Insight Guide Australia is a full-color travel guide that offers a comprehensive approach to getting the most out of one the world’s most enticing destinations. Engaging and inspirational History and Culture chapters explain the country’s fascinating past of aboriginal culture and colonial rule, and the factors influencing its identity; from ancient aboriginal culture, through to the arrival of the British, to the country’s development as a modern nation. The vibrant arts scene, local cuisine, sporting opportunities and breathtaking landscape are fully explored so that visitors can gain a sense of how Australia’s character and culture have been shaped. Encompassing all of Australia’s states and territories, the Places chapters cover Australia’s major cities of Sydney and Melbourne in detail, and also suggest where to visit and what to do in Australia’s great outdoors to help with planning a trip to some of the world’s most amazing sights – such as the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, the Great Ocean Road, Fraser Island, and Kakadu National Park. Full-color photographs throughout illustrate the beauty of the Australian landscape more than any other guide to the country on the market and give a true flavor of Australian life today. Detailed maps throughout the book help visitors get around the different areas, with all major sites cross-referenced with the text, and the Travel Tips offer selective advice on where to stay, what to eat and the type of activities that are available.