According to the characteristics of climate, natural landscape and cultural landscape, Australia can be divided into the northern tropical region, the east coast and the Great Dividing Range subtropical region, the southwestern Mediterranean climate region and the desert and semi-desert region in the central part of the continent.
1. Northern Tropical Region
The coastal zone in northern Australia has a humid tropical climate, but the sunny and dry season is from May to October.
Darwin is the capital of the northern part of the country. It is the largest city in the north and a well-known tourist city. British biologist Darwin visited here for inspection in 1839, so the city was named after him. This was originally the residence of indigenous people, but it developed rapidly after the discovery of gold mines in the 1870s. In 1974, it was severely damaged due to a hurricane. It was later rebuilt into a beautiful city with modern streets and buildings. The climate is hot and rainy, the trees are lush, and there are many unique plant species. It is surrounded by beautiful golden beaches on the east, west and north sides, where tourists can participate in a variety of water activities and sports. There are Chinese temples and the Holy Palace in the city; there is Yaluoga Park in the southern suburbs, where there are wild dogs, crocodiles, bison and other unique wild animals in the country. There is a hot spring in the southeastern suburbs, and there are many termite mounds up to 3 meters high. Each mound can accommodate 2 million ants, which is breathtaking. The city has an international airport leading to Asia and Europe.
Not far east of Darwin, there is Kakadu National Park, which is an important tourist spot. The national park is famous for its natural landscape and Aboriginal rock art, as well as wildlife such as buffalo, crocodiles and various water crows in the swamp wetlands. It is now listed as a World Heritage Site. In order to protect its resources, the construction of the hotel was strictly controlled. It is relatively convenient for tourists to travel to the park. They can reach it by boat, bus, car or four-wheel taxi. The adventurous holiday activities here are universally popular.
2. East Coast and Watershed Subtropical Region This region can be divided into four tourist sub-regions:
1) Northern region. From Rockhampton to Cape York. The tourism features here are the tropical rainforest vegetation along the coast, the Great Barrier Reef offshore and the tropical climate. The larger cities in the region include Cairns. July to October is the dry season with less precipitation and suitable for tourism. The most prominent of the above features is the world-famous Great Barrier Reef.
The Great Barrier Reef is located in the western part of the Coral Sea in the Pacific Ocean. It starts from the Torres Strait in the north and ends near Fraser Island in the south, stretching for more than 2,000 kilometers along the northeastern coast of Australia. The Great Barrier Reef is about 20 to 350 kilometers away from the coast, with a total area of ??80,000 square kilometers. Coral reefs are formed by the accumulation of limestone substances and skeletons secreted by coral polyps. The coral reefs here are distributed along the coast, like fortresses protecting the coast, so they are called "barrier reefs". The Great Barrier Reef is not conducive to navigation, but many water sports or activities can be carried out, and beautiful corals and other underwater life can be viewed underwater, making it one of Australia's major tourist areas. The Great Barrier Reef is composed of 600 coral reefs. The underwater corals are brightly colored, gorgeous and of different shapes. There are also swimming fish, green sea turtles, crabs, oysters, etc., making it like a marine park. Among the 17 larger islands, the most famous are Green Island and Helen Island, which have ocean view facilities. Green Island has an underwater observation room where you can watch beautiful and strange fish and other creatures in the ocean. In 1988, the world's first "floating hotel" (actually a boat fixed on a reef all year round) was opened near Townsville. Day trips are possible here as well as longer tours and diving adventures. It is estimated that in 1986, 500,000 people visited the Great Barrier Reef. Due to too many tourists, people have discovered that this relatively sensitive ecosystem has been under great threat. In addition, the Great Barrier Reef is threatened by crown-like starfish that feed on coral polyps. Therefore, Australia established the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to strictly manage the Great Barrier Reef. The park divides the Great Barrier Reef into zones to allow for different ways and levels of management and use.
Some areas are very strictly protected, and only ornamental tourism is allowed here, and destructive activities such as walking, collecting, and fishing on the barrier reef are not allowed. In the areas near Cairns and on the larger islands, there are modern international hotels and luxury hotels, as well as simpler hotels for tourists to rest and live.
Several national parks have been established in the region's tropical rainforests, such as the Blanche National Park and the Tribe Lessing National Park. There are roaring rivers here, making it an ideal place for sailing.
