Seas and Oceans Surrounding Australia

Australia, the world's largest island and smallest continent, is bounded by three oceans and several marginal seas:

Oceans

• Indian Ocean – to the west and northwest
• Pacific Ocean – to the east and northeast
• Southern Ocean – to the south (extending to Antarctica)

Seas

• Arafura Sea – north, between Australia and New Guinea
• Coral Sea – northeast, off Queensland, home to the Great Barrier Reef
• Great Australian Bight – south, a large open bay of the Southern Ocean
• Timor Sea – northwest, separating Australia from Timor-Leste and Indonesia
• Tasman Sea – southeast, between Australia and New Zealand

These waters shape Australia’s climate, marine biodiversity, and major population centers.