DO YOU KNOW WHERE IS IT?

Canberra - Australia's Capital regionCanberra became the site for the newly federated nation of Australia in 1908 by a ballot in Parliament after extensive searching. The Indigenous peoples of this area have lived here for over 20,000 years. Since then the city has grown to become the proud home of the Australian story. Canberra is a fantastic base from which to explore the many treasures of the surrounding region. Explore historic townships, natural wonders, beautiful coastlines and the famous Snowy Mountains. So allow enough time to linger longer and enjoy all the nation’s capital has to offer

Canberra and

surrounds

Australian cuisine has the most diverse range, quality, and inventiveness than many others in the world. However, it took Australia some time to evolve from the scenes of meat pies, Vegemite sandwiches, and sausage rolls to the scene of dishes such as "seared kangaroo fillet with wilted beetroot greens and roasted onions". Australia is also well known for its fresh ingredients such as seafood, local fruits, beef and lamb, as well as its world class cheeses. Like in Italy and France, Australia can be divided into regions that are known for particular produce such as King Island cream, Sydney rock oysters, Bowen mangoes, Coffin Bay scallops, Tasmanian salmon, and Illovo milk-fed lamb. Each state has its acknowledged specialties, which travelers should take advantage of.

Seared kangaroo

Scallops

Vegemite

sandw

iches

What is Vegemite? Vegemite is considered as much a part of Australia's heritage as kangaroos and the Holden cars. It is actually an Australian obsession that has become a unique and loved symbol of the Australian nation. A Vegemite sandwich to an Australian kid is the equivalent of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to an American kid - but the taste is QUITE different! Vegemite is one of several yeast extract spreads sold in Australia. It is made from leftover brewers' yeast extract (a by-product of beer manufacture) and various vegetable and spice additives. It is very dark reddish-brown, almost black, in color, and one of the richest sources known of Vitamin B. It's thick like peanut butter, it's very salty, and it tastes like - well let's just say that it is an acquired taste! Australian children are brought up on Vegemite from the time they're babies. It is said that Australians are known to travel all over the world with at least one small jar of Vegemite in their luggage, for fear that they will not be able to find it.

Facts and StatisticsLocation: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific OceanCapital: CanberraClimate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in northPopulation: 19,913,144 (July 2004 est.)Ethnic Make-up: Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%Religions: ;Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%, non-Christian 11%, other 12.6%Government: democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign. English is the primary language used in Australia.