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Australia, the smallest of all the continents, is often referred to as Oceania as referring to Australia and the nearby islands of the South Pacific. Oceania actually consists of Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu and all the islands that make them up. The continent has been long recognized simply as Australia due to the fact that Australia is the only part of Oceania of any substantial size. Australia, acting as the continents mainland, has earned the right to use its name interchangeably with Oceania.
Between Australia and all the islands of the continent, tourists can find it all. The warm waters and the beautiful Great Barrier Reef draw Scuba divers from around the world. The red rocks of central Australia’s Outback attract bikers, hikers and campers. The snow capped volcanoes in New Zealand welcome mountain climbers, skiers and snowboarders or those just looking for amazing photo opportunities. The busy cities such as Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne are filled with people who work hard and party harder. Casino’s, fine dining and modern night clubs can be found in all of Australia’s major cities. The beautiful Gold Coast of Australia and the picture perfect swells of the islands surrounding it attract world famous surfers in search of the perfect wave. Tiny islands which can be walked around in less than an hour make up the archipelagos of Oceania which provide the perfect setting for a romantic getaway. The rainforests of this tropical continent are filled with waterfalls and exotic wildlife, amazing to explore with a guide or on your own. The mainland and each of the islands that are a part of both Australia and Oceania are amazing places unique in many ways.
The people of this continent vary greatly in their history and heritage, but today they all live in harmony with the beauty that surrounds them and welcome guests to try and do the same. With English as the common language among most of the continent, interacting with those who are lucky enough to live there is not a difficult task.