In thelast 20 years, Australiahas really made its mark in the wine world. The country produces a variety ofwines from a number of wine growing regions and has revolutionised winemakingprocesses, making it a real force to be reckoned with in the wine-growingworld.
Thevast majority of Australian wine comes from South Australia, although Victoria and New South Wales are bothkey players in the country's wine output. Western Australia produces a smaller volumeand has earned itself the reputation of producing more expensive, boutiquequality wines. Look to Tasmaniaif you fancy something sparkling or a little sweeter.
Themost widely planted grapes in Australiaare international varieties. Shiraz,Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are all big on the red front, while Chardonnay,Semillon and Riesling are all popular whites. Alongside these, Australian winemakersare increasingly experimenting with some of the remaining 80 or so grapevarieties that are planted in Australia, meaning that you can expect someinteresting Australian wines to come out of the country in the coming years.
Australia has made its name forproducing most of the big branded wines that are available in the UK. This islargely because land in Australiais plentiful and winemakers don't have the restrictions of space that Europeanwine-makers do. In addition, as the climate doesn't vary much from year toyear, there is little difference between vintages, giving Australian wines adegree of reliability that is impossible to guarantee from Old World countries. However, in an effort to ensure that every bottletastes identical, many of the mass-produced Australian wines will have hadother ingredients, such as additives, added to them. While you can be sure thatthe wine will have been made according to rigorous quality standards, allelements of their uniqueness and soul will have been removed. If you fancysomething a little more authentic, you'll just need to hunt a little deeper. Thereare plenty of small, independent, wineries producing Australian wine for loveand not money.
Australia is at the forefront of innovation and Australian wine-makers haveinvested huge amounts in developing some of the most modern wineries and inre-evaluating their wine producing techniques. Combined, these have allowedAustralian wine-makers to experiment with different grapes and styles. Not onlythis but Australian wine-makers have become champions of producing simplerlabels (which include simply grapes and regions), making it easy for even thebeginner wine enthusiast to understand.
With its barren deserts, tropical rainforests, rugged mountains and some amazing beaches and islands to discover, it's no wonder that so many people visit this vast country.
Not surprisingly, there is no shortage of good quality holiday accommodation to rent to suit everyone's taste ? from studio apartments to luxury villas.
There is just so much to see and do in Australia. But many people forget the sheer enormity of this country. Ideally, you will need to spend a month or two here, but if your time is tight, then you will certainly need to make the most of it.
Some areas worth visiting are New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania.
In New South Wales there's Sydney, the country's largest city. During your stay, be sure to visit the famous Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Royal Botanic Gardens, Taronga Park Zoo and Bondi Beach ? just to name a few.
You can even view Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Taronga Zoo and more sights from the air by taking a Seaplane Tour. The sea plane pilot will give a commentary during the flight, too. It's worth doing if you haven't got the time to catch sight of the city's attractions on foot. You could also join one of the tours on offer. If you're feeling energetic, there's the opportunity to tour the city on two wheels, with the Sydney Cycling Tour. Also, make sure that you check out the many shops and restaurants while you're there.
Australia is rich in history. In particular, there's the famous Aborigines, who were Australia's first inhabitants. They were there for tens of thousands of years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century.
The Aboriginal culture is one of the world's longest surviving cultures, and you can see the aboriginal history for yourself if you visit Australia's Northern Territory. For a truly cultural experience be sure to go to Uluru/Ayers Rock, which is a huge sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory. It is located south-west of Alice Springs in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Victoria, meanwhile, is Australia's smallest mainland state and boasts some interesting and amazing landscapes. It's here that you'll find Melbourne, Australia's second largest city. It's a good place to visit if fashion, food and culture is your scene. Amazingly, this city has more than 3,000 restaurants, caf's and bars to try, so there's no chance of going hungry or thirsty here!
Queensland is often called the Sunshine State and is home to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. It's the world's largest coral reef and stretches about 2,000km long. It's a particularly popular location with scuba divers and underwater explorers. But if diving's not your scene, you can still witness the beauty of this amazing reef by joining one of the cruises which operate from major towns and cities on the north Queensland coast.
South Australia is another great area to explore. Here you'll be able to get close to nature and discover some beautiful landscapes, including national parks, forests, botanic gardens, and meet the area's wildlife face to face. Here you can swim with dolphins and sea-lions and also see koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and whales in their natural habitats. Kangaroo Island is one destination definitely worth visiting if you're into wildlife. There are lots of cute Little Penguins and rare Australian Sea-lions to gaze at. South Australia also has the amazing Outback to explore. However, if you do decide to venture into the Outback, make sure that you take particular care, as it's such a huge area and it's often a long way between towns, fuel outlets and other facilities. Before you set off, check that you're well equipped for your journey and that you take plenty of food and water, for example.
If it's city life that you're looking for, then head to Adelaide, the capital of South Australia and the island's fifth largest city. This city has plenty to offer ? culture, sports, shopping, food and a lot more besides. For chocoholics a must see is Haigh's Chocolates Visitor's Centre. Haigh's is Australia's oldest chocolate manufacturer and offers visitors a chance to see chocolates being made.
Western Australia is another great holiday destination. Perth is the capital of Western Australia and is a great location for culture and the arts, entertainment and nightlife too. Western Australia also boasts The Golden Outback, which is perfect for those looking for an adventurous holiday.
Tasmania, meanwhile, is Australia's only island state and has many natural, unspoilt areas to discover. It's a good place to go hiking both inland and on the coast areas. Hobart is the capital of Tasmania and is the hometown of the Crown Princess of Denmark. Hobart was also the first Australian city to have a legal casino, which opened in Sandy Bay in 1973.
Clearly, Australia has something for everyone. Why not check out it out ? and, of course, its amazing selection of property rental accommodation at http://www.selfpropertyrental.com/propertyrental/australia-holiday-property-rentals-170308
Both Kirk & Katie Warr are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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