Lesson 2/44 min
Australia and New Zealand
Australia
- The name comes from the Latin australis, “southern”
- National Day: 26 January
- Head of state: King Charles III of Britain, represented by the Governor-General
- The Tropic of Capricorn runs through roughly the middle of the country
- Hottest month January, coldest July
- Australia is called the “land of wool”
- The world's biggest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef, lies off Queensland
- Oceania's largest desert, the Great Victoria Desert, is in Australia
- Sydney is the largest city and a famous harbour; it hosted the 27th Olympics in 2000
Watch out: The book glosses Australia as “south of Asia”. The Latin australis simply means “southern”.
Did you know?: Australia introduced a carbon tax in 2012 (asked in exams). The tax was later repealed.
New Zealand
- Capital and port Wellington; largest city Auckland
- Named after the Dutch province of Zeeland; the book credits the Dutch navigator Abel Tasman with the name
- National sport: rugby
Who leads now (November 2026, per news reports)
| Country | Position |
|---|---|
| Australia | Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (still PM in official records of March 2026); Governor-General Sam Mostyn (since 1 July 2024) |
| New Zealand | The 7 November 2026 election gave neither side a clear win; final results are due 27 November. Christopher Luxon was PM before it |
Watch out: Government talks are still under way in New Zealand. Check the latest news before your exam.
Check yourself
When is Australia's National Day?
At a glance
- 1
Australia's National Day is 26 January; its hottest month is January.
- 2
The Great Barrier Reef is off Queensland; the Great Victoria Desert is in Australia.
- 3
Sydney hosted the 27th Olympics in 2000; it is Australia's largest city.
- 4
New Zealand's capital is Wellington and its largest city Auckland; its name comes from the Dutch province of Zeeland.
- 5
Australia introduced a carbon tax in 2012.