Fauna

KOALA

The koala is an exclusive Australian marsupial. Sometimes bear names it a koala due to his similarity with a bear of plush. Also it looks like the wombat, his alive nearest relative, but with a denser hair, big ears and longer extremities. The koalas only are active during about two hours per day and generate all his fluids from the ingestion of leaves of eucalyptuses. It can spy to the koalas for the whole east coast tempered of Australia. Some of the places that they frequent principally include Tidbinbilla's natural Reservation near Canberra; Port Stephens in New South Wales and the Reservation of Lone Pine's koalas in Queensland. see them in his natural habitat in Phillip Island in Victory and in Yanchep's national Park in Western Australia.

KANGAROO

Kangaroos are the largest marsupial surviving on earth today. They are well known for their style of movement; hopping on their hind legs whilst using their large, muscular tail for balance. Kangaroos use their tail like an extra leg when they are manoeuvring around, or standing still. Kangaroos are one of the only animals that are not able to move backwards easily, and this is why they are used on the Australian national emblem.

KOOKABURRA

According to an Aboriginal legend, the kookaburra's famous chorus of laughter every morning is a signal for the sky people to light the great fire that illuminates and warms the earth by day. The legend captures the imagination, but the true function of the familiar cacophony is to advertise the territory of this bold bird. The Laughing Kookaburra is the largest of the kingfisher family, but unlike most of its relatives, it is sedentary and occupies the same territories the year round. Before spring breeding season, when family groups adjust their boundaries, an observer can actually locate the territories by listening to the noisy choruses at dusk as each group calls in turn and awaits the replies of neighbouring groups.

CASSOWARY

Cassowaries stand between 1.5-2 metres in height with both sexes similar in appearance. Adults are striking with their glossy black plumage and bright blue neck with touches of red. The female is larger than the male and is also the more aggressive of the two. Cassowaries are the heaviest bird in Australia.

If you want to learn more about the different animals that you can find in Australia, you can search for information here:

http://www.australiazoo.com.au/

Flora

PAPERBARK

• The Paperbarks, Melaleuca spp., are one of the most distinctive Australian plants, usually well known both to residents and many visitors alike.
• They are also known as 'honey myrtles' as many species produce copious amounts of nectar, and as 'Tea-trees', although this name is more commonly used for the other Myrtaceae genus Leptospermum.
• Melaleucas are also often mistaken at first glance for Eucalyptus trees. They are in a separate genus, but in the same family, and many of the species share the familiar pendulous branches and drooping leaves.
• Other common family features are the aromatic, oil gland filled leaves and the flowers dominated by many colourful stamens (above right). And, as is obvious from the main common name, many species have peeling, papery bark (above left).
• In this genus, the stamens are united into bundles, of which there are five in every individual flower (Holliday 1989).
• There are at least 200 different species of Melaleuca. Most of these are found in Australia, but there are a few extending up into tropical Asia and several can be seen in the Daintree region. In fact, in some of the areas around the Daintree coastal floodplains, they constitute their very own ecosystems of 'Paperbark Swamps'.
• Paperbarks have several different uses for humans. The peeling bark was not used as paper, but it was used as a material in which the Australian Aboriginals would cook. In modern times, the famous 'tea-tree' oil is in fact derived from a Melaleuca. It's anti-bacterial qualities derive from terpenic-type oils in the species Melaleuca alternifolia.

COFFEE PLANT

• This is one of the largest of all flowering plant families, with over 6000 species, found mostly in the tropics of the world (Perry 1977).
• With so many species, variability in features should be expected.
• However, the leaves are usually either opposite to the stem, or arranged in whorls (Jackes 1997).
• Many specimens will have a scar on the stem, which appears as a line between the two opposite leaves where there was previously a stipule.
• The flowers in this family vary from the pretty white twisted petals of Gardenias to the Ixora that have their tiny bright red flowers grouped in a head.
• The following fruits are often small round red berries, often larger compound fruits. As the ovary is inferior, that is, it is located below the petals and sepals, the fruits often develop with the presence of a calyx ring.
• This is an economically important family as it contains the much loved Coffee plants, and the early treatment and prevention against malaria, the quinine plant.
• There are also many ornamentals from this family, such as the Gardenias, with their pretty and fragrant flowers.

STRIPED CUCUMBER

• This is a thin-stemmed twiner. The fruits are very distinctive minature watermelon like fruits, that start green with white blotched stripes and ripen to bright red orange.
• They have many small whitish seeds and are toxic.
• They are very widespread, found in wetter forests throughout tropical australia, asia, the Pacific and Africa.

WALKING STICK PALM

• Walking Stick Palms are small plants, with fishtail-like leaves.
• They produce small, colourful red or orange fruits that resemble tic-tacs. The fruits pictured belong to the Northern Walking Stick Palm Linnopadix minor.
• They have large seeds, but the little flesh they do have is edible.
• The 'Walking Stick Palms' are so-named as the southern species from the sub tropical rainforests in northern NSW and southern Queensland was once used for walking sticks.

EUCALYPTUS

Eucalypts, commonly known as gum trees, form an integral part of the Australian identity with the bush. From the children's song Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree through to the distinctive smell of eucalypts to iconic paintings and photographs, eucalypts are an essential part of Australian culture, featuring in art, music and literature.The sight and smell of eucalypts are a defining part of Australian life. The sight of the blue haze from the eucalyptus oil arising from the bush in the mountain ranges west of Sydney gave the Blue Mountains their name.