There is a considerable length of coastline in this area that has not yet been developed for tourism, but some national parks have been established. Tourism activities can basically be carried out during the dry season. During the southern hemisphere summer, there are often heavy rains here, and poisonous jellyfish appear in coastal waters, so the main tourist season can only be between May and October. Thus, during this period, Queensland's north coast became a "winter" destination for visitors from Sydney and Melbourne, but a "summer" destination for visitors from the northern hemisphere. Relatively few overseas tourists visit the city, but Cairns Airport has been expanded to accommodate Japanese, American and European travelers. In fact, flying here from Tokyo takes less time than flying from Tokyo to Hawaii.
2) Brisbane area. Brisbane is located in southeastern Australia and is the center of a major holiday region. Although this part of the Queensland coast is open to tourist activities year-round, it mainly attracts tourists for its winter sunshine. From December to February, the temperature is high, the humidity is high, and the rainfall is heavy, making travel inconvenient.
The beaches in the middle section of the eastern coast have undergone large-scale tourism development for a long period of time, especially the Gold Coast south of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast north of it. The Gold Coast is a continuous, high-quality beach about 40 kilometers long. It is named because the beach is golden. The climate here is pleasant, the sunshine is abundant, and the waves are particularly dangerous, making it suitable for surfing and water skiing. The most ideal and representative location is the so-called "Surfer's Paradise". There are many luxury hotels and villas in Severspacesle, where the indigenous people settled in the early years, and other areas, as well as a variety of entertainment and tourist areas, such as amusement parks, casinos, bars, nightclubs, Sea World and Some theme parks. At Coolum Marina Beach, a 20-hectare bird sanctuary has been established. The dream playground covers an area of ??84 hectares and includes facilities such as the Amax Cinema with a two-story screen. Sea World is the largest marine park in the southern hemisphere. There are many wonderful performances of marine animals such as dolphins in the park. In Mudjieraba, there is the famous Hawes Dart Factory, which produces a hunting tool used by the indigenous people - a "thrower" that can automatically return if it misses a wild animal. This tool reflects the wisdom of the indigenous people.
Not far from the Gold Coast, there is Colangatta Airport. It is located 27 kilometers south of Brisbane, and tourists to the Sunshine Coast can enter and exit through Brisbane Airport. Tourism development on the Sunshine Coast is far inferior to that on the Gold Coast. For example, Noosa is a secluded tourist destination with a national park nearby, but currently only has a few small hotels. All the various water sports are available in this tourist resort.
Japanese tourists are increasingly interested in Queensland's coast. In 1988, the Japanese proposed tourism development on most of the land on Queensland's Gold Coast. US$800 million has been invested. Only 215,000 Japanese visited Australia in 1987, but the number of Japanese tourists arriving in Queensland increased at twice the rate of Japanese tourists arriving in Hawaii.
3) Sydney and Melbourne areas. This is one of the most densely populated areas in Australia. The climate here is humid in winter but drier in summer. Therefore, it can just make up for the shortcomings of the climate in Brisbane. Most summer seaside tours are available on the area's coast; day trips are available year-round at local beaches. There are ideal surfing conditions here, but some beaches are dangerous because of strong rip currents. Cities in the region are important tourist centers.
Sydney is Australia's largest city and important port, and the capital of New South Wales. It is located on the southeast coast of the mainland and has a population of approximately 3.5 million. The city was founded in 1788 as the earliest British penal colony in Australia. It is now an important economic, cultural, financial and trade center in the country. Transportation is also very developed, with roads leading to Newcastle in the north, Wollongong, the steel city in the south, and Lithgow and Bathurst in the west. There is an important international airport here and many international and domestic routes. The city has a mild climate and beautiful environment. The natural landscape and cultural landscape are both rich and distinctive. There are many parks and street gardens in the city, with green spaces all over the city and flowers blooming everywhere. There are many rare birds and animals in Tailonga Zoo, such as Australian koalas, platypuses, kangaroos, etc. There are many bays and beaches on the seaside, which are excellent natural bathing spots and can be used for water sports such as water skiing and surfing. Among the many ancient and modern buildings, the most famous are the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Tower. The Sydney Opera House, also known as the Sea Opera House, is Australia's national performing arts center. The building has a unique shape, like a fleet of ships sailing out to sea, and is very harmonious with the surrounding scenery. Completed in 1973, this world-famous building has become a Sydney icon. Its designer is the young Danish architect Jern Utsson. Sydney Tower is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere, with a height of 304.8 meters. The tubular tower body reaches 230 meters. The tower is conical in shape and has 9 floors. The 1st and 2nd floors are revolving restaurants, and the 3rd and 4th floors are observation floors, where you can enjoy the view of the entire Sydney city. The 2000 Olympic Games will be held in Sydney. In 1991, the city received 1.5 million foreign tourists, with each person staying here for an average of 13 days and spending 626 Australian dollars per day.
