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In fact, after about 1940 the number of Aborigines began to grow again, and now there are about 160,000 in Australia. In some ways life is better; for example, some of the land that the British took now belongs to the Aborigines again. By 1983, the Aborigines owned twenty-eight per cent of the Northern Territory.

But for lots of Aborigines life is still difficult. Most now live in cities and towns, away from the land although some have been.

The political system of Australia

The Commonwealth of Australia is a self-governing federal state and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Formally the head of the state is the King or Queen of England represented by the Governor-General. The Commonwealth of Australia consists of six states and two territories: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Federal Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. The Capital Territory is the land around the Federal Capital, Canberra.

The states run such things as education, police, health, railway and roads; the Commonwealth looks after the army, posts and telegraph, relations with other countries.

Australia has a parliament in each state and the Federal Parliament of the Commonwealth at Canberra. The Federal Parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The federal government of the country is headed by the Prime Minister, usually the leader of the party which has majority in the House of Representatives. The political parties represented in the parliament are the Australian Labour Party, the Liberal Party of Australia and the National Agrarian Party.

3. Australia on the world’s tourist map

3.1 Transportation

There are three choices of transportation in Australia:

• Air

• Land

• Water

Airlines on regular services

The airline situation in Australia has changed frequently since mid-2001. Anything you hear about routes, fares, and availability may change quickly. When making travel plans, be sure to check the relevant websites or talk with your travel agent often. You should be fine once you've booked your tickets, although (as always) exact flight times can change on short notice.

You can buy some tickets over the Internet (often at good discounts), if you know exactly what you want, but to get a good idea of the choices available, you may need to talk to a travel agent or to airline reservations staff.

In some cases overseas visitors will get a lower price by including within-Australia travel on their overseas tickets (for one thing, you won't pay GST - Goods and Services Tax - on air travel purchased abroad). If you're an overseas visitor buying a ticket after you arrive in Australia, check with a travel agent about possible discounts not available to Australian residents (note that you will pay GST on those tickets).

Many parts of the country are well served by local carriers (both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters) taking people to tourist locations or simply flying around scenic areas and returning to the same airport.

Air tours may last anywhere from half an hour to several days. We'll list some (as we find them) on the relevant pages, and put some here that cover a wider area.

If you have your own plane, you can fly to many hard-to-reach parts of the country as well as more populous areas. Pilots may also be able to make arrangements with a local flying club to rent a small plane.

Land transportation

Rent (hire) a vehicle

Many travellers prefer to rent a vehicle rather than take a guided tour. The major international car rental companies are here, and most of them have both conventional (2-wheel-drive) and 4-wheel-drive cars and campervans.

Most car-rental companies restrict where you can go, so be sure to check before you head off onto unsealed (unpaved) roads or even all the way across or around the country.

Also check exactly what the insurance covers. The standard insurance for rental cars often does not include damage to tires and windscreens (windshields), but you should be able to pay a bit more to include that coverage.

Major car rental companies:

• Avis

• Hertz

• Thrifty

• Budget

Larger towns and cities generally have several local car-rental companies. These companies may be cheaper than the international companies, but they often restrict where you can drive the car (only in the immediate area).

If you want a 4-wheel-drive vehicle, local companies are often your best bet. They may also provide camping equipment, at additional cost. Check websites or other travel information for places of interest to see which ones have local car rentals.

Campervans and motorhomes

Campervans and motorhomes are all-in-one; for more about what's in them, see the Campervan and motorhome rentals page.

New and used vehicles, including some 4-wheel-drive models, are readily available. Here are some of the major brands and dealers:

1. Swagman. One of the most expensive and luxurious lines of motorhomes, which come in a range of sizes. They will do buy-backs, so they sell used models too.

2. Winnebago motorhomes are available from many dealers, including Maconachie's in Nowra, NSW, and Robert's Leisure Vehicles in Kew, Victoria.

3. Matilda Motorhomes are based in Cairns. They provide many of the vehicles rented by NQ Rentals.

4. For smaller campervans, try John Terry Campers in Sydney.

5. Britz, Maui, NQ, and other rental companies sell used campervans and motorhomes. See the Campervan and motorhome rentals page for contact information.

Caravans and tent-trailers

A caravan (called "travel trailer" or "mobile home" in the USA) is towed by a car or truck. New and used caravans are readily available. Some are designed specifically for off-road use. Many popular designs use a pop-top to keep the caravan's profile low during towing.

Trailers with fold-out tents are very popular; some of these open into quite elaborate structures.

Bicycle

You can buy or hire a bicycle, or take an escorted tour.

We've met people riding bicycles around the country, but it's difficult unless you have a support vehicle carrying your supplies. Although Australia is mostly flat, compared to many countries, it's a very long way between towns in much of the country, and you have to carry a lot of water. Most roads are quite dangerous for bicyclists because they don't have much of a shoulder, and in many cases the shoulder isn't paved.

