Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, a staggering 190 times the size of the Netherlands! The distance from south to north is as large as the distance from Amsterdam to Ankara, Turkey. Yet, the country has only 25 million inhabitants, with 85% living within 50 kilometers of the coast. The inland, known as the outback, is therefore extremely sparsely populated.

Australia is located in Oceania, literally on the other side of the world. From the Netherlands, it takes approximately 24 hours to fly there.

Due to its vast size, Australia experiences multiple climate zones. The central part of Australia has a hot desert climate, the northern regions have a subtropical climate, while the south and east enjoy a temperate maritime climate. This makes Australia a year-round destination. If you’re planning to visit during the European summer holidays, the best destinations are the tropical north around Darwin, the Red Centre, and tropical North Queensland.