The Unique Australia

 Ivaylo Yordanov -

Charming with its unique wild life, nature phenomena, unlimited diving opportunities and last but not least culture, Australiahas to offer something for everyone.

Australia might be the smallest continent in territory but it does attract attention with its unique style and characteristics.

The thing that struck me most about that continent is the way nature developed there. Australia is located far away from the other continents and thus the life there took a bit different direction during its evolution. Also the climate is really diverse in the different parts of the continent which also explains the huge variety of the wild life. We all know about the kangaroo and the koala and consider them normal animals. But they are among the many other animals and plants that are typical for Australiaand actually cannot be found in other places.

Australia can impress not only with its wild life. There are also many beautiful places to go to.

One of these places is the Great Barrier Reef. It is a chain of reefs, near the coast of Queenslandand it is actually huge - 2000km long. The place is included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO and is top-visited place among scuba divers, explorers and people who just want to admire the underwater life, including the gorgeous colourful corals. 

A lot visited resort also in Queensland is the Gold Coast. The place is heaven for tourists - it has tender sands, crystal clear waters and smiling sun. What is more, it has a kind of cosmopolitan air with many restaurants and places to spend some thrilling night hours.

There is a bunch of attractions just in the centre of Australia. Uluru is a single monolith, standing in the middle of the desert. It is considered sacred by the local Anangu Aboriginal people. But on the rock there are areas from where you can watch the sunset and sunrise and it is a sight you cannot forget. In fact, Uluru is the second biggest single rock in the world. And guess what?! The largest one is again in Australia- MountAugustusin the Western Australianational park. Near the Uluru monolith are the Alice Springs - also very popular. Also in close proximity are the UluruKataTjutaNational Park (World Heritage site) and the Valley of the Winds.

In the state Victoriathere is the PhillipIsland, where you can become a spectator of a fascinating scene. Every day at dusk tiny penguins come one by one on the shore. I cannot describe the feelings and excitement this sight evokes, but it is quite amazing.

Again in Victoria there is a formation of limestone, called the Twelve Apostles and they really are an unforgettable sight. If you decide to go there you should take the Great Ocean Road - it can give you a pleasure just from driving because there are marvelous scenes on both side - mountains and ranges from one side and the ocean and coasts from the other.

One should also visit most of the big cities in Australia. The capital is Canberra and another cosmopolitan and cultural centre is Melbourne - the capital of Victoria. Melbourne zoo is the oldest worldwide and one of the best; here is held the Grand Prix of Australia and the city botanic gardens are simply fascinating.