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General cultural information
Australia is a multicultural society. Before the arrival of European settlers, Aboriginal groups inhabited most areas of the continent. Adaptive and creative with simple but highly efficient technology indigenous Australians had complex social systems and highly developed spiritual traditions reflecting their deep connection with the land and the environment. Until WWII, Australians were predominantly of British and Irish descent, but that has changed dramatically. Large immigrations from Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, Lebanon and Turkey followed the war and have been supplemented by more recent influxes of immigrants from Asia. There are also about 230,000 Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. Australia is recognized as one of the most successful nations in building a tolerant, inclusive and culturally diverse society. Australia's multicultural policy rests on three principles: the right to cultural identity, the value of social justice and the interest in economic efficiency. Many Australians speak Italian, Greek, Lebanese, Vietnamese or Turkish as a first language. Linguistic diversity is regarded as an important cultural and economic asset. Government language programs place special emphasis on Asian languages.
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Do's and Don'ts
| Trips in the Outback | When making a trip in the Outback, plan your trip well with good maps and stay on the official routes. Control the road conditions and facilities. Take enough fuel, water and food with you, a minimum of 5 liters water per person per day. In order to avoid dehydration you should drink enough water regularly. If your car has broken down, stay in the shades of the car. Leave destination, route and arrival time behind with friends and let them contact the police if you have not yet contacted them at a determined moment. | | Local cuisine | Australia is known for its lovely seafood dishes, tropical fruit, beef and lamb dishes. Unique local dishes are kangaroo, buffalo, crocodile and emu. Australia is a multicultural country and every cuisine can be found, also special diets as kosher and halal. | | Alcohol | Regulations concerning consumption and sales of alcoholic drinks are different in every state. The minimum age for buying and drinking of alcoholic drinks is 18 years. Sometimes young travellers are asked to prove their age by showing personal identification before entering pubs where alcoholic drinks are sold. | | Smoking | Smoking is prohibited in government buildings, in public traffic like domestic flights, touring cars and in buildings of all Australian airports. Many restaurants have non-smoking areas and the major hotels have rooms where it is not allowed to smoke. | | Tipping | Tipping is not usual in Autralia and in restaurants and hotels service is not charged. Porters at airports, taxidrivers and hairdressers do not expect a tip either. Porters at train stations have fixed fees, but not in hotels. In the better restaurants it is normal to give waiters a tip for good service of ca. 10% of the total bill. Tipping always remains your own decision. |
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Religion
75% of the population is Christian. Other religions in Australia are Islam (1%), Buddhism (1%) and Jewish (0.5%).
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Cultural attractions
| Date | Event | | June | The Shell Championship Series. | The National Capital 100 brings together the nation's best drivers in Australia's premier motor racing competition. | | June | Sun coast jazz festival Tasmania | An annual jazz party where top line guest artists and the best Tasmanian musicians are mixed and matched in compatible groups playing spontaneous jazz, virtually non-stop, in two venues from Friday until Sunday evening. | | June | Cold coast marathon Queensland | The Gold Coast Marathon incorporates four major events - the 42.2km Gold Coast Marathon, half a marathon, a 10-kilometre run and a 10-kilometre walk. | | July | Beer can regatta Northern Territory, Mindil Beach, Darwin | Entrants in this major annual Darwin fund-raising event build boats from beer cans, soft drink cans and recyclable bottles to compete for the title. There are also beach events held for those not participating in the race by building a boat. These events include tug-o-wars, sand slaloms, bottomless boat beach races, iron person events, and children's events | | August | Sun-Herald City to Surf | Sydney city to Bondi Beach, this is Australia's largest community fitness event. The 14 kilometre (8.7 miles) road race starts near Hyde Park in Sydney's city center and proceeds through the eastern suburbs, finishing at the famous Bondi Beach. The event caters for everyone from the very elite up front to the Back of the Pack entrants who like to take a more leisurely time to complete the distance. | | August/September | Melbourne Writers' Festival | Writers from across Australia and all over the world will discuss aspects of literature and life, take part in specialist panels, individual readings and spotlight interviews. | | September/October | International Barossa Music Festival | This festival takes place in various venues throughout The Barossa Valley. A two week long festival in this wine growing region with a wide range of international and interstate musicians. Many of the events are staged in historic churches and wineries of the Barossa Valley and feature chamber music, dance, opera, orchestras and singers. | | January | Carlton Country Music Festival | Takes place in various venues in and around Tamworth, New South Wales. The Carlton Country Music Festival is without a doubt Australia's premier country music event and incorporates the awarding of the prestigious Golden Guitars. It is a 10 day celebration of grassroots Australian culture incorporating over 2,000 events, the majority of which are free. Country music is played in clubs, pubs, the streets and parks. |
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