Nature/Environmental Nature/Environmental TourismTourismAustralia & New ZealandAustralia & New Zealand

Nature/Environmental Nature/Environmental TourismTourism

Travel to enjoy a natural setting or wildlife.Travel to enjoy a natural setting or wildlife.

Other forms of tourism Australia/New Zealand Other forms of tourism Australia/New Zealand could fall under are:could fall under are: AdventureAdventure WildernessWilderness RecreationRecreation SocialSocial

Physical CharacteristicsPhysical Characteristics

Most people live within a few 100 km’s from Most people live within a few 100 km’s from the coastline in large dynamic cities such as the coastline in large dynamic cities such as SydneySydney

The Outback (vast, desert interior of the The Outback (vast, desert interior of the island) is the home of the Aboriginal peopleisland) is the home of the Aboriginal people

66thth largest country in the world largest country in the world

The world’s flattest continent; only 6% of The world’s flattest continent; only 6% of Australia lies above 700 m in elevationAustralia lies above 700 m in elevation

Western Plateau

Central Lowlands

Southern Faultlands

Eastern Highlands

Climate CharacteristicsClimate Characteristics

Bright sunshine, blue skies, warm Bright sunshine, blue skies, warm temperatures – area of high pressuretemperatures – area of high pressure

A hole in the ozone layer = Skin cancer A hole in the ozone layer = Skin cancer capital of the world. capital of the world.

Subtropical: areas north of Tropic of Capricorn Subtropical: areas north of Tropic of Capricorn experience warmth year round, areas south experience warmth year round, areas south have warm summers, mild to cool wintershave warm summers, mild to cool winters

Only higher Only higher elevations elevations (Australia Alps, (Australia Alps, Central Central Tasmania, Tasmania, Victoria) receive Victoria) receive snowsnow

Season are Season are opposite to opposite to North AmericaNorth America

Victoria

Australian Alps

Central Tasmania

World’s driest inhabited continent, yet World’s driest inhabited continent, yet sudden severe thunderstorms can result in sudden severe thunderstorms can result in flash floods (monsoons are common in flash floods (monsoons are common in Northern Territory)Northern Territory)

The only part of Australia that receives The only part of Australia that receives reliable and abundant rainfall throughout the reliable and abundant rainfall throughout the year is along the east coast (northern year is along the east coast (northern Queensland – Tasmania) * most populous Queensland – Tasmania) * most populous area.area.

Wildlife & Natural Wildlife & Natural VegetationVegetation

MarsupialsMarsupials – mammals whose young – mammals whose young mature in a pouch (kangaroos, koalas, mature in a pouch (kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, wombats, possums)wallabies, wombats, possums)

Monotremes Monotremes – egg-laying mammals – egg-laying mammals * Australia is home to only 2 species * Australia is home to only 2 species known to exist in the world (platypus, known to exist in the world (platypus, echidna (spiny ant-eater)echidna (spiny ant-eater)

Eucalyptus trees, acacia trees, and gum trees Eucalyptus trees, acacia trees, and gum trees dominate the lands: they survive in drought dominate the lands: they survive in drought conditions.conditions.

Why does Australia contain such distinct wildlife Why does Australia contain such distinct wildlife and vegetation? and vegetation? Isolated for millions of yearsIsolated for millions of years

Home to the Salt water crocodile – 1 of the Home to the Salt water crocodile – 1 of the largest species in the worldlargest species in the world

8 of 10 world’s most poisonous snakes reside 8 of 10 world’s most poisonous snakes reside in Australiain Australia