A rugged country of picturesque harbors, clear tropical waters, vine-clad jungles, spectacular mountain gorges, and stark deserts, the "land down under" is one of the most diverse habitats on earth. The residents range from exotic marsupials, tropical birds, and rare butterflies to people of European, Asian, Pacific, and Aboriginal descent.

Vast desolate plains, called the outback, stretch across the interior, whereas the coastal areas feature spectacular beaches, picturesque coves, and, just offshore, the world's largest coral formation: the Great Barrier Reef. Unusual rock formats are found in the interior deserts, and tropical rainforests cover the mountainous northeast coast.

Depending on one's point of view, Australia is either the largest island or the smallest continent in the world. Visitors to this former British crown colony can experience zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, botanical gardens, historical settlements, river trips, the Sydney opera house, and scuba diving along the Great Barrier Reef.

Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, is a thriving cosmopolitan center situated beside a magnificent harbor. Scenic Sydney has an active nightlife with theater performances, discotheques, nightclubs, and restaurants. The Sydney Harbor Bridge is a famous landmark of the city. Other points of interest include the Sydney Opera House, the Darling Harbor Complex, and Centerpoint Tower. Guided tours of the Opera House include dinner in a restaurant inside the arts complex. The most popular way to view Sydney is by harbor cruise. Several boats depart daily for a tour of the commercial inner harbor and residential outer harbor.

The Kings Cross district, a meeting place for international travelers, is the site of tourist shops, risque entertainment, sidewalk cafes, discotheques, and backpacker's hostels. In the Rocks, where Captain Phillip anchored the convict ships in 1788, early colonial architecture adorns numerous shops, pubs, and art galleries. A scenic route called Prince's Highway leads south from Sydney, winding toward the coast before turning into the interior.

Melbourne, Australia's second largest city and the capital of Victoria, is situated at the mouth of the Yarra River, with tree-lined boulevards and lush, green gardens. Here, modern development and culture coexist with nineteenth-century Victorian charm. Visitors are transported by tram to the city's principal sightseeing attractions, shopping arcades, and cultural spots. One tramcar has even been converted into a traveling restaurant. Melbourne, with more than 2,000 restaurants, many with a Greek flair, is known as the fashion center and dining capital of Australia. One of the most popular attractions is the Phillip Island penguin parade. Nightly, hundreds of penguins emerge from the sea and march up the beach to their nests. Canberra, the capital of Australia, is located about halfway between Sydney and Melbourne.

Brisbane, nestled on the shores of the Brisbane River, is the country's third largest city and the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, the Gold Coast, and the rugged north. The skyline is a contrast of historical and futuristic architecture. Nearby are the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and the seaside resorts of Noosa Heads and Bundaberg. The Gold Coast, south of Brisbane, is a 50-mile stretch of spacious beaches set against a backdrop of forest-lined mountains. The golden-hued beachfront is lined with luxurious condominium and resort complexes. Points of interest in the area include Sea World, Australia's largest marine park, and Currumbin Sanctuary, which has thousands of tropical birds, kangaroos, and other exotic wildlife.

Cairns, the northernmost gateway city in Australia, is situated on the shores of Trinity Inlet. In this region, the Great Barrier Reef bends close to the mainland. Numerous island resorts lie off the coast. Green Island is the closest to Cairns. Outside the city are lush farmlands, tropical rain forests, national parks, waterfalls, and lakes.

The Great Barrier Reef is the site of several offshore resorts. Dunk Island is covered with lush vegetation and filled with a variety of flowers, tropical birds, and rare butterflies. The beaches on the island are some of the best in the region. Lizard Island is a 2,500-acre national park with 24 beaches and an abundance of marine life in the surrounding waters. Hamilton Island, north of Queensland, is a nature reserve with extensive tourist and recreational facilities.

Perth, the capital of Western Australia, is situated on the banks of the Swan River. The surrounding area has miles of undeveloped beaches and bustling yacht harbors. Rottnest Island, just outside Perth, is the home of the quokka, a miniature kangaroo. A popular tourist pastime is cruising the Swan River.

Tasmania, located south of Australia's mainland, has a population of 477,000 people, most of whom live along the coast. The island has numerous national parks, lakes, mountain peaks, and gently sloping hills. Battery Point and Salamanca Place are historic villages of tiny, old-world cottages. Queenstown, near the west coast of Tasmania, is an old mining town in the mountains. Several beach resorts are located in the Ulverstone area, on the northern coast. Alice Springs is in the center of the continent, surrounded by a vast desert with red rock formations.

Ayers Rock, the world's largest monolith, is a single formation of solid rock 1,141-feet high and five miles in circumference. Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, lies on a peninsula that extends from the northern Australian coastline. Kakadu National Park, outside the city, has crocodiles, rare birds, dramatic waterfalls, and aboriginal cave paintings. Excursions are available to nearby Bathurst and Melville islands.

Australia is noteworthy for its exotic wildlife, about half of which are marsupials, such as koalas, wombats, and kangaroos. Koalas are found in the eastern coastal regions, living in eucalyptus trees, sleeping in the daytime and becoming active at night. Koalas sometimes allow tourists to cuddle them, but holding a koala is permitted only in wildlife sanctuaries. Other Australian wildlife includes kangaroos, wombats, platypuses, Tasmanian devils, and crocodiles. Numerous kangaroos can be observed in wildlife reserves or occasionally grazing on golf courses. The platypus, found only in Australia, is a mammal that lays eggs and has a bill like a duck and a tail like a beaver. One of the best places to view Australian wildlife is Kangaroo Island, located eight miles off the coast of south Australia. The largest park on the island is Flinders Chase National Park, which is home to kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, and platypuses.