Jane's Oceania Resources Page

OCEANIA RESOURCES

Kiribati canoes line the shore of
South Tarawa lagoon before the start of a race

A close-up of the Kiribati sword shown in full (right).

Details of the shark's teeth and the method of

construction can be clearly seen (above).

Outrigger sail canoe, Bora Bora, Tahiti

Papua New Guinea stone tapa pounder

Australia – a dream destination

Probably the main reason why so many people want to go to Australia is for that holiday of a lifetime. It is a very long way from Britain and takes about a day to reach by plane. But once there the differences are apparent from the moment you touch down in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or wherever.

The weather is far better than in the UK for a start. Secondly, the lifestyle is far more laid back and the people tend to be much more relaxed and friendly. This is probably because the weather is that much better – it really is true that bad weather makes us miserable, and who hasn't dreamed of a better life when it's pouring with rain outside? Australian life is very much sports oriented, as you can do a lot of things outdoors. Many people have swimming pools, and if they don't there are plenty of public ones. Similarly, we can't fail to notice how good Australia is at sport, and that's because most people take part in some form.

Away from that it's the great outdoors that people love in Australia. Big, wide open spaces and skies, the sheer distances to be covered in Australia are mind boggling. There's also the beach and surf culture. Who hasn't heard of Bondi Beach, near Sydney? For nature lovers, the most famous attraction in Australia is the Great Barrier Reef. Take a boat out to the Reef and you will be blown away by the sheer diversity of marine life at this world famous attraction.

Many people choose to retire in Australia or start a new life for themselves there because they to want a part in these countless attractions and great quality of life. Backpackers love Australia because of the availability of short term work, for example in bars, on a sheep station or in one of the wineries. Getting there does not have to be costly either, with flights to Australia starting from Ł549 with cheapflights.co.uk. So why not get a flight out to Australia and discover it for yourself!