Australia has six states and two major mainland territories. In addition there are lesser territories that are under the administration of the federal government. The names of the states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The two major mainland territories are called the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Each state and major mainland territory has its own legislature or parliament. This legislature is unicameral in the Northern Territory, the ACT, and Queensland, and bicameral in the remaining states. The states are sovereign, but they are subject to certain powers of the Commonwealth as defined by the Constitution.

Australia's landmass of 7,617,930 square kilometres (2,941,300 sq mi) is on the Indo-Australian Plate. Australia is surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans, and is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor seas. Australia has 34,218 kilometres (21,262 mi) of coastline (excluding all offshore islands). Australia also boasts the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef, which lies off the north-east coast and extends for over 2,000 kilometres (1,240 mi). Mount Augustus, which it is said is the world's largest monolith, is located in Western Australia. At 2,228 metres (7,310 ft), Mount Kosciuszko, which is 2228 metres (7,310 ft) tall, is on the Great Dividing Range, and this makes it the highest mountain on the Australian mainland; however, Mawson Peak on the remote Australian territory of Heard Island is actually taller at 2,745 metres (9,006 ft).

Can you name the states and territories of Australia? Use our fun Australia Geography game to test your knowledge of “The Land Down Under”.