Australia lies in the South Pacific region, the sixth largest country in the world and the single largest island in the world - even so, it is the sparsest population nation on earth, with only two heads per square kilometre. The huge and beautiful country stretches across three time zones and has coastal borders with the Arafura and Timor Seas to the north, the Coral and Tasman Seas to the east, the Southern Ocean to the south and the Indian Ocean to the west, and with more than 36,000km of pristine coastline it is certainly a destination for the beach lovers out there. While Australia does attract more than its fair share of surfers, swimmers and sailors, the country has a great deal to offer those that venture inland too, with some fascinating history charting the ancient Aborigines and their culture, as well as the arrival of the British and everything that followed making Oz the land that it is today. Throw in some varied geography, cosmopolitan cities and wonderful wines and you have most of the recipe that is Australia. Potential off plan investors looking at properties for sale in Australia are sure to be surprised by the sheer breadth of opportunity presented to them, and the naturally friendly people and laid back way of life is sure to suit many making a trip to Australia.

The original inhabitants of Australia are believed to have made their way to the country some 70,000 years ago, though it wasn't until 50,000 years ago that the Aborigines ended up on the island. It was the Aborigines that made Australia their home until the present day, and they are the people with the longest running known cultural history in the world. It wasn't until the 16^th century that anyone else encroached on the land with the arrival of the Portuguese, then the Dutch East India Company, both of which set up encampments but laid no major claim to the land. When Captain Cook came along in his usual exploratory role, he claimed Australia in the name of the British Crown, as he had something of a tendency to do in those days. It wasn't until the 18^th century that the colony began to grow, however, when it was suggested that Britain's overflowing prisons could have their burden eased by moving vast swathes of the convicts to the other side of the world. The penal colonies set up in the country that was then known as New South Wales grew to become the towns and cities that stand today. Settlement of the country was slow burning and there was no major push to the west of the country, which explains why that region is so sparsely populated to this day, and it wasn't until the mid 19^th century and the discovery of gold that Australia really began to make a mark on the world stage. What was once dismissed as a prison island had become a hotspot for those looking to make their fortune, and mass migration to the country followed. In the same breath, the persecution of the Aborigines - displacement, harassment and violence - took a step further, and created even more disharmony between the natives and the immigrants; something that is still (slowly) being fixed today. On the first of January 1901, Australia officially became a country as the collection of six colonies united under one federation. The country still maintained ties with Britain, however, and provided voluntary aid in World War I - but the possibility of Japanese invasion during the Second World War, and the seeming fact that Britain was unable to help pushed Australia into the arms of the US, whose aid in the conflict helped to keep Australia free of the encroaching armies. Since that time, the country has been far more US-centric that it ever was, supporting their allies militarily (in Korea and Vietnam, to name but two conflicts) as well as through other means. Post-war Australia saw a great impetus on immigration, encouraging workers to flood into the country and help build a stronger economy and framework for the future - the arrival of Asian immigrants from the 1970s has helped to reshape the cultural aspects of Australia even further, and the country is something of a mixing pot when it comes to way of life. Constitutional ties between Britain and Australia were completely ended in 1986 and since then the country has debated whether or not to keep the Queen as the head of state, though she still remains at the time of writing. Modern Australia is a wonderful, friendly and forward thinking nation, home to stability and a strong economy - while the problems relating to the past treatment of the native Aborigines is still something of a sore spot, apologies have been made and there is a concerted effort to include the indigenous culture in with that of European Australians.

Australia may have become far closer to the US than Britain through the 20^th century, but ties with the old prison colony remain strong. It's easy to understand why, too - the people of Australia are naturally friendly, open and genuinely good people in the most part. A visit to the country is greeted with the warmest of welcomes and the grandest of sights, as well as some downright fantastic wines! Australian properties for sale aren't likely to make a potential off plan investor rub their hands with glee, but the prices on offer are sure to leave the bank resoundingly un-broken.

The standards of healthcare in Australia are generally of a very high standard. A reciprocal agreement exists between Australia and the UK, meaning British nationals are entitled to free hospital treatment - some other charges may still apply, however. As a result, health insurance - including emergency evacuation cover - is essential.

Mobile phone coverage is good across most of the country, though outback regions can prove problematic - it should be noted that the majority of American handsets do not work in Australia. Landlines are available and lines are of a good standard. Internet cafes are widespread.