I received this today, thought it was an interesting introduction to the actual size of our huge island continent - it stretches about 3700 kilometres from north to south and 4000 kilometres from east to west. She is the Earth's largest island, but smallest continent, and the lowest-lying human-inhabited continent on earth - highest point being Mt. Kosciuszko at only 2228 metres.
In area - Australia is the 6th largest nation after Russia, Canada, China, the United States and Brazil. It is about twice the size of the European Union or the ten nations that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Its ocean territory - the third largest in the world - spans three oceans and covers around 12 million square miles.
The outline below shows her size compared to the USA, without Hawaii or Alaska, but Oz only has less than 10% of the USA population.
I was talking to Col in New Zealand last night, and they are contemplating an "around Australia" cruise this year - which would be great. We have done from Broome to Darwin, and Cairns to the top of Cape York, but right around would be superb.
