Where exactly is Australia located on the Earth? Master these 5 geographical facts and you will become an expert on Australia in seconds

Hello everyone, I am the assistant of Australian Encyclopedia. Recently, some friends asked me aboutAustralia's locationNow I will summarize the relevant issues and hope it will be helpful to those who want to know more.


### 1. The "Lonely Continent" across the Southern Hemisphere
Australia is located between 10°41'-43°39' south latitude and 112°-153°39' east longitude. It is the only country in the world that occupies an entire continent. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean Coral Sea and Tasman Sea to the east, and the Indian Ocean to the west, south and north. This "isolated" geographical feature makes it a living fossil reservoir of biological evolution.

Looking down at the earth from the space station, Australia's most prominent landmarks are the 2,300-kilometer Great Barrier Reef and the reddish-brown Uluru rock in the middle. The straight-line distance from China is about 7,000 kilometers (equivalent to the flight distance from Beijing to Dubai), and the nearest neighbor, Papua New Guinea, is separated only by the Torres Strait (about 150 kilometers at the narrowest point).

### 2. Five must-know geographical facts
1. **The King of Time Zone Span**: Taiwan spans three time zones (EST/UTC+10 in the east, CST/UTC+9.5 in the middle, and WST/UTC+8 in the west). Some states will add an extra hour during daylight saving time.
2. **Season mirror country**: December to February is summer, June to August is winter, international students should pay special attention to the preparation of seasonal clothing when they enter school
3. **Neighbors are not close**: It is only 500 kilometers away from Indonesia, but 2,100 kilometers away from New Zealand, which is equivalent to the distance from Shanghai to Bangkok
4. **Continental Drift Theory**: Separated from Antarctica 65 million years ago, creating a unique ecosystem of plants and animals
5. **Sunlight is the deadliest**: The hole in the ozone layer causes the intensity of ultraviolet rays to be 15% higher than in the Northern Hemisphere, which is the main reason for the world's highest incidence of skin cancer

Core issues related to Australia’s location

#### Question 1: What practical impact does Australia’s time zone have on studying abroad?
There is a 2-3 hour time difference between the east and west coasts of Australia, which means:
- For online classes at 3pm in Sydney, students in Perth need to attend at 12pm
- Stock trading hours (10:00-16:00 Eastern Time) is equivalent to 7:00-13:00 Beijing Time
- When video chatting with family members in China, pay special attention to the seasonal daylight saving time adjustment (first Sunday in October to first Sunday in April)

#### Question 2: Which countries are closest to Australia?
Darwin Port in northern Australia is closer to Southeast Asia than Sydney:
- Indonesia: The nearest island is only 88 km away
- East Timor: Flight time 1.5 hours
- Papua New Guinea: Boat trip takes less than 24 hours
- New Zealand: Although it is also in Oceania, the flight still takes 4 hours

#### Question 3: Why does the map of Australia look like a "dinosaur egg"?
The unique geological structure forms three major geographical features:
1. East: The Great Dividing Range runs along the coast
2. Central: Vast deserts and salt lakes (70% of land)
3. West: Ancient Plateau (average altitude 400 meters)

This topography causes the 90% population to be concentrated on the southeast coast, forming the Sydney-Melbourne-Brisbane golden triangle.

#### Question 4: How does geographical location influence immigration choices?
- Western Australia is more suitable for African immigrants who are adapted to the arid climate
- Queensland's warm and humid weather attracts Southeast Asian groups
- Tasmania's cool climate is popular among British immigrants
- South Australia time zone is only 1.5 hours behind China, which is convenient for cross-border business

#### Question 5: What does Australia’s location mean to international students?
- Flight time: 8-11 hours from major cities in China
- Climate adaptation: Northern students should be wary of Sydney's "evil winds", and southern students should be aware of Melbourne's "four seasons in one day"
- Holiday planning: The winter vacation in June and July coincides with the domestic summer vacation, so reverse travel can save 50% airfare

Through the detailed interpretation of this article, I believe you haveAustralia's locationWith a three-dimensional understanding. Although this southern hemisphere country seems far away, it is becoming a strategic fulcrum connecting the East and the West through modern transportation (there are more than 200 direct flights between China and Australia every week) and time zone advantages (the time difference with major Asian cities is ≤ 3 hours).

Thank you for your reading. I hope this article can help you understandAustralia's locationWhether you are planning to study abroad, immigrate or conduct business, it is recommended that you save the geographical points in this article and remember to prepare sunscreen, conversion plugs and cross-season clothing before traveling!

【Extended reading tips】
▶ Comparative guide to climate in each state of Australia
▶ The latest direct flight schedule between China and Australia
▶ Australia UV protection level map