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia and the capital of the state of Victoria. The population is approximately 2.8 million. The city is the birthplace of Australia's earliest ranching and sheep farming industries. In 1851, a large gold mine was discovered nearby, which made San Francisco somewhat inferior, so it was called "New Gold Mountain". It is now a modern city with developed industry, transportation and culture. Tullamarine Airport northwest of the city is the second largest international airport in the country. The city is a garden city with a pleasant climate, and botanical gardens and parks account for 1/4 of the city's area. There are more than 10,000 species of plants in the famous Royal Botanic Gardens. There are 95 trees planted by the Queen of England and other world celebrities. In addition to modern high-rise buildings, there are also ancient buildings such as the Gothic St. Paul's Church and the ancient Greek Parliament Building. There are many Chinese restaurants and some Chinese archways in Chinatown. There is also a monument built in the city to commemorate the struggle of local workers in 1855 for the "38-hour system" (8 hours each for work, rest and sleep). The city's coastal area has rugged and protruding cliffs, which are beautiful and spectacular; some parks also have a variety of wild animals, such as pelicans, penguins, seals, etc.
The Great Dividing Range is Australia's main mountain range, stretching along the eastern coast from Cairns to Melbourne. The Snow Mountain between Sydney and Melbourne has the highest altitude, and its top is covered with snow all year round. It is known as the "Roof of Australia". In 1949, Kosciuszko National Park was established on the mountain, covering an area of ??6,134 square kilometers. The Thredbo Village in the park has a well-equipped ski resort, and various snow-related sports can be carried out all year round. There is an aerial ropeway built here that can take skiers directly to the ski starting point 600 meters high. Snowy Mountains is also the birthplace of Australia's major rivers and houses the famous Snowy Mountains Water Conservancy Project. Lake Okambine behind the dam is the largest reservoir in the country. It is rich in aquatic products and is also an important tourist spot. In addition, there are many other national parks located along the mountain ranges that offer natural landscape tourism and various vacation activities. These activities can be combined with beach tours based in coastal towns.
The Blue Mountains are 65 kilometers west of Sydney. They are a branch of the Great Dividing Range and are a tourist destination. It has towering peaks, deep canyons and luxuriant trees. It is named after a large number of oil droplets that volatilize from the trees in autumn and turn blue when refracted by sunlight. Near Katoomba, there is a pleasant climate, jagged rocks, and natural attractions such as the Three Sisters, Gino Blue Cave, Wentworth Falls, and Bird's Pecking Rock. The Gino Blue Cave is majestic and deep. There are holes in the cave and various karst cave landforms, such as stalagmites, stalactites, stone mantles, etc.
Canberra, the capital of Australia, is located in the mountain basin of the Great Dividing Range. The population is about 250,000. The city is laid out along the artificial lake behind the barrage. It is a beautiful and prosperous modern city. There is only a small amount of light industry in the city, but culture and science and technology are developed. There is a national library with a rich collection of books and many scientific research institutions. There is a space satellite tracking station in the southwest suburbs. There are many open woodlands and parks in the city and suburbs, like a big garden.
4) Tasmania. The island is not far from the southeastern coast of the Australian mainland and is the country's most southerly territory. Therefore, the climate is cooler than other places, with the highest temperature in summer being 21°C and the highest temperature in winter being 11°C. Rainfall is abundant and evenly distributed throughout the year. However, the spatial distribution is uneven. It exceeds 2500 mm in the western mountainous areas and gradually decreases to less than 500 mm in the east. The island has a distinctly British farm landscape, but is also dotted with some uninhabited highlands and moors, as well as magnificent waterfalls, deep gorges, towering mountains and beautiful lakes. The state capital, Hobart, is small in area, with a population of only 180,000. It is also a seaport with a beautiful environment, but the city and the entire island are not yet important tourist areas in Australia.
3. Southwest Mediterranean climate zone
The west coast of Australia spans several different climate zones, but it is generally not affected by moist ocean airflow, so it is drier than the east coast and is quite a bit drier than the east coast. The long stretch is desert. The Mediterranean climate suitable for tourism is found near Perth. The average summer temperature in this area is above 21°C (December to March), with less precipitation; in winter, rainfall increases and the temperature can drop to 13°C.
