Introduction to Australia
From the remote Outback to northern rainforests, Australia is extraordinarily diverse. Its first inhabitants were the Aboriginal people, and today’s multicultural society has roots in 18th-century European settlement. IHG offers hotels to suit all budgets in cosmopolitan cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, plus a luxurious Sanctuary Cove resort.
Currency
Australian dollar (AUD)
Official language
English
Climate
Temperate in coastal cities like Sydney and Melbourne, desert in the Outback and tropical in the north
Arriving from the airport
Sydney Airport is 5 miles south of downtown. Travel time 12 minutes by Airport Link train (A$18.50). Melbourne Airport is 14 miles northwest of downtown. Travel time 30 minutes by taxi (average A$55–A$65) or bus (A$19.50).
Getting around Australia
In major cities, pay with stored-value card on public transport (cash sometimes accepted). Free zones in some cities.
Top Australia sightseeing
Top experiences
