Australia is the mainland of the smallest continent together with the island of Tasmania and other small islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Australia is a very large country and therefore has all kinds of contrasting areas for the visitor to see. It is the sixth largest country in the world, about the same size as mainland USA and 50 per cent larger than Europe, but has the lowest population density in the world - only two people per sq km.
Australias coastline stretches almost 50,000 km and has over 10,000 beaches, more than any other country in the world. More than 85 per cent of Australians live within 50 kilometres of the coast, making the beach part of the laid-back Australian lifestyle. The Australian mainland is the largest island and the worlds smallest, flattest continent.