CAPITAL CITY: Canberra

DID YOU KNOW?: Following a long dispute over whether Sydney or Melbourne should be the national capital, the new capital was built half way between the two squabbling cities in 1908.

MO'S MUST SEE'S: (Below)

The result of an international design competition conducted in 1913, Canberra has grown to become one of Australia's most distinctive cities. Often described as the "Washington of the South Pacific" this capital is well worth a visit. This lovely city is well laid out with parks, museums, art galleries and beautiful architecture.

Canberra is the capital city of Australia, located in the Australian Capital Territory (which is surrounded by the state of New South Wales), southwest of Australia's largest city Sydney. It has a population of about 325,000 people.

Lake Burley Griffin divides central Canberra, with the the city centre, known as "Civic", on the north side and the parliamentary and embassy area on the south side. National institutions are likewise divided, examples being the National Museum of Australia and the Australian War Memorial on the north side and the National Library and National Gallery of Australia on the south side.

For decades Canberra was dubbed as a boring and empty city with nothing more to offer than a chance to see couple of politicians and a few so-so restraunts. However today Canberra is a bustling and energetic city with as much to offer as Sydney or Melbourne just on a smaller scale.

The Wildflower State

CAPTIAL: Perth

DID YOU KNOW?: Western Australia is the world's largest state covering 1/3 of Australia!

LOCAL CELEBRITY: Heath Ledger

MO'S MUST SEE'S: (Below) 

The path less travelled, or the last frontier. A part of the world few people go to, but its well worth seeing. A good way to get there is by train from Sydney, a 75 hour journey, otherwise, fly in, and fly between the different areas.

There are more millionaires in this State than anywhere else, all because of the many mines and vast cattle stations. Perth is the capital, and the surfing capital of the world. A lovely city to visit, it was home to the Americas Cup Yacht Race, and has an elegant yacht club.

The wild flowers from October to December are unbelievable, over 100,000 different kinds - Perth to Geralton.

Monkey Mia is worth seeing, where the dolphins come into shore every day and swim around you staying in knee deep water.

Kalgoorlie and the goldfields are fun, Wave Rock, and nice small towns like Albany.

Other places to see are Pinnacles Desert, Wave Rock, Kalgoorlie and the goldfields, and Aborginal Cave Paintings.

MO'S MUST SEE'S: 

The Island State

CAPITAL CITY: Hobart

LOCAL CELEBRITY: Errol Flynn

MO'S MUST SEE'S:  (Below)

This is separated from mainland Australia by the 150 miles stretch of Bass Strait. Fly there from Melbourne, an hours flight. Dont take the boat  rough, rough, rough seas. Tasmania is a land which has 50% of it as National Parks. It has the freshest air in the world. This is the only place I recommend anyone renting a car. Wonderful place to spend a week just wandering. If you dont want to drive, we can recommend a small group gourmet tour for 4, 5 and 8 days in length. Reminds me of England, slow pace, two lane roads, and little traffic. Only 450,000 residents. You can drive from top to bottom in 4 hours.

This is the food basket of Australia. Wonderful crops, oysters, seafood, and lots of flower gardens. Great wineries and cheese. The lavender fields are worth seeing

This is a great place for taking a biking tour. The overland hiking trek is also excellent.

It is steeped in history, since it had two convict prisons on the island. This is the only part of Australia which has four seasons. This is an ideal place for a foodie to take a trip. Lovely farms, villages, and great places to buy a picnic.

MO'S MUST SEE'S:

Australia's Top End

CAPITAL CITY: Darwin

DID YOU KNOW?: Darwin is considered the multi-cultural capital of Australia with the most indigenous people and recent immigrants comprising the majority of the population.

LOCAL CELEBRITY: Gabrielle Reilly

MO'S MUST SEE'S: Alice Springs, Ayers Rock (Uluru) and Darwin

It is called a territory because only 150,000 people live there, and its not large enough to be a State. It was called the never never land because if you went there you either got lost, were never heard from again, or got eaten. There are 800,000 camels wandering around and this makes driving dangerous. People are tough, they have to be to live in this harsh climate. Locals say you havent been downunder until you have been outback it is a unique experience and worth visiting.

In Alice Springs you can find aboriginal culture, and adventure. Funky little town, river only has water in it for four weeks a year. Can be very hot in the December to March time frame, and gets cold at night June to September. The Red Center has soil the color of cayenne pepper. Dont recommend driving in the Northern Territory. There is no speed limit, one two lane road, in many places it is only one lane, and you have camels and water buffalo wandering around which causes accidents. Take a tour wherever you go.

