Those famous icons of Australia — Ayers Rock, the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Opera House, koalas and kangaroos — might be the magnets that pull travellers down under, but the breadth of experiences on tap in the smallest continent and largest island in the world never ceases to amaze visitors once they arrive.

Imagine a country brimming with natural beauty, from steamy rainforests, abundant wetlands, rugged ranges and desert plains to gleaming beaches, coral islands and radiant reefs. Add to that some of the most intriguing wildlife on the planet — duck-billed platypuses, laughing kookaburras, flocks of huge emus and giant lizards. Sprinkle in a cultural heritage mixing Aboriginal civilizations tens of thousands of years old with New World influences from Britain (the first to colonize Australia), other European countries, the Middle East and Asia. Then throw in sparkling and cosmopolitan capital cities, intriguing outback towns and peaceful seaside villages, and you have all the makings for story-studded postcards.