Here are some great Australia facts:
The Landscape:
A wide, brown land.
Australia is the sixth largest country in the world. A mammoth 2.2 million square kilometres.
Ultimate Beach paradise:
Australia’s coastline stretches almost 50,000 kilometres, three times that of NZ.
Natural legends:
Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef is home to the world’s largest oyster, weighing up to 3 kilograms. The heaviest crab, weighing up to 14 kilograms, is found in Bass Strait near Tasmania. Australia’s tallest mountain is Mt Kosciuszko, which is 2,228 metres above sea level.
Longest road, rail and fence:
The world’s longest piece of straight railway track stretches 478 kilometres across South Australia’s vast, treeless Nullarbor Plain. Australia’s longest stretch of straight road (148 kms) is on the Eyre Highway in Western Australia. The world's longest fence was built to keep sheep safe from Dingos and runs for 5,531 kilometres through central Queensland and South Australia.
Flora and Fauna:
The iconic kangaroo is unique to Australia and one of their most easily recognised mammals. There are an estimated 40 million kangaroos in Australia, more than when Australia was first settled.
Unique wildlife:
Australia is home to a wealth of wildlife not found anywhere else in the world. Around 800 species of birds. Amazing marine environments containing more than 4,000 fish varieties and tens of thousands of species of invertebrates, plants and micro-organisms. Bring your fishing rod and dive gear.
Flourishing flora:
Australia also supports at least 25,000 species of plants, compared to 17,500 in Europe.
People and Culture:
An ethnic melting pot.
Since 1945 more than six million people from across the world have come to Australia to live. Today, more than 20 per cent of Australians are foreign born and more than 40 per cent are of mixed cultural origin.