Australian Coastlines Highlights

Since Australia is an island continent it has an extensive coastline. The coastline comprises of the South Pacific Ocean on the east, the Indian Ocean on the west, the Coral Seas and Arafura to the north and the Southern Ocean and Tasman Sea to the east. With a coastline that stretches for more than 37,000 km you can expect Australia to have some of the most fascinating beaches in the world.

The total number of beaches present in Australia is over 11000. This is a world record in and of itself. Since Australia does not share its borders with any other country it has most of its cities and towns along the coast. In general you can get the coast in a matter of one hour from anywhere in the country.

The interesting thing is that the extensive coastline experiences a wide spectrum of climates from one end to the other. You will be able to find beaches that experience tropical climate whereas on the opposite side you would find temperate areas in the south. Also amongst the coastal environments that naturally exist in Australia are lagoons, mangroves, rainforest, cliffs, rocky, sandy, islands, towns and even cities.

Some of the biggest attractions from the coastlines of Australia are as follows:

The Great Barrier Reef: This is the largest natural coral formation in the word that extends for more than 2000 km. There are over 3000 individual reefs that combine to make this natural wonder of the world which is now listed in the world heritage areas. It has also been included in the seven wonders of the natural world and is surrounded by 900 pristine tropical islands. As such the Great
Barrier Reef is one of the major tourist attractions of Australia.

Fraser Island: This is yet another world heritage listed site in Australia credited for being the largest sand island in the word. Covering an area of more than 144 km the island is situated off the coast of Queensland. Visitors to the island will be able to find sand hills rising to heights of 214 m at times. The island is also home to a host of freshwater lakes that can go deeper than 60 m. The fact that the island is densely populated with rainforest territory further adds to its charm. The unique thing about this Sand Island is that the sand is incapable of retaining the water and it is only when plants decay that water is retained. Hence you can expect to see a very unique natural environment on Fraser Island which is why it is one of the top-rated tourist attractions.

Nigaloo Reef: For those interested in snorkeling and scuba diving, this wonderful site in Western Australia is a must visit destination. Visitors to the reef will also get to catch a glimpse of the whale shark which frequently makes its way to this part of the country. Also amongst the marine life that you will be able to witness at the reef are humpback whales, Manta Rays And Dugongs.

Since the coastline of Australia attracts a large number of tourists you will be able to find plenty top notch accommodation in these areas. From Queensland to Western Australia and New South Wales to the Northern Territory each region of the country is loaded with luxury hotels, fascinating resorts, motels, holiday apartments and bed and breakfast joints.