Perth is the capital of Western Australia and an important port. Because there are hundreds of black swans in the city's lakes, which have become the symbol of Perth, it is also called the "Black Swan City". In 1829, prisoners exiled from Britain arrived here to open up wasteland. At the end of the 19th century, it developed rapidly due to the discovery of gold mines in its east. The climate here is very conducive to tourism. Several kilometers of white beaches provide people with natural bathing spots. There are also many cultural facilities and office buildings in the city, such as the Art Museum, Perth Opera House, City Hall Building, etc. The transportation is very developed, with roads leading to Darwin to the north and railways to Sydney on the east coast.
Although the climate and natural landscape in Perth are relatively superior, and the transportation is convenient, it is too far away from the eastern region of Australia where the population is concentrated, and it is not attractive enough to attract tourists from Sydney and Melbourne Beach attracted. The winter climate in Perth cannot be compared with the winter sunshine tourist resorts on the east coast of Queensland. Therefore, southwestern Australia is one of the few Mediterranean climate areas in the world where tourism is not very developed, although it has unspoiled and beautiful beaches, a wide variety of flowers and trees, and not far away inland there are A historically prosperous mining town.
4. The central "red" arid zone
Most of the Australian interior is a hot desert or semi-desert zone, with annual precipitation of less than 225 mm. There is little surface water, but groundwater is abundant, especially artesian groundwater in many areas. Australia has more than 20 artesian basins such as the Great Artesian Basin, Murray River Basin, Buckley Basin and Desert Basin, with a total area of ??2.7 million square kilometers. 18,000 wells have been drilled, providing a large number of people and livestock in the inland arid areas. Use water. Therefore, lack of surface water is not a serious limiting factor for tourism development.
The natural landscape of this area is characterized by undulating terrain, open plains and the lack of perennial water systems. Only intermittent rivers flow westward from the Great Dividing Range into salt lakes in the interior basins (such as Lake Eyre). Trees are only found on the sides of the waterways, while tough grasses and shrubs are found elsewhere. Further west from there, there is an even drier desert, with stony plains, sand dunes and clay disks alternating with each other. The natural landscape is dominated by red, which is caused by iron oxide deposits covering the rock surface. There are a series of mountain ranges on the plains in the geographical center of the region, such as the MacDonnell Ranges, Musgrave Ridge, and the Peterman Ranges. Between the mountains there are some isolated outcrops (remnants of very old mountain ranges) located in the basin.
The most famous of these magnificent isolated rock formations are Ayers Rock and Mount Olga in Uluru National Park.
Ayers Rock is the largest isolated rock mass in the world, located 350 kilometers west of Alice Springs. It was first discovered by European Ayers in 1872, so it was named after him. The boulder is 348 meters above the surrounding plains, 3,000 meters long, and has a base circumference of 8,500 meters. From a distance, it looks like a giant beast, with a smooth surface and no plants growing on it. The rocks are red, but the color varies throughout the day, sometimes darker, sometimes lighter. As a result of weathering, many crevices and caves have been formed on the boulders. The local indigenous people regard the boulder as the incarnation of God and come here regularly to worship. In some caves, there are ancient murals that resemble abstract paintings. Visitors can climb to the peak from the west of the boulder and enjoy the magnificent scenery of the vast plain. The transportation is relatively convenient when traveling here. You can reach here by car from nearby Yularala. It has its own airstrip and well-equipped tourist services, offering a variety of accommodation ranging from international-standard luxury hotels to simple campsites. Although tourists can arrive directly by air, most people fly to Alice Springs and then transfer by plane or train to Yulara and Ayers Rock. The local climate is relatively hot, but due to the dry air, if tourists pay attention to avoid direct sunlight, tourism activities can proceed normally.
Alice Springs is located in the MacDonnell Mountains and is the seat of the administrative agencies of Central Australia. It is also a tourism center and the geographical center of the country. The climate here is hot and surrounded by red desert. The city has a memorial hall for the 19th-century radio relay station site, a geyser site, and a war memorial. There is a 6-meter-high rotating platform in the art museum. Standing on it, you can enjoy the strange scenery of the red plain. There is a camel training farm near the city, and its camels are available for tourists. Every autumn, the city holds a traditional camel race.