Introduction to Australia

■ Australia comprises a land area of about 7.692 million square

kilometres.
■ Although this is just five percent of the world's land mass (149.45
million square kilometres), Australia is the planet's sixth largest
country after Russia, Canada, China, the United States of America
and Brazil. It is also the only one of the largest six nations that is
completely surrounded by water.
■ Australia's land mass is:
■ almost as great as that of the United States of America
■ about 50 per cent greater than Europe, and
■ 32 times greater than the United Kingdom.
 Geographical Features

■ Australia is the smallest of the world's continents. It is also the

lowest, the flattest and (apart from Antarctica) the driest.
■ The highest point on the Australian mainland is Mount Kosciuszko,
New South Wales, at 2228 metres above sea level. The lowest point
is the dry bed of Lake Eyre, South Australia, which is 15 metres
below sea level.
■ The mainland and Tasmania are surrounded by many thousands of
small islands and numerous larger ones. Nearly 40 per cent of the
total coastline length comprises island coastlines. As an island
nation, coastlines play an important role in defining national, state
and territory boundaries.
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
OF AUSTRALIA
LOCAL CULTURE
• THE CULTURE OF AUSTRALIA IS A WESTERN CULTURE DERIVED PRIMARILY
FROM BRITAIN BUT ALSO INFLUENCED BY THE UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY OF THE
AUSTRALIAN CONTINENT. AUSTRALIANS ARE GENERALLY LAID BACK, OPEN
AND DIRECT. THEY SAY WHAT THEY MEAN AND ARE GENERALLY MORE
INDIVIDUAL AND OUTGOING THAN OTHER CULTURES. MORE THAN THREE
QUARTERS OF AUSTRALIANS LIVE IN CITIES AND URBAN CENTERS, MAINLY
ALONG THE COAST.
ETIQUETTE & CUSTOMS

• AUSTRALIANS ARE GENERALLY NOT FORMAL, SO GREETINGS, EVEN INITIAL

GREETINGS, ARE CASUAL AND LAID BACK. IT’S COMMON TO SHAKE
HANDS AND AUSTRALIANS WOULD NORMALLY JUST USE FIRST NAMES TO
INTRODUCE PEOPLE.
THE AUSTRALIAN LANGUAGE
• AUSTRALIAN ENGLISH IS THE COUNTRY’S OFFICIAL LANGUAGE AND IS THE
FIRST LANGUAGE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION. AUSTRALIAN
ENGLISH DIFFERS FROM OTHER VARIETIES OF ENGLISH IN VOCABULARY,
ACCENT, PRONUNCIATION, GRAMMAR AND SPELLING.
DID YOU KNOW?

NEW ZEALAND, also known as Aotearoa – land of the long white cloud,
truly is one of the most picturesque and photogenic places on earth.

It is a country made up of some of the worlds most spectacular landscapes, from vast
mountain ranges, steaming volcanoes to sweeping coastlines. It is a natural playground for
thrill seekers and adventurers and those who simply want to visit for the culture and
landscapes.

It is an Island Nation of just over 4.5 million people and is made up of two major land masses
and a number of smaller islands including Stewart Island located in the southwestern Pacific
Ocean.

New Zealand is located approximately 1,500km east of Australia and about 1,000km from
the Pacific Islands.
■ New Zealand has a very unique and dynamic culture.
The culture of its indigenous Maori people affects the language,
the arts, and even the accents of all New Zealanders. Their place
in the South Pacific, and their love of the outdoors, sport, and the
arts make New Zealanders and their culture unique in the world.
■ The culture of this country is unique and dynamic. It is influenced
by the British and European custom as well as the Maori and
Polynesian tradition. You will find that people living here came
from different variety of ethnic backgrounds
■ This made up the indigenous culture of the country. The Maori
people are the indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and
first arrived in the country in voyaging canoes over 1000 years
ago and developed a distinct culture. Today, the Maori people
make up the 14% of the population and their language, tradition
and culture has a greatly influence all facets of New Zealand life.
■ Kiwi is the nickname used internationally for people from New
Zealand, as well as being a relatively common self-reference. The
name derives from the kiwi, a native flightless bird, which is the
national symbol of New Zealand
‘Til next time!