Australia is a country, and continent, surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans. Its major cities - Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide - are coastal, but its capital, Canberra, is inland and nicknamed the "Bush Capital" & currency is Australian Dollar.The country is known for its Sydney Opera House, Great Barrier Reef, the vast Outback (interior desert wilderness) and unique animal species including kangaroos and duck-billed platypuses.