Australia: all the fun of an island, a country, and a continent for just the price of one long-distance plane ticket! Travelers have been making the journey to this land down under for over 40,000 years and the attraction is still going strong. This former British penal colony has everything, from kangaroos, koalas, and kookaburras to world-class wineries to surfing spots and endless rugby matches. This vast stretch of land offers great ecological diversity as well, with opportunities to swim the Great Barrier Reef, go bushwalking in the Outback, and explore the dense rainforests of Queensland and Tasmania. From an ancient and rich aboriginal tradition to the cutting edge arts of major melting-pot cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, to name but a few, Australia really offers excitement for everyone. A land this fantastic didn’t need to work hard to earn the nickname "Oz."