补充阅读 AttractionsofAustralia

Attractions of Australia SydneyAustralias premier city is the oldest settlement in Australia, the economic powerhouse of the nation and the countrys capital in everything but name. Built on the shores of the stunning Port Jackson, you would have to die and go to heaven before you see a more spectacular setting for a city. Its a vital, self-regarding metropolis, exuding both a devil-may-care urbanity and a slavish obsession with global fads. The successful Olympic Games, held in Sydney in 2000, further cemented the citys reputation as a civilized, fun-loving and friendly place to be.Melbourne Australias second city is a place of contradictions and hidden charms. A leafy, bayside community on the upside-down, brown Yarra River, it is cosmopolitan, suburban, cultivated, football crazy, conservative and a haven for the avant-garde. Visitors come for its shopping, restaurants, nightlife and sporting calendar, encouraging many Melburnians to believe that they live in one of the most civilized cities in the world.Great Barrier Reef One of Australias greatest assets is the magnificent reef which runs along virtually the entire coast of Queensland. Considered one of the worlds natural wonders, it is the most extensive reef system and the biggest structure made by living organisms on earth. In the north, the reef is virtually continuous and is located only 50km (30mi) from the shore. In the south, individual reefs are more common, and in some places up to 300km (190mi) offshore. Hundreds of islands dot the reef area. About 20 of them have resort facilities, but its possible to camp on many others.Cairns Cairns is the tourist capital of the Far North and one of Australias top travellers destinations. Not long ago, it was just a sleepy tropical backwater. Unfortunately, much of its allure and tropical languor has vanished amid the rapid growth of tourist infrastructure, but it is still one of the best bases for exploring the riches of Queensland. From Cairns, you can arrange trips to the Great Barrier Reef, Green Island and Fitzroy Island, the beautiful Atherton Tableland, the market town of Kuranda, the string of enchanting beaches stretching 50km north to Port Douglas, and the spectacular rainforest and coastal scenery of Cape Tribulation and the Daintree River.Darwin The capital of northern Australia is closer to Jakarta than it is to Sydney, and closer to Singapore than it is to Melbourne, so its no surprise that it looks outward to Asia as much as it looks inland to the rest of Australia. This proximity and familiarity with Australias northern neighbours is reflected in the towns relaxed, cosmopolitan, tropical atmosphere.Uluru (Ayers Rock) Uluru is a site of deep cultural significance to the local Anangu Aboriginals and the most famous icon of the Australian outback. A pilgrimage to Uluru and the coronary-inducing scramble to the top was an entrenched Australian ritual, but the Aboriginal owners would prefer visitors not to climb the rock and many visitors are now respecting their wishes. The 3.6km long rock rises a towering 348m from the pancake-flat surrounding scrub, smack in the middle of the country, and is especially impressive at dawn and sunset when the red rock spectacularly changes hue. There are walks around the base of the rock which pass caves, rock art and sacred Aboriginal sites. Nearby Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), 32km (20mi) west of Uluru, are equally impressive monoliths and Mt Olga is actually much higher than Uluru. The Valley of the Winds is a worthy 6km (4mi) circuit.Brisbane Brisbane is Australias third largest city and the state capital of Queensland. Not so long ago, the rest of Australia considered it little more than an overgrown country town, but it has shirked off this unwelcome reputation to become one of the countrys most progressive centres. Since playing host to a string of major international events in the 80s, including the 1982 Commonwealth Games and Expo 88, Brisbane has developed into a lively, cosmopolitan city with several interesting districts, a good street cafe scene, a great riverside park, a busy cultural calendar and decent nightlife.Perth Perth, the capital of Western Australia, is a vibrant and modern city pleasantly sited on the Swan and Canning rivers, with the cerulean Indian Ocean to the west and the ancient Darling Ranges to the east. It claims to be the sunniest state capital in Australia, though more striking is its isolation from the rest of the country (Perth is closer to Singapore than to Sydney).Canberra Canberra is a fascinating 20th-century creation that has struggled to establish itself as the focus of Australias national history, pride and identity. Canberra has long been perceived as the fat cat of Australian cities, a town of politicians and bureaucrats living off the hard work of their countryfolk. Step outside the Parliamentary Triangle and youll soon find it isnt true - most of the politicians go home every weekend, and a great many of the bureaucrats have lost their jobs in recent public service cutbacks. Canberra has grown from a Federation baby into an adult city with all the problems and delights that being a grown-up brings.Adelaide When the early colonists began building Adelaide they built with stone, constructing a solid, dignified city that is civilized and calm in a way that no other Australian state capital can match. The solidity goes further than architecture, for Adelaide was once regarded as a city of wowsers (read: puritan spoilsports) and was renowned chiefly for its disproportionately large number of churches. These days the churches are outnumbered by pubs and nightclubs, and there is no denying that the city has a superb setting - the centre is surrounded by green parkland, and the metropolitan area is bound by the hills of the Mt Lofty Ranges and the waters of the Gulf St Vincent.Hobart Hobart is Australias southernmost capital city. The f