The World's Weirdest Breakaway Republics - The Hutt River Principality

For a holiday with a difference, why not try going to a 'country' that doesn't even make it on to most maps? Around the world there are a series of odd little breakaway republics, principalities and micronations that have sprung up in bizarre circumstances. Such as...

The Hutt River Principality
Where: Middle of nowhere, Western Australia.
The story: After a row with the Australian government over quotas in 1969, farmer Leonard Casley consulted the law books and decided his property would secede from the Australian Commonwealth. The 'principality' proudly boasts that this was the only bloodless secession in history, and now claims over 13,000 citizens worldwide. Not bad for what is essentially a wheat farm.
What to expect: Princess Shirley can usually be found manning the souvenir shop, often in curlers and a dressing gown. Where else can you get your passport stamped by a member of the Royal family?

Search: Start your own country | World's smallest countries
Be there: Flights to Australia | Hotels in Perth | Australia travel guide
Related articles: Bizarre British festivals | Weird and wacky hotels