Australia
The Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site off the coast of Queensland in northeastern Australia, is the largest living organism on earth.
The 2,300 km long ecosystem comprises thousands of reefs, hundreds of islands and countless species of aquatic wildlife. It's also visible from space.
Australia has more than 10,000 beautiful beaches. You could visit a new beach every day for 27 years!
More than 200 different languages and dialects are spoken in Australia, including native Indigenous languages.
The most common non-English spoken languages are Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Mandarin.
English is dotted with words from Indigenous Australian languages, for example, kangaroo, dingo, wombat and boomerang.
The continent of Australia is referred to as an island because it's surrounded by ocean.
However, Australia also boasts more than 8,000 surrounding islands, including the island state of Tasmania.
Inland, Anna Creek Station in South Australia is the world's largest cattle station. At 34,000 square kilometres, it's larger than Belgium.
Quintessentially Australian and studded with amazing landscapes, the Northern Territory is often at the top of many travel wish lists. Don't miss the icons, including Katherine Gorge, Kakadu, the Olgas and of course, Uluru (Ayers Rock).
With some of Australia’s best wilderness areas, Tasmania is a laid-back mix of cool and quiet, with trendy markets and galleries in the main city, Hobart and stunning nature reserves to explore. Tasmania is also home to the iconic Tasmanian Devil.
For further information about Australia, visit australia.com
As a responsible travel insurer, we always recommend you check for the latest Foreign Office advice before visiting any country. The latest FCO advice for Australia can be found here.