Lend A Hand In Saving Australia's National Parks

One of the popular tourist attractions for many Australia visitor visa holders in the country is visiting its many national parks. In fact, there is often more visitors in these parks, than there are at the man made attractions all over the country. This really makes them very important to Australia.

So why are national parks so popular to many tourists? After all, all you get to see there are rocks and trees, as said by some non-park enthusiasts. Yes, this is one is indeed very true, since most of the times, what you will see in the parks are green trees. And often, you will actually be very far from modern conveniences when touring them.

However, nature parks does have plenty to offer that city attractions will not. For one, it is a good way to escape the busy life in the city, which, for many, have become quite grueling. And nature parks are also some of the of the places to go to if you want to also leave the pollution of the city behind. You will be able to breathe a clean and fresh whiff of air here, even for only a few hours.

And to those thinking that nature parks are boring walks, well, in the park, then you are definitely a bit mistaken. You see, many of Australia' national parks are well developed in that they provide an assortment of activities and attractions for any tourist. For instance, if you are someone who is more into a quite Sunday walk, then you can head the trails laid out in these parks. On the other hand, if you are looking for something a bit more exciting, then you can try out such extreme sports as mountain biking and rafting right in the parks' grounds.

The above will definitely convince you that Australia's national parks are really good places to spend your vacation in. however, there is still something that you will surely love about nature parks, and that is interacting with some of Australia's unique creatures. Sure, you have probably seen animals, like kangaroos, in the zoos; but here, you will be able to see them as they live in the wild. And not only will you be able to see the familiar ones, you can also catch a glimpse of the unique ones, like koalas.

And it is because of these interesting Australian creatures that tourists are not only encourage to troop into the parks, but also to help protect them. Thought the Australian Park Services has given a lot of effort in preserving the parks and wildlife, there is still a lot to be done here. Even foreign tourists can be a lot of help by becoming a member of the many preservation organizations and lending a hand.

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Sydney, The Next Capital Of Australia

Many of those who do not have an Australia visas yet often think that Sydney is the capital of the country. This, of course, is incorrect, since Canberra is the capital of Australia. However, this one is not surprising, as Sydney is considered as the country's most popular city.

In fact, it is an interesting thing to note that Sydney actually did vie for the right to become the country's capital when Australia was just in its early years. Its closest rival for the privilege was the city of Melbourne, this is actually the main reason behind the long standing rivalry between the two cities. However, as we all have known already, the right went to Canberra; which some people jokingly said was done only to stop Sydney and Melbourne from going to war against each other.

However, up to this date, many Sydney residents and supporters still assert that the city is the rightful heir to Canberra's position as the country's capital. They also say the the city has all of the qualification to be the next capital, should Canberra bow down. And so, in order to settle this question, it would be a good idea to look into what the city has to offer to people.

Historically, Sydney is, in fact, the first to be established in the country. It was here that British explorer Captain James Cook set up the first colony when he landed in the continent in 1788. the city was formally named in the same year. From then on, Sydney expanded rapidly to become Australia's largest city. Today the current population of the city is around 4.5 million people, which is higher than either Canberra or Melbourne.

Aside from its historical importance, the city of Sydney also boasts of many landmarks that has become well known all over the whole world. One particular example of this is the Sydney Opera House. Completed in 1973, the building is easily recognizable, even from afar, due to its unique roof. Aside from its outstanding architecture, the Sydney Opera house is also renowned for the great performances that are presented here daily. The building was even been declared as World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 2007.

Another thing that makes Sydney stand out among the rest of Australia's cities is that it has been the host to many important world events during the years. One of the biggest of such events is the 2000 Summer Olympics, which was attended by more than a million people and which has gathered the best athletes from all around the world. Also, Sydney's New Year's fireworks displays is actually broadcasted to over a hundred countries worldwide.

As you can see, Sydney has so many things that will definitely make it the rightful capital of the country. But then again, that question will probably take a little while before it can be answered.

Image reference: http://www.sydneygalleries.com.au/files/product/images/50/JMartin_SydneyAtNight.jpg

Sydney And Melbourne: The Battle To Become Australia's Next Capital

Many people who have an Australia visas and have visited the country already know that its capital is the city of Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory. However, for the many more that have yet to set foot in the country, Canberra is unheard of as a place. In fact, most often think the capital is either Sydney or Melbourne (with Sydney being the more popular guess).

This one is actually not surprising, as both cities have been battling it out against each other for the privilege of becoming Australia's capital ever since the country was established some one hundred years ago. This one has been briefly halted when Canberra was declared the capital in the early years of the twentieth century. However, oddly enough, the rivalry between the two cities has since been rekindled and continues until today, though, of course, on a friendlier note.

However, many thoughtful ones are still not that satisfied. They are still thinking which one would be the better one as the new capital in case Canberra finally bows out from its throne (which, by the way, it got only because Sydney and Melbourne can's stop arguing with each other). And so, here are some of the arguments being given by supporters of both cities.

For those who want to have Sydney as the capital of Australia, their main reason is that it is the most widely known Australian city. This one is, in fact, actually very true. As have been said above, most people outside of Australia actually think and believe that Sydney is the capital of the Country.

Also, they said that there are many well known landmarks in the city. This includes such world renowned pieces as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They also contend that Sydney has become the host of many important world events, such as the the 2000 Olympics.

On the other hand, Melbourne itself would not be outdone. Supporters say that Melbourne has in fact become a very important place in world affairs. It is also considered as one of the foremost centers of art and culture in the world today. Another proof of Melbourne's worth that many supporters says makes it the rightful heir to the position of Canberra is the fact that it rated as the third most livable city in the world today, as ranked by the World Bank.

Until Canberra actually secedes its position of being Australia's capital, it is unlikely that the battle between Sydney and Melbourne is unlikely to be settled. However, many people would agree that both are indeed a great city to live in.

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http://www.isgtw.org/images/melbourne.jpg