Because Australia is situated in the southern hemisphere, celebrating New Year’s Eve on the beach or visiting the snow for a bit of skiing in July is a very popular and commonplace occurrence.

Australia’s weather, in comparison to other countries, can be quite extreme, with summer days becoming very hot and humid in the northern states and hot and dry in the southern. Winter in the southern states can become quite cold and wet with some areas experiencing extensive snowfall.

If you are visiting central Australia, expect desert conditions, with the weather becoming very hot and dry through the summer and extremely cold at night during winter with temperatures often dropping below zero degrees.

Outdoor activities, especially sport and barbeques, are a central part of the Australian lifestyle. The availability of water and sport activities makes life very appealing in Australia.

Most cities and towns offer community swimming pools, recreational parks and bike paths. A large part of Australian culture involves the beach, with most cities clustered along the Australian coastline to take advantage of the beautiful ocean views and clean sands.

There are many opportunities for you to explore life in Australia, whether you chose to travel independently or with a group. Australia hosts plenty of extraordinary natural wonders to see.

The Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu National Park and Uluru (Ayers Rock) are only some of the amazing places you can experience. Or if it’s bright lights and big cities that excite you, the metropolitan cities of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth are sure to keep you entertained.