluscs.
The largest property in the Australian outback is the size of Belgium.
The largest monolith - Uluru - rising 345 m high (1150 ft), is slightly smaller than the Empire State Building. Uluru is 2.5 km long (1.5 miles) and the base perimeter is 9.4 km (5.5 miles).
The largest repository of rock art (petroglyphs) dates from 50,000 years ago.
The longest passenger train, The Ghan, which is 1 km (0.6 miles) long, travels across the continent from north to south, a journey of 3,138-km (1,800 miles).
The Australian population of 20 million is comprised of 60 nationalities which gives the social culture a distinctive cosmopolitan character. Most Australians live in the fertile east and west coastal regions. Much of the inland is semi-desert and at the center of Australia is a large, dry and stony desert that is mostly uninhabitable.
Australia is a stable and peaceful country, and its people are warm and friendly.
You are welcome to journey with us on your Australian Vacation with customized itineraries and private tour escorts to show you the very best of Australia.
AUSTRALIAN VACATION MUST SEE
Australia is a big country and a vacation of
no less than two weeks is suggested.
An Australian vacation is an occasion to journey, relax, indulge and have fun. Vacation time is precious and memories are valuable.
The unique character of Australia cannot be experienced through the window of a coach or a rental car. The best way to see a new country and its people is to journey on a personalized, private tour customized by Meridian Tours. We specialize in vacation journeys to Australia. Meridian Tours is an experienced Tour Operator with a deep understanding of what Australia has to offer.
Meridian Tours plans vacation journeys to give insights into the Australian lifestyle - to See what Australians See and Do what Australians Do! Your personalized itineraries will be created to show you the best of Australia. You journey with an escort who is a professional guide and a local who has a specialized knowledge of the area.
See more information on suggested itineraries from:
Sydney :: Melbourne :: Hobart :: Adelaide :: Outback
Christmas In Australia
Christmas Dinner, Australian Seafood,
Traditional Christmas Roast Turkey,
personalized bookings.
Your Australian vacation time is precious and its memories even more valuable. A journey to Australia for a summer Christmas Dinner celebration with a personalized itinerary that will ensure a your Australian Christmas will be a happy and memorable occasion.
We suggest you plan your Australian schedule to be in Melbourne, Victoria to celebrate your Australian Christmas. Here the climate is temperate compared the extreme humidity of Australia's northern regions. Also, Melbourne is regarded as the Cuisine Capital of Australia and Christmas dinner menus will not disappoint. Restaurants will be festooned with festive decorations and Melbourne diners will be full of vacation and seasonal Christmas cheer!
Traditional roast turkey will be just one of the tempting dishes to be enjoyed but we recommend a seafood menu for your Australian Christmas dinner. A perfect opportunity to dine well with oysters and crayfish at their best and most succulent at this time of year!
And a restaurant venue overlooking the beach and bay would complete your Aussie Christmas Dinner and be in complete contrast to the winter climates of the northern hemisphere.
Australian Vacation - New Year’s Eve in Australia
New Year’s Eve in Sydney
The best place to celebrate your New Year in Australia is Sydney. Dine at a one of the many harbourside restaurants and then, at midnight, see the fabulous fireworks display that lights up the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and the bay.
New Year’s Eve in Melbourne
We suggest dining at a city restaurant located on the river at city’s edge at Southbank. All the fun activity will be here. After dinner walk along Southbank by the river and follow the locals who will be headed to Federation Square. The square is the place where locals and visitors on vacation congregate. There will be music and dancing. At midnight enjoy a fireworks display will mark the beginning of the New Year!
We extend a warm invitation to journey to Australia for a Christmas feast and a fabulous, festive, fun New Year’s Eve celebration!
Sydney, the best place to celebrate New Year’s Eve is somewhere overlooking the harbour.
Australian Climate
Australia is renowned for its temperate, sunny, warm climate and clear, deep blue skies. With such great weather, you’ll return from your vacation with a lovely tan.
Australians spend a lot of vacation and leisure time outdoors - dining, at the beach, surfing, boating and playing sport. Wherever you journey on your vacation, you will see Australians enjoying the great outdoors!
With the abundance of sun, visitors on vacation in Australia are advised to – cover up with a light-weight long-sleeved shirt, wear eye shades and have plenty of block-out cream always at the ready.
Australian temperatures can drop at night, especially inland. In the tropics and the temperate regions of Melbourne and Sydney the weather in summer can be changeable with heavy bouts of heavy rainfall and a drop in temperature changing a warm day into one that is chilly.
Travelers on vacation are advised to pack light summer clothing that includes warm over jackets, hats, scarves and heavyweight trousers.
