Australia, New Zealand & the South West Pacific
Due to its isolation and size, Australia is often referred to as an ‘island continent’ however it is part of the wider region sometimes called Oceania. Australia’s western area consists of a low plateau. It has few permanent rivers or lakes. The fertile east coast is separated from the interior by the Great Dividing Range. Off the northeast coast lies the Great Barrier Reef which is the world’s largest coral reef. North of Australia is the large island of New Guinea, divided politically between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea where the highest peak in the region, Puncak Jaya (5030 metres), is located. East and southeast of Australia are the two large islands of New Zealand and the hundreds of small island groups and isolated islands of the southwest Pacific.
The majority of the region’s population are centred in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea and the rest is scattered around the various islands making up the region.
Agriculture, fishing and tourism are important to Oceania's economy and its development. Visitors are attracted to the modern cities in Australia and New Zealand and the aesthetic beauty of the tropical islands such as Fiji.