Australia in three pictures

In the three pictures we present, we can only "touch" the surface Australia, because real connoisseurs say that even after several years of research, they always manage to find a new corner that is unique.

Few large cities stand on such a beautiful site as Australia's largest city. The view of Sydney Harbor is dramatic at any part of the day: the outline of the Sydney Opera House reflected on the sea surface and its roof reminiscent of sails. The Rocks, the oldest part of the city and its soul since 1778, is the area that was first built by English convicts, and today the renovated barracks and warehouses here are the center of entertainment, shopping and culinary delights. Darling Harbor is the newest hub for socializing and entertainment. But probably the most beautiful view of Sydney Harbor is at noon, when the sails of hundreds of sailboats unfold on the surface of the water. Most of the townspeople love sailing and prefer a sailing lesson and a sandwich instead of lunch. The easiest way to join them is on board the public ferry that runs across the bay. More elegant is the evening sailing with a glass of champagne, organized by many tourist agencies near the bay. Australia's second largest city is cosmopolitan, cultural, aware and… boring. Boring?! At least that's what actress Ava Gardner thought when she filmed a movie in the city in 1959, but Melbourne changed a lot in the 1950s. Today it is a center of creativity and a sophisticated mix of shops, restaurants, nightlife and sporting activities of all kinds. Melbourne residents are proud to live in a city that regularly ranks at the very top of cities with the highest quality of life. The Yarra River divides the city into two parts. On one side, there are buildings from the original period of the city, including the Queen Victoria Market, built in 1878, which retains its original architecture and shops with typical products. This area also has the best restaurants and theatres, as well as some of the city's newer attractions, such as Federation Square, which is surrounded by buildings such as the Ian Potter Centre, the Australian Center for the Moving Image and the Australian Racing Museum. On the other side of the river, on which the rowing matches are held, the oldest and largest gardens in Australia flourish.

From Melbourne, we can go on various trips, among which we must not miss driving along the Great Ocean Road (Great Ocean Road), which winds along the south-west coast of the state of Victoria, also known as the Dramatic Coast because of the many natural attractions that surround it. We experience the height of drama when we approach the area of the Twelve Apostles - an extraordinary collection of rocks (in reality there are only nine of them) shaped by winds and waves. The slow process of erosion ended up breaking apart the vast tracts of land and rock that were once part of the continent. Further erosion with the waves carved the rocks into interesting shapes with caves and arches. From the tourist center there is a wonderful view of the "apostles", but you can also rent a helicopter and enjoy the same view as described in many interviews by the actor Brandon Routh, who filmed the movie Superman Returns on this part of the coast in 2005. Not far away is another popular beach that can be admired in many movies: Bells Beach is famous as one of the best surfing beaches and also hosts World Cup competitions.

Although it is visited by thousands of tourists every day, the Great Barrier Reef is one of the last parts of the world where nature can be observed in its pristine form. The series of islets and coral peaks in a length of 2,200 kilometers is one of the greatest natural wonders on the planet. There are hundreds of agencies in the tourist centers of Cairns, Brisbane and Port Douglas that offer various opportunities to explore the underwater world. Experienced divers or visitors who dive into the sea with only a mask and snorkel can't help but marvel at the colors and shapes offered by the diverse animal world. 1,500 species of tropical fish that seem to have been painted by Picasso himself, 500 different types of coral, huge turtles and sandy beaches make for an earthly paradise where corals are the main players. The islands, which are part of the coral reef, are a symbol of intimacy, exclusivity and luxury. British Crown Prince Charles and Lady Di chose Lizard Island for their honeymoon. The island is only 21 square kilometers in size, and only 64 visitors can visit it daily. Of course, there are even fewer guests, as there is only one hotel with six villas on the island. We will not get to know Australia if we do not go to its vast desert, where its heart beats. The heart of Australia is red and glowing and has little in common with the radiant Sydney, the surfer-filled beaches of Queensland, the jungles of the north of the country or the dreamy beaches of the Great Barrier Reef. Australians call the interior of the country the Outback, and it covers the area that is not near the coast, an area far from the civilization of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth. The Outback is a sea of a special kind: a sea of sand, Aboriginal land, a vast area that retains its mystique and raw appeal. In the middle of this immense void rises Ayers Rock, a red-colored and oval-shaped monolith, 348 meters high and 9.4 kilometers in diameter, which the Aborigines call Uluru and worship as a sacred mountain. It is most beautiful when the sun is rising or setting, as the colors change from bright red to yellow-brown. The caves at the foot of the mountain are full of murals by Aboriginal people. Although the Aborigines do not agree, visitors can climb to the top of the mountain and admire the 36 reddish domes of the Kata Tjuta Hills, spread over an area of 3,500 hectares.