MO'S MUST SEE'S: (click on the destinations below to view the "Must See's" for each)

• Alice Springs
• Ayers Rock (Uluru)
• Darwin

The Festival State

CAPITAL CITY: Adelaide

DID YOU KNOW?: Strange Ray Cattle Springs is the largest ranch in the world at 30,029 km it's only slightly smaller than Belgium!

LOCAL CELEBRITY: Anthony LaPaglia

MO'S MUST SEE'S: (Below)

This is the wine region where some of the best wines in the world are produced. Adelaide is a great town to go on day trips and to visit all the wine growing valleys around the city. Adelaide is known as the festival city, always something interesting going on. Kangaroo Island is a must, if you are interested in seeing wildlife. The flora and wildlife are outstanding. If you want an interesting experience, visit Coober Pedy, the opal-mining town in the outback. Stay in a hotel built underground.

South Australia has always been known as a progressive and free thinking State.
It is one of my favorite places. 

MO'S MUST SEE'S:

The Garden State

CAPITAL CITY: Melbourne

DID YOU KNOW?: The secret ballot box was pioneered in Victoria in 1856.

LOCAL CELEBRITY: Cate Blanchett

MO'S MUST SEE'S: (Below)

The smallest of the mainland states, Victoria is also the most densely populated with just over 5 million residents (second most populous state). Located in the southeast corner of the mainland the climate of Victoria ranges from the wet, temperate southeast to the snow-covered Victorian alpine areas in the west and northwest. Australia's second largest city, Melbourne is its capital.

Melbourne is a lovely city, very sophisticated. It is known around the world as "The Events Capital" and offers this and much more: a city of style, of Victorian Architecture, of trams, food, theatre, art galleries and leafy gardens. The great ocean road is a lovely place to drive along, magnificent scenery.

Phillip Island is a very popular place to visit. You can see the penguins march out of the ocean every night. Ballarat - northwest of the city is an old gold mining town, well worth seeing.

MO'S MUST SEE'S:

The Sunshine State

CAPITAL CITY: Brisbane

DID YOU KNOW?: The world's longest continuous fence known as the "dingo fence" runs 5,535 km to protect sheep from Australia's wild dogs.

LOCAL CELEBRITY: Geoffery Rush

MO'S MUST SEE's: Brisbane, The Whitsundays, Cairns, and Great Barrier Reef

Known as the Sunshine State, and its residents are called Banana Benders It covers 700,000 miles, about twice the size of Texas. This is the place were many Australians retire to because the weather is 77 degrees on average. They like to say its beautiful one day, and perfect the next.

Queensland is where the Aussies go on holiday. Host to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the Natural Wonders of the World and among the worlds most diverse coral reef systems.

Five of Australians 11 World Heritage areas including the Daintree Rainforest and Fraser Island, the worlds largest sand island are found in this State.

You could spend a year exploring Queensland. The State is divided into four regions:

• The Southern region, south of Brisbane is home to the Gold Coast, five theme parks, 400 golf courses, lots of action and places to visit
• The Whitsundays
• Cairns and the top end which is home to the Torres Strait islanders
• The Great Barrier Reef islands

The Premier State

CAPITAL CITY: Sydney

DID YOU KNOW?: Granny Smith apples were first cultivated by Maria Smith in Eastwood, NSW in the 1860's

LOCAL CELEBRITY: Hugh Jackman

MO'S MUST SEE'S: (Below)

Located in the South-east of the country, New South Wales is the most populous state of Australia. It can be divided into four geographic regions:

• The Coastal Strip
• The Great Dividing Range
• The Agricultural plains
• The Arid plains
  

The major cities of New South Wales are: Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong.

Sydney is the most exciting city in the world, and has been voted No.1 for the past three years in a row by readers of Travel & Leisure magazine.

On my last trip I checked out apartments for rent at Darling Harbor and Circular Quay. I rated hotels in different categories and have my favorites in each price range.

I also inspected private yachts since I have a client who did not want to go on a harbor cruise with hundreds of people. We rented a lovely 54 ft. yacht for a private cruise with lunch on board for a four-hour cruise of the gorgeous Sydney harbour.

MO'S MUST SEE'S: 

Travel is the best education in the world. Experience different cultures, food, scenery and you will rate your visit downunder as one of the best holidays you have ever had.

Deal with an Aussie specialist who has been there, done that, and can tell you the pros and cons of what is worth seeing.

Its fourteen and a half hours of flying time from the West Coast. Thats four meals, five movies and a nap. Its the same amount of time for you to go from California to Rome, Italy. Its a bargain, since you get $1.35 for your dollar, whereas the Euro is so expensive you can pay $8.00 for a cup of coffee and $16.00 for a glass of wine.

Go Downunder and have the trip of a lifetime.

Here you will find my recommendations on how to get around Australia and some wonderful reading material, in case five movies is a bit much for you.