Australian cities sprawl out and have lower-density housing than many European cities. Although there are blocks of flats in Australian cities, these are mostly clustered around the inner cities of both, once you pass the inner cities, then a sprawl of suburbia stretches out for miles and miles.
The Great Barrier Reef is unique as it extends over 14 degrees of latitude, from shallow estuarine areas to deep oceanic waters. Within this vast expanse is a unique range of ecological communities, habitats and species – all of which make the Reef one of the most complex natural ecosystems in the world.
Australia is known to have some of the best scuba diving in the world. Although the Great Barrier Reef is the crowned highlight of the country, there are hundreds of lesser-known diving destinations worth exploring. The most popular time for Australia liveaboard diving is July to November, although in the Coral Sea at Osprey Reef and North Horn, visibility peaks during June and September. The calmest sea conditions tend to be between September and February.
Worldwide, there are about 400 species of sharks. Of these, around 180 species occur in Australian waters, of which about 70 are thought to be endemic. Sharks occur in all habitats around the Australian coast line, however most are found on the continental slope or shelf, primarily on the bottom. However, many sharks are also found in coastal waters and a small number are even found in freshwater systems, such as rivers and estuaries.
Marine turtles have lived in the oceans for over 100 million years. They are an integral part of the traditional culture of many coastal indigenous peoples throughout the world. Are there any turtles in Australia? Australia has some of the largest marine turtle nesting areas in the Indo-Pacific region and has the only nesting populations of the flatback turtle. Of the seven species of marine turtles in the world, six occur in Australian waters: Flatback turtle (Natator depressus)