If you want to learn more about Australia's flora, you can search for information here: 

http://www.australia.com/en/facts/plants.html

Traditions

Folklore

The time period when only Aboriginal people resided in Australia- prior to the invasion of the Europeans is known as Dreamtime is a term used to describe the mystical time when the Aboriginal people established their world. The myths are seen as being absolutely truthful and inhabit everyone in the Australian culture. These myths are comparable to the American mythology and explain the creation of natural things such as the sun, etc. The Aboriginal Dreamtime is part of the culture that explains the origins of the people and of the land. Dreamtime includes a story of how things have happened, how the universe came to be, how humans were created, and how the Creator intended for humans to function in this world.

 Holidays

Australia’s version of the holiday Christmas varies with other countries’ holiday partly due to the fact that Christmas is celebrated in the summer. It is seen as being a family holiday that brings variation to the holiday as well. Each family has their own personal traditions, as do they in most countries.

Clothing

Due to the mild weather, Australians tend to wear light clothing. In the workplace, people dress to stay cool which consists of long socks and tailored shorts instead of slacks. People dress stylishly in the city and in the workplace, but tend to dress down in jeans and sneakers for the weekends.

Children must wear uniforms at school and sunscreen all year round. Having a suntan is a sign of foolishness because Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world (www.aussie-info.com).

To learn more about Australian traditions you can search for information here:

http://www.australia.com/es-cl/events/aboriginal-events.html

http://folklore.com.au/

Food

AUSTRALIAN FOOD

TE TRADITION IN AUSTRALIA

The breakfast is taken very seriously in Australia. As the evening, one of the moments is considered to be indicated to take the tea. This fact is considered to be the whole real ritual, something that probably should to the fact of which up to today there exist in the enormous island a good number of former British colonies. Also for tradition, the Australians accompany his tea on several sweet things like pastry, cakes, cookies, sponge cakes or tarts. Generally they are done by mass and something sweet. On the other hand, from already a few years ago, it is those who seemed to want to change this habit into that of the coffee.

TYPICAL CAKE OF MEAT 

The cake of meat often distinguishes itself as the most important and emblematic saucer of the gastronomic heritage of Australia. This food consists of a base of thin mass (and sometimes mash of potatoes) that covers a succulent mixture of minced meat and spices. In the surface it takes a good quantity of sauce of tomato. The bovine and poultry meats to the gridiron as well as the fish, the seafood and the fruits of the sea in general, also form a part of the principal plates accompanied of salads that besides vegetables, include cheese and eggs. The fungi is another ingredient that appears often, as the onions and the carrots.

HAMBURGUER WITH BEET

Hamburgers eat up in the whole world, but in Australia the Hamburger with beetroot is typical. Australian veal prepares for itself with meat a soft bread, cheese and since finish off a track of beet in the top part. This recipe arose about 1950, when the hamburgers were becoming popular in the whole world. In Australia the beet was added creating a version of the autochthonous hamburger. In 1970 the big chains of snack food came to Australia, nevertheless " the hamburger with beet " it did not disappear. Today it is possible to find in many cafeterias and restaurants, even there are chains of hamburger shops type 'gourmet' that prepare different versions of this hamburger.

COCTAIL OF SHRIMPS

One of show restraint typical of Australia it is the coctail of shrimps, - though the recipe did not arise in Australia from 1970 it is one of the specialities of the country-. It is prepared from similar enough form to since we do it in Spain or in other places of the world with some particularity. The ingredients bare prawns, leaves of lettuce, for the sauce mayonnaise, a bit of sauce of tomato, two spoonfuls of sauce Worcestershire or English sauce and a trickle of juice of lemon.

Here you can look for more information and recipies about typical Australian food!

http://www.aussieyoutoo.com/comida-australia-25-platos-australianos/

Places to visit

SOME OF THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT

Whitsunday Islands

There’s no limit to the wonder of the Whitsundays! Lying in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, in the warm waters of Australia's Coral Sea are 74 tropical islands. It’s a true Queensland paradise where you can expect the unexpected and feel the freedom to make it your own experience – whether it’s about relaxation and romance, or all the action of an island adventure. Be the master of your own destiny; charter a yacht and skipper yourself, or take a cruise and let someone else do the sailing for you - either way, let the grandeur of the landscape and the endless horizon dotted with islands wash over you. 

Closer to water level, jet ski or kayak through the tropical islands, or for a bird’s eye view, take in the panorama of the Whitsundays landscape from a seaplane or helicopter, or perhaps a skydive! The adventure never ends!  

Most of the Whitsunday Islands are beautiful, tropical deserted islands, but eight offer a variety of resort accommodation, all with the Great Barrier Reef and fringing coral reefs at their doorstep.  Whether it is eco-style, family friendly, all inclusive, activity based, food and wine focused or pure luxury, there is a Queensland resort experience to suit everyone in the Whitsunday Islands. The Whitsundays is home to the renowned island resorts of Hamilton Island, One&Only Hayman Island, Daydream Island Resort and Spa, Long Island Resort, Paradise Bay Eco Escape, Lindeman Island, Brampton Island and South Molle Island.

Tasmania Island

I am charmed with Tasmania, am like a small New Zealand! Very easy to cross in one week, Tasmania offers fantastic beaches in the East of the island (Freycinet Bay), sites with very much historical value (Port Arthur and the history of the convicts) and the absolute dream for hikers and those who like the mountain (Craddle Mountain and the national park). With few people, one feels as if the rest of the world had disappeared and is really nice and calm. The cities also are nice, specially Hobart.

 CHECK THIS PAGE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PLACE!

http://www.discovertasmania.com.au/

National Park of Kakadu

Immerse yourself in World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park, a natural and cultural wonder around three hours from Darwin. Discover detailed Aboriginal art galleries, hike to the top of rugged escarpments and cruise the wetlands past waterlilies, waterfalls, crocodiles and migratory birds. Drive the Nature's Way route from Darwin, or add Katherine and Arnhem Land for a longer Top End adventure.

 CHECK THIS PAGE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PLACE!

http://www.parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/index.html