 Australia 's landmass of 7 @,@ 617 @,@ 930 square kilometres ( 2 @,@ 941 @,@ 300 sq mi ) is on the Indo @-@ Australian Plate . Surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans , it is separated from Asia by the Arafura and Timor seas , with the Coral Sea lying off the Queensland coast , and the Tasman Sea lying between Australia and New Zealand . The world 's smallest continent and sixth largest country by total area , Australia — owing to its size and isolation — is often dubbed the " island continent " , and is sometimes considered the world 's largest island . Australia has 34 @,@ 218 kilometres ( 21 @,@ 262 mi ) of coastline ( excluding all offshore islands ) , and claims an extensive Exclusive Economic Zone of 8 @,@ 148 @,@ 250 square kilometres ( 3 @,@ 146 @,@ 060 sq mi ) . This exclusive economic zone does not include the Australian Antarctic Territory . Apart from Macquarie Island , Australia lies between latitudes 9 ° and 44 ° S , and longitudes 112 ° and 154 ° E. 
