Conjecturing on what Chris Sawyer has up his sleeve in the Wacky Worlds Add-on, could it be he will bring us some great things from the land down under, Australia. The announcement mentions a visit to all of the continents, well Australia has the distinction of being the only country that is also a continent. So, G’day Mate and come on a walkabout through the world's flattest and driest landmass after the Antarctica.

The name Australia comes from "Terra Australis" - the southern land.

It has a land mass of 7,682,292 sq kms (2,966,133 sq miles)

It’s population is 18,338,000 people (roughly 0.3% of the world's population).

Over 85% of the population live in cities along the coast.

Although hunters have used throwing sticks in many parts of the world, the most famous of all such weapons is the Aborigine's boomerang, which may be the world's only returning throwing stick.

Australia borders no other country because it is surrounded by ocean, so there is plenty of coastline to explore. Much of this coastline consists of white sandy beaches and cliffs. The Great Barrier Reef on Queensland's east coast is the largest reef and coral formation on earth, extending just over 2001 km (1250 miles) in length.

It is also home to many unique animal species such as the platypus, koalas, kangaroos and the ferocious Tasmanian Devil.

Wolfe Creek Crater, in the north of Western Australia, is the second biggest meteorite crater in the world.

Australia is responsible for three island territories in the Pacific: Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands. Many of Norfolk Island's people are descended from the mutineers of the Bounty.

Christmas Island is famous for the annual migration of sixty million red land crabs who travel from the forest to the ocean to have their young.

Koalas, which are nocturnal animals, derive their name from Aboriginal words describing the animal as not drinking much.

Waltzing Matilda is probably the best-known Australian song.

Australia gave the vote to women in 1902.

The aboriginal people did not have a vote until 1969.

The folk hero Ned Kelly (1854-1880) who became a bank robber and is famous for wearing homemade armor was captured and hanged in his mid twenties.

Two poisonous Australian spiders are the red-back spider and the Sydney funnel-web spider.

Place names in many areas of Australia remind us of places in England: Hackney, Kensington, Mortlake, Putney, Regent's Park, Bexley, Cheltenham, Epping, Guildford, Kent Town, Halifax, Liverpool, Newcastle Street, Ryde and Warwick.

The Australian word for sweets (candy) is lolly; tucker means food; swag man is a tramp; walkabout is a long journey (an Aboriginal tradition).

Australia's internationally successful singers include the Bee Gees, INXS and Kylie Minogue.

Ownership (per household):

• Refrigerator - 99.7%
• Washing Machine - 90%
• Telephone - 95%
• Freezer - 47%
• Dishwasher - 20%
• Car
  • One or More - 85%
  • Two or More - 32%
  • Three or More- 12%

There are many Amusement parks listed for Australia but one of note is Australia's Wonderland and Wildlife Park. It consists of Seven fantasylands and approximately 80 rides, shows and attractions that are featured at this 500-acre/200-hectare theme park. Transylvania's scariest ride is the Space Probe 7, a 23-story free fall that plummets passengers toward the ground at more than 75 mi/120 km per hour. Goldrush has the intentionally rickety, wooden, Bush Beast rollercoaster and the whitewater-rapids Snowy River Rampage ride. The Beach is a nice manmade sandy beach, with water slides nearby.

Maybe Ayres Rock could be used for a Scenario base. How about a trip through the Outback on a high-speed Monorail? We don’t know if the koalas, kangaroos and the Taz will be in the add-on but we can always hope. In the meantime you can visit this link to learn more about this fascinating country.

Scoop