ACTIVITIES

Sport & Activities

The range of activity, adventure and special interest holidays is almost limitless. Detailed information is given under each individual State section. Below is a brief outline with practical information on some of the most popular sports and activities available in Australia. Further details can also be obtained from the Australian Tourist Board (see address section).

Bushwalking: Bushwalking is an Australian term coined in the 1920s to distinguish serious walkers from casual hikers. Australia's wilderness areas, national parks and vast tracts of sparsely populated countryside make bushwalking one of the country's most popular pastimes. Maps are widely available, either from the many guide books on offer or from state government offices. Fires are a threat during summer and walkers must respect fire ban warnings. Outdoor clothing and equipment tends to be expensive. Each state and territory has its own independent parks authority. 
More about bushwalking>>

Self-drive tours: Three quarters of Australia's land mass lies in the Outback. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are a favourite means of transport and there are a number of scenic highways and roads leading to the often remote Outback destinations. On such journeys, it is not unusual to drive for hours without seeing another person.  More about driving in Australia>>

Diving: With 36,735km (22,826 miles) of coastline, Australia provides outstanding opportunities for watersports, particularly diving and snorkelling. The tropical waters along the 2500km (1500 miles) of the Great Barrier Reef and its multitude of tiny islands is one of the world's best known diving locations. Requirements for dive courses (which are widely available) vary from state to state, but generally, beginners must be at least 12 years of age and have a medical certificate of fitness in accordance with Australian standards. To obtain the basic scuba diving qualification, visitors can participate in either a one-week full-time course or a two-week part-time course; tailor-made courses are also available. Certified divers must be able to produce their international certification card and log book for solo dives, unless they participate in fully supervised dives with a professional. For further information, contact the Australian Underwater Federation, Maitland Street, Hackett ACT 2602 (tel: (2) 62 47 55 54; fax: (2) 62 47 59 94) or the National Association of Scuba Diving Schools (NASDS), Unit 208, 396 Scarborough Beach Road, Osborne Park WA 6017 (tel: (8) 92 42 44 94; fax: (8) 92 42 53 80).

Fishing: The seas off the east coast are reputed to be one of the world's best game-fishing areas, and the waters off north Western Australia are also particularly abundant. The area north of Queensland is well-known for marlin fishing while the streams in the high country in New South Wales and Victoria are very good for trout. Newspapers and radio have comprehensive tide and fishing reports. Fishing licence requirements vary from state to state. For further information, contact the Australian Recreational and Sport Fishing Confederation, PO Box 854, Dickson ACT 2602 (tel: (2) 62 57 19 97; fax: (2) 62 47 93 14).

Surfing: There are surfing schools all over the country, offering instruction for beginners or advanced surfers. For details, contact the Australian Professional Surfing Association, 23 Coronation Avenue, Cronulla NSW 2230 (tel: (2) 95 23 19 45; fax: (2) 95 23 28 91).

Golf: Facilities are excellent and the settings often spectacular. For further details and a copy of the 'Australian Golfers Handbook', contact the Australian Golf Union, 153-155 Cecil Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205 (tel: (3) 96 99 79 44; fax: (3) 96 90 85 10).

Skiing: Possible from May to mid-October in the mountainous areas of the southeast. The best skiing slopes are located on the eastern mountain ranges on the state borders of New South Wales and Victoria. For further information, contact Skiing Australia, Level 2, Australian Alpine House, 120 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 (tel: (3) 96 50 86 66; fax: (3) 96 50 87 37).

Special interest holidays: A huge range of these are available – farming, flying and gliding, ballooning, cycling, rafting, pony trekking, gemstone fossicking, bungee jumping, etc. For further details, see the individual State and Territory sections or contact the Australian Tourist Board (see address section).