A bicycle can be a good way for getting around within a town, and we see many motorhomes with bicycles strapped on the back.

Water transportation

Cruise ships

In addition to the cruise ships from Singapore or other ports that visit a limited number of Australian ports, several cruises are available in the Great Barrier Reef and along the tropical coasts of Australia. Here are two. Your travel agent may have information about others.

Rent a boat

In popular holiday areas, you can rent boats ranging from dinghies to multi-berth sailing yachts to motor cruisers to houseboats. You can either sail the boat yourself or rent one with one or more people aboard as crew.

In most cases, you'll need to return the boat to the place where you picked it up, although you may be able to arrange a one-way charter, especially if the boat is crewed.

From mainland Australia, you can fly or take a ferry to the state of Tasmania. If you want to take a car with you, you'll definitely want to take the ferry. (Rental car companies don't generally allow this; you'll need to drop off one car on the mainland and pick up another one in Tasmania.) The ferry to Tasmania has sleeping compartments as well as cheaper seats (staying in your car or camper is not allowed).

Paddle steamers operate on the Murray River, or you can rent a houseboat.

3.2 Accomodation

The choices in Australia are limited only to your imagination. The climate in Australia allows travellers to pick from many styles of lodgings and the region and length of your stay can help determine how you choose.

Your stay in any of the luxurious and reputable hotels in Australia’s major cities will make your visit a sheer delight. While waking to the sound of the ocean and stepping out onto soft white sands makes pitching a tent someone’s idea of a real holiday.

Just arrived and need somewhere to stay? Making plans and exploring your options? We have plenty of ways for you to find your ideal accommodation in Australia. Below you can check out some of the nation-wide accommodation providers who either manage bookings in most locations or national accommodation chains or associations.

If you are looking for a place to stay in a particular region of Australia the best way to find them is to navigate your way to that state or region and check out what's available there.

As a guide, descriptions of popular styles of accommodation and providers are outlined below.

Five Star Luxury

Australia is home to many international hotel groups that provide the ultimate in luxury and comfort. They include; ANA, Hilton, Hyatt, Inter Continental, Marriott, Nikko, Parkroyal, Radisson, Ramada, Ritz Carlton, Sheraton and several others. All situated in major cities.

Hotels

A wide range of comfortable three to four star hotels can be found in both city and country areas. Some of the better known chains include: Best Western, Centra, Flag Inns, Metro Inns, and Travelodge. The country hotels or pubs are also found all over Australia and offer comfortable accommodation to travellers, however the standards vary considerably from place to place.

Resorts

Recreational and leisure activities dominate the Australian resorts. Coupled with high quality service and facilities they represent the most popular mid-priced accommodation. Some of the chains include: All Seasons Resorts and Australian Frontier Resorts.

Guesthouses & Lodges

For a home away from home, guesthouses and lodges provide private rooms and communical facilities.

Cottages & Retreats

For short term stays in self contained cottages and retreat style accommodation.

Holiday Houses

For homestyle accommodation, holiday houses and beach houses are a cozy choice.

Accommodation Directories

Organised listings and contact details of accommodation providers.

Houseboats

For a holiday with a difference and the ultimate way to relax, stay in a houseboat.

Apartments

More like a home away from home, apartments offer complete privacy and self-contained facilities. In most cases the serviced apartments have cooking and laundry facilities provided. Most have swiming pools, saunas and recreational facilities.

Motels

Located all around Australia, motel accommodation offers rooms with private bathrooms, television, telephone and tea and coffee making facilities. Many have swimming pools and spas. Motel chains include: Best Western, Budget, Country Comfort, Flag and Metro Inns.

Motor Inns

The perfect stopover when you are on the road, with facilities similar to most motels, motor inns are designed for the traveller and they can be found all over the country. In general, reservations are optional just pull in if you see a vacancy sign.

Hostels

Youth hostels and backpacker venues provide budget priced accommodation with 24-hour access and shared facilities. Generally these facilities cater for the younger age groups although there are no age restrictions. Hostels offer budget-style accommodation and are a great way to meet people.

Caravan Parks

Nearly every small town has at least one caravan park. If you are on a self-drive holiday, either in a campervan or towing a caravan, you will find them a convenient and affordable place to stopover. Toilet and shower facilities are usually in a central location in the parks, and powered sites are available. Most van parks have on-site vans or cabins available and can comfortably accommodate family groups.

Camping

Camp grounds are plentiful and usually located in areas close to natural attractions such as national parks, beaches, lakes etc. Most have toilet facilities and running water. If joined to a caravan park, electricity and share-kitchen facilities or barbeques are available. Many national park camping areas allow free camping, only a permit is required from the park ranger's office.

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