Destination: Australia

Top Tens

Must-See Movies

One of the best places to do your essential trip preparation (ie daydreaming) is in a comfy lounge with a bowl of popcorn in one hand, a remote control in the other and your eyeballs pleasurably glued to a small screen. Head down to your local video store to pick up these quintessential Australian flicks, which range from the intelligent and thrilling to the uber-cheesy.

  • Lantana (2001) Director: Ray Lawrence
  • Somersault (2004) Director: Cate Shortland
  • Japanese Story (2003) Director: Sue Brooks
  • Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) Director: Phillip Noyce
  • Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) Director: Peter Weir
  • Muriel's Wedding (1994) Director: PJ Hogan
  • Shine (1996) Director: Scott Hicks
  • Breaker Morant (1980) Director: Bruce Beresford
  • Mad Max II: The Road Warrior (1981) Director: George Miller
  • The Castle (1997) Director: Rob Sitch

Top Reads

When it comes to a good novel, even the most imaginative and unreal story will speak of truths that exist beyond the page. These page-turners have won critical acclaim in Australia and abroad, not least because they have something to reveal to the reader about contemporary Australian issues, culture and relationships.

  • True History of the Kelly Gang (2000), Peter Carey
  • Eucalyptus (1999), Murray Bail
  • A Child's Book of True Crime (2002), Chloe Hooper
  • Journey to the Stone Country (2002), Alex Miller
  • Dirt Music (2003), Tim Winton
  • The Service of Clouds (1997), Delia Falconer
  • Seven Types of Ambiguity (2002), Elliot Perlman
  • Drylands (1997), Thea Astley
  • The Hunter (1999), Julia Leigh
  • Remembering Babylon (1993), David Malouf

Top Sounds

Music has a knack for capturing (sometimes defining) the feel of an event or era. The following albums do this for many Australians, conjuring up the vibes of long breezy road trips in old cars, memorable backyard parties, summer afternoons spent face-down on a warm beach, endless nights in neon-lit clubs, and long arguments about politics in the wee small hours.

  • Swingshift (1981) Cold Chisel
  • Cats & Dogs (1981) Mental As Anything
  • Back in Black (1980) AC/DC
  • Body Language (2003) Kylie Minogue
  • Little Birdy (2003) Little Birdy
  • Wayward Angel (2004) Kasey Chambers
  • The Sound of White (2004) Missy Higgins
  • Tribal Voice (1991) Yothu Yindi
  • Get Born (2004) Jet
  • Let's Wiggle (1999) The Wiggles (just kidding…)

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Australia Itineraries

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North America including Hawaii, South America, Central America, Middle East, Arctic & Antarctic Circles.
Europe and the African continent (North Africa, Southern Africa and Egypt)
United Kingdom and Asia (UK, Ireland, Asia, Japan and the Indian sub-continent).
Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands
New Zealand, Fiji, Norfolk Island and Bali
for travel within Australia only

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