Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Australia is a country AND a continent. **Oceania is a geographic region** that *includes* the continent of Australia plus thousands of Pacific islands.
| Term | Type | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (Continent) | Geological continent | Mainland Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea (geologically), Seram, Timor, Aru Islands – on same continental shelf (Sahul). |
| Australia (Country) | Sovereign state | Mainland + Tasmania + external territories (Christmas, Cocos, Norfolk, etc.). |
| Oceania (Region) | Geopolitical / biogeographic region | **Australasia** (Australia, NZ, New Guinea) + **Melanesia** (Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Is, PNG) + **Micronesia** (Kiribati, Marshall Is, FSM, Palau, Nauru) + **Polynesia** (NZ, Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Is, French Polynesia). |
**Australia ≠ Oceania.** Australia is *part of* Oceania. The region encompasses **14 sovereign states + 20+ territories** across the Pacific. Using them interchangeably erases the distinct cultures and nations of the Pacific Islands.