Prior to European establishment, the Aborigines solely occupied Australia. It is estimated that more than 1,800 generations of aborigines have lived in Australia. Once scorned and persecuted, the Aborigine's heritage is now being celebrated through art, dance and music.

Thousands of years after the Aborigines set foot in Australia, British explorer Captain James Cook happened upon this unique continent. He is credited with bringing Australia to the attention of the rest of the world. Shortly after his "discovery", Britain began colonizing Australia by shipping its first inhabitants- convicted murderers, thieves and political prisoners- to Botany Bay in Sydney. Britain's colonization continued at a moderate pace until the 1850's when gold was discovered and massive numbers of prospectors rushed to Australia to seek their fortunes. Since then, the eras of bushrangers (gunslinging outlaws), social reform and federation and world wars have shaped Australia into one of the most multicultural societies in the world.

Any discussion about Australia would not be complete without mentioning its unique flora and fauna. From plants like the wattle, banksia, waratahs, bottlebrushes, paperbarks and tea trees, to the more recognizable animals such as the crocodile, kangaroo, koala, emu, platypus, and wombat, you will be enthralled by outdoor life in Australia. You can find many of these species and others in the more than 500 national parks, which contain rainforests, deserts, mountain ranges and coastal dunes.