Australasia

Australasia is a term etymologically equal to Southern Asia, but used to indicate Australia and the adjoining islands—Tasmania, New Zealand, Papua or New Guinea, New Caledonia, the New Hebrides, New Ireland, and New Britain. The term would thus exclude the Malay Archipelago, Micronesia and Polynesia proper; but some authors include these great groups of islands also, making the name therefore equivalent to Oceania. Popularly, on the other hand, it means the 'Australian Colonies' of Great Britain, including Tasmania, New Zealand, Fiji, &c. The several islands will be found discussed each under its own name; and for the fauna and flora of this region, see GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS.