A USTRALIA By Danielle Nicole Hill

C OUNTRY I NFORMATION Population is 21.6 million since 2009 Religion- Christianity is 64% (less than a quarter attend church weekly) 18.7% of Australians declared no religion, and 11,2% didn’t respond. Location-southeast of Asia, between the Pacific and Indian oceans. Australia is slightly smaller than the United States, with a total area of 7,686,850 sq km (2,967,909 sq mi). The five mainland states of Australia are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia.

Australian Maps

A USTRALIA ’ S FLAG Australia’s Living Information: Stable political system Well maintained roads Low crime rate High standard of health care Australian government hazards: Be thoroughly prepared for outback journeys and long bushwalks or hikes, take sensible precautions in regards to sharks, crocodiles, and poisonous animals.

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T RAVEL I NFORMATION The BIG Pacific Coast Touring Route The Australian Alps Walking Track Sydney's Great Coastal Walk The Thorsborne Trail - Hinchinbrook Island Melbourne to Adelaide via Great Ocean Road Sydney to Melbourne Coastal Drive East Coast Escape, TAS The Overland Track, TAS Indian Ocean Drive, WA Red Centre Way, NT Adventure in Australia Adventure on Australia's Waterways Canoeing and kayaking Australia Surfing Australia Dive Australia’s depths Australian Sport Snow Play on Victoria's slopes Australia's Rainforests Australia's Markets Australia's islands The Grampians Tasmanian Wilderness Ningaloo Reef The Australian Alps The Great Barrier Reef The Red Centre Flinders Ranges Australia’s islands Kakadu

City festivals Music festivals Film festivals Uniquely Australian Events Cooly classic - the Coolangatta Swim New South Wales - Hunter Valley Victoria - Yarra Valley Western Australia - Margaret River Western Australia - Swan Valley South Australia - Barossa Backpacker essentials Work, volunteer and study in Australia Backpacker Precincts

M EANING OF GESTURES Thumbs Up In Australia it is considered a rude gesture having a meaning similar to that of a raised middle finger. Similarly, a "peace sign" with the palm of the hand facing the communicator is considered a rude, vulgar gesture in Australia. A "peace sign" with the palm out means "peace" or "victory," as in North America. Winking For a man to wink at a woman would generally be considered inappropriate in Australia. In Australia it is often considered too suggestive.woman Placing a Glass Squarely on the Bar In Australia this gesture is a way of saying that a person may want to fight.

S PEED L IMIT AND C RIME R ATE Speed Limits in Australia range from 10 kilometers per hour (6.2 mph) shared zones to 130 kilometers per hour (81 mph). Speed limit signage is in km/h since metrication on 1 July All speed limits (with the sole exception of the South Australian school and roadwork zones which are signposted at 25 km/h) are multiples of 10 km/h – the last digit in all speed signs is zero. Advisory speed signs for curves or other road obstacles generally end in the digit five. Australia’s crime rate is 2.5%. Australia has one of the lowest crime rates as a country.