Australia

Australia is the world's sixth largest country and the largest country in Oceania, occupying an entire continent between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is a land of extraordinary contrasts — from the vast red desert of the Outback and the ancient sandstone formations of Uluru, to the lush tropical rainforests of Queensland, the snow-capped Alps of Victoria, and thousands of kilometres of golden beaches. The Great Barrier Reef, off the Queensland coast, is the world's largest coral reef system.

Australia is one of the world's most prosperous nations and a major exporter of iron ore, coal, gold, and agricultural products. It is also one of the world's top producers of wool and beef. The country's economy is closely tied to trade with Asia — particularly China, Japan, and South Korea — and has one of the longest periods of uninterrupted economic growth of any developed nation in the world.

With a population of around 26 million people, Australia is one of the world's most multicultural nations, with people from over 200 countries calling it home. Indigenous Australians have the world's oldest continuous cultures, stretching back more than 65,000 years. Australia is known globally for its unique wildlife — kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and the platypus are found nowhere else on Earth — and for its laid-back outdoor lifestyle and love of sport.