Australasia
The term Australasia refers to the group of islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, including Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Connected primarily by the Pacific Ocean, Australasia is home to many idyllic tropical islands as well as coral reefs and rugged volcanic islands that rise out of the ocean. From an evolutionary viewpoint, Australasia is a distinct region with countless unique plants and animals including marsupial mammals, such as kangaroos, possums and wombats. In the north of the region, the climate is hot, wet and tropical all year round, though cooler in the highlands. Further south, in Australia, there are a range of climates found across the country: from arid desert to tropical conditions.