What can you say about a country with over 25,000 kilometres of coastline and more than 10,500 beaches. And that number doesn‘t include at least another 800 beaches on Australia‘s 30 inhabited islands, plus those on the thousands of uninhabited islands.

As the sixth­largest land mass in the world and the only one of the six biggest countries to be totally surrounded by water, Australia offers an unparalleled range of ocean­based activities. Its beaches, bays, inlets and lakes include tropical beaches fringed by rainforest in North Queensland, and the startlingly wide beaches of northern Western Australia, where the drop between high and low tide can be 10 metres or more. In Tasmania, the rugged western coast is one of the world‘s most high­energy wave sites.

Top water­based activities in Australia include diving and snorkelling, fishing, kayaking, canoeing and rafting, sailing, surfing, Windsurfing and kiteboarding. However, it should be noted that the New Zealand specialty of jetboating has not really caught on in Australia as yet, with just a handful of jetboat operators, mainly in Tasmania and New South Wales.

New South Wales

New South Wales is second only to Queensland in popularity as a diving venue, with around 40 diving schools and over 20 top diving sites. Highlights include the sponge gardens of Port Stephens, Fish Rock Cave near Forster (said to be Australia‘s best cave dive due to its astonishing marine diversity), and the wonders of the Solitary Islands Marine Park at Coffs Harbour.

For surfing, the best beaches are probably North Palm Beach near Sydney, Tathra on the southern coast and Lennox Head and Broken Head near Byron Bay in the north. For rafting and canoeing, it would be impossible to go past the Nymboida River, which has rapids up to an impassable level six, on a scale of one to five.

Yachting is very popular in New South Wales, with over 130 sailing clubs belonging to Yachting NSW. Top yachting sites include Sydney Harbour, Botany Bay, the Hawkesbury River, the Bellinger, Manning and Clarence Rivers (in the mid­north of the state), and Lakes Macquarie, Cargelligo and Jindabyne.

Victoria

The Goulburn Murray Waters, which include the Goulburn, Murray and Broken Rivers and Lakes Nagambie, Kerang and Mulwala, offers water­based activities ranging from houseboating to trout and Murray cod fishing, sailing and waterskiing.

For surfing, Bridgewater Bay, west of Portland, and the isolated Clinton Rocks on the state‘s eastern coast can be recommended. Woolamai, Phillip Island‘s most exposed beach, is strictly for experienced surfers only, while Johanna Beach, west of Cape Otway, is one of the best beach breaks in the world. Ninety Mile Beach, on the Gippsland Coast, also offers numerous breaks.

Yachting Victoria has over 90 member clubs. Popular sailing locales include Port Philip Bay, Lake Eildon and Lake Boga, on the Murray River.

Queensland

The astonishingly diverse marine systems of Queensland include coral reefs still magnificent in their splendour despite attacks by crown­of­thorns starfish, rugged rocky shores, isolated beaches, salt marshes, mangroves and seagrasses. The rich ocean life includes marine turtles, dolphins, dugongs and whales. Australia‘s highest concentration of diving schools, centred mainly around Cairns and the Whitsunday Islands, can be found in Queensland. Some of the world‘s best marlin fishing can also be found near Cairns.

For surfing, beach expert Professor Andrew Short of the University of Sydney recommends Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast, Cylinder Beach on North Stradbroke Island‘s northern tip, and Lambert‘s Beach near Mackay. On the other hand, North Gorge, a narrow beach with a fierce rip on North Stradbroke Island, should be particularly avoided.

Yachting Queensland counts around 55 member sailing clubs. In the Whitsunday Islands, Hamilton Island has had a long association with sailing. Its signature event, the annual Hahn Premium Race Week, to be held in 2005 from August 20 to 27, won a prestigious Queensland Tourism Award in 2004.

South Australia

For surfing, Waitpinga Beach, near Victor Harbour, has testing beach breaks for the more experienced, while Surf Beach at Beachport, also in the southeast, boasts 18 kilometres of beach breaks running to the south. Pondalowie Bay, at the bottom of Yorke Peninsula, is another favourite, while Cactus Beach, 70 kilometres west of Ceduna on the Eyre Peninsula, is famous for its year­round surf, though the locals are sometimes a little tetchy with intruders

After surveying every beach on Australia‘s mainland coastline, Professor Short chose Vivonne Bay on South Australia‘s Kangaroo Island as Australia‘s very best beach, due to its consistent surf and mild currents.

Unlike other states, South Australia has many more sailing clubs in country areas than the cities. A total of 42 clubs are registered with Yachting SA, and popular sailing venues include Boston Bay in Port Lincoln, Port Augusta and Port Vincent. The next Adelaide­Port Lincoln Bluewater classic, organised by the Port Lincoln Yacht Club, will be held on February 24, 2006.

Western Australia

At over 12,000 kilometres, Western Australia boasts the longest coastline in Australia, and a huge diversity of oceanscapes. In the Kimberley, great fishing is available in the Buccaneer Archipelago, but boat skippers must be wary of the extreme tides, which can drop 10 metres between high and low tides.

Ningaloo Reef is renowned for diving. Dolphin watching is a very popular pursuit at Monkey Mia, near Exmouth.

For scenery, Meelup Beach is part of a spectacular regional park on Geographe Bay in the south, while Rottnest Island, offshore from Fremantle, has no fewer than 63 beaches.

Surfers can choose from hundreds of top sites. These include Mylies Beach in Fitzgerald River National Park on the rugged southern coast, Smiths Beach and the beaches of Margaret River in Leeuwin­Naturaliste National Park, a world­renowned surfing location. Gnaraloo Beach, north of Geraldton, features huge offshore reef breaks that are definitely only for expert surfers.

Tasmania

Tasmania is particularly notable for its big and wild rivers. Kayaking, canoeing or rafting the Franklin River in the southwest of the state can be the stuff of lifelong memories. Tasmania also has some of the world‘s best fly fishing.

For surfers, the island state has limitless opportunities, including wellknown Clifton Beach, outside Hobart, the more isolated Friendly Beaches, north of scenic Wineglass Bay, and Mawarrah on the northwestern coast. Yachting is also very popular in Tasmania, with no fewer 24 yacht clubs. The oldest, the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, has been in existence since 1908. The wide reaches of the Derwent River near Hobart are perfect for sailing, and this is the finish line of the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Northern Territory

Fishing for barramundi is the supreme ocean specialty of the Northern Territory. There are about 20 registered fishing tour operators, most of whom are based in Darwin, Nhulunbuy and the Daly River. The territory‘s more exposed beaches, for example Smith Point, on the northern tip of Cobourg Peninsula, are sometimes good for surfing. However, it is important to avoid tidal inlets or creeks because of strong currents and the danger of crocodiles.

Cullen Bay, in Darwin, is home to a big yacht fleet. Each year, this is the finishing point of the yacht race from Ambon, Indonesia, to Darwin. Australian Capital Territory

There are eight sailing clubs in the Australian Capital Territory, with the main sailing venue being Lake Burley Griffin. Windsurfing is also very popular.