Australia is more complex than its friendly reputation suggests. To be sure, the welcome is genuine. But this is a continent that has been transformed from an Anglocentric limb of empire to a powerhouse of the Asia-Pacific region. Australia is also challenged by climate change—from the coral of the Great Barrier Reef to agriculture desperate for water. These stresses point to how precious a landscape this is, whether the scorched earth of the Outback or the Ireland-like fecundity of Tasmania. Any trip should include both the drama of the terrain's elemental power and the engaging energy of the cities. What better way to begin the adventure than with an overview of Australia's World Heritage Sites? Read on for a window into a continent as old as time and as new as tomorrow.