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Australia is the world’s smallest continent and the only continent that is entirely engulfed by just one country. While commonly called “The land down under,” Australia is also called the “Last Frontier” because it was the last continent settled by Europeans and also because it’s the most barren continent.
Australia’s allure is that it offers a variety of appealing experiences, including plenty of sunshine, beautiful sandy beaches, magnificent wilderness 
areas, colorful flora, unique animal life, and its wondrous Great Barrier Reef. Its two largest cities, Sidney and Melbourne, are both world-class metropolitan centers that offer great hotels, first-class restaurants, top-notch entertainment, and myriad cultural, sporting and recreational activities.
Before British Airways introduced airline jet service in the early 1950s, people seldom traveled to Australia due to its long distance from both Europe and North America. Long range jets, however, combined with lower airfares, have now made Australia one of the world’s most favored travel destinations. Nearby New Zealand, with its beautiful terrain, is also becoming a favorite stop-over point for Australia bound travelers.
With its barren desert region, beautiful flora, and its thriving urbanized cities, Australia is a land of stark contrasts, but yet one of the world’s most exciting, safest, and friendliest travel destinations. So pack your bags and let “The land down under” embrace you.
Geographical and Sociological Profile
The information below was provided by The Australian Council of Historians, the United Nations, and the World Resources Institute, and was last updated on July 30, 2003. For more current population information please click here.
Total Land Area: 3,132,059 Square Miles
Population: 19,546,792
Population Density: 4.3 people per square mile
Main Languages: English, Aboriginal
Principle Religions: Anglican, 26%; Roman Catholic, 25%; other Christianity, 24%
Literacy Rate: 99%
Largest Cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra
Mountain Ranges: Great Dividing Range, Flinders, King Leopold, Hamersley
Largest Lakes: Lake Eyre, Great Australian Bight
Notable Rivers: Flora, Avon, Murrumbidgee, Swan, Daly
Countries and Territories
To help you identify those countries that offer the most desirable attractions, cultural experiences, and travel accommodations, we have assigned a Travel Desirability Code to each country based on the following rating scale: Good  Fair  Poor  .
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