Australia is a large, mostly flat country with a hot desert climate and a population of 20 million, primarily concentrated along its eastern and southern coasts. Key historical events include the arrival of the Aborigines over 40,000 years ago, European exploration in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the establishment of Australia as a nation in 1901. New Zealand, with a population of about 4.1 million, features diverse geography and a significant Maori heritage, and was the first country to grant women the right to vote in 1893.