Australian Minimum & Maximum Temperature Celsius Chart (Australian Capital Cities)
State |
Spring Sep-Nov |
Summer Dec-Feb |
Autumn Mar-May |
Winter June-Aug |
Canberra |
5.9 - 19.1 |
12.9 - 27.7 |
6.7 - 19.7 |
-0.2 - 11.1 |
Sydney |
13.4 - 21.9 |
18.5 - 25.8 |
14.6 - 22.2 |
7.9 - 16.1 |
Alice Springs & Darwin |
25.0 - 33.1 |
24.8 - 31.9 |
24.0 - 32.7 |
19.3 - 30.4 |
Cairns |
15.7 - 26.0 |
20.6 – 29.3 |
16.6 - 26.1 |
9.5 - 20.4 |
Adelaide |
10.4 - 20.7 |
15.5 - 27.9 |
11.6 - 22.0 |
6.8 - 14.8 |
Hobart |
7.8 - 16.8 |
12.0 - 21.9 |
9.1 - 17.4 |
4.5 - 11.8 |
Melbourne |
9.3 - 19.5 |
14.0 - 25.8 |
10.6 - 20.2 |
5.8 - 13.3 |
Perth & Broome |
10.1 - 22.3 |
6.7 - 31.4 |
12.7 - 25.2 |
8.0 - 17.6 |
Temperatures are in Celsuis
MAP OF AUSTRALIA
Australia is the size of the mainland USA (excluding Alaska) and 24 times bigger than the British Isles.
The total area of Australia is 7.6 million sq km (4.5 million miles)
East – West is a distance of 3,900 km (2,400 miles)
North – South, 3,138 km (1,800 miles)
Because of its size, there are remote regions of Australia still unmapped.
A journey here is a visit to the oldest continent on earth. The landscape was silent until 60,000 years ago when Aborigines from Asia arrived on its northern shore. Australian Aborigines have the oldest continually maintained culture in the world, spanning possibly 60,000 years. Their art, stories and systems of beliefs are undoubtedly the oldest on earth.
By comparison, European and other settlers have lived here a mere 200 years.
Australian Outback Vacation ... Melbourne City of Culture, Fashion and Cuisine
Australian Premium Wine Regions
Australia has more than 1,500 established wineries with new wineries increasingly being established by owners wanting to prosper from the huge demand from both domestically and overseas.
Australian wines have made an impact on the international scene in the last two decades. Currently the industry is riding the crest of the wave with an export trade and domestic sales booming. For wine lovers on vacation, we shall recommend a region in your personalized itinerary wherever you journey in the southern parts of Australia.
The vineyards of Australia are mainly concentrated in the southern regions. There are regions of interest elsewhere but generally the climate is too hot. Margaret River in Western Australia produces some of the premium whites and reds.
More Australian wines are exported to the UK than from any other country. Australian wines are successful because they are generally of good quality and are reasonably priced.
The home market is a different story. Aged wines are very expensive to buy off the shelf and buying from the cellar door of boutique wineries is also expensive. Independent travelers are advised to journey on a personalized tour with an operator who knows the best places to visit.
The Big Producers
Without doubt the most significant wine company in Australia is Southcorp - a huge company that owns big name brands:
- Penfolds
- Lindemans
- Seppelt
- Seaview
- Wynns
- Rosemont Estate
A personalized itinerary will include some of these estates as part of your journey.
Vacation Australia – New South Wales Wine Regions
In the northeast (3 hour journey from Sydney), is the Hunter Valley which is an old established region divided into Lower and Upper Hunter. The region produces excellent Semillon, Shiraz and Chardonnay wines. Other regions in New South Wales include Mudgee and the Riverina.
Vacation Australia – Victorian Wine Regions
There are 22 wine regions in this state. Notable regions include the Mornington Peninsula (producing interesting Pinot Noir wine)
- the Yarra Valley (a classic cool region).
Both regions are one hour from Melbourne.
Further inland are the regions of the Goulburn Valley and Great Western, and Macedon and the Pyrenees. In the north-eastern region are Rutherglen, King Valley and Milawa – a 3 hour journey from Melbourne.
Australian Vacation – South Australian Wine Regions
The Barossa Valley (located 1.5 hours from Adelaide) is the most visited region by visitors on vacation. However, many of the wines are mass-produced and bottled young. An escorted tour and a personalized itinerary is advised for wine lovers on vacation here.
The Eden Valley and Clare Valley regions produce great wines and the reds from McLaren Vale are undoubtedly the best.
Furthest is Coonawarra, a region of considerable repute and undoubtedly the finest region of South Australia. Big red wines are derived from here; Cabernet Sauvignon excels and Shiraz styles are highly recommended. Further north is Padthaway that produces some excellent Chardonnay and sparkling wines.
Australian Vacation – Western Australian Wine Regions
Margaret River, Western Australia, is located 3 hours south of Perth. It is a relatively new region and in the 1970s produced premium reds and whites more elegant in style than robust.
Cape Mentelle and Leeuwin Estate produce some of the best wines and a personalized visit here will not disappoint.
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