Elevations

Last updated:27 June 2014

Australia is the lowest continent in the world with an average elevation of only 330 metres. The highest points on the other continents are all more than twice the height of Australia's highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko which is 2228 metres above sea level. The world's highest mountain, Mount Everest is 8848 metres above sea level, almost four times the height of Mount Kosciuszko.

Highest and lowest points

NameState Height (m)
Mawson Peak Heard Island 2 745
Mt Kosciuszko NSW 2 228
Lake Eyre SA 15 m below sea level

Source: Geoscience Australia GEODATA TOPO-250K, 1993.

Elevation by percentage of land mass

Elevation Area (km2) Percentage of Australia* Cumulative percentage
Below sea level 8 500 0.11 0.11
0 - 199m 2 909 500 37.98 38.09
200 - 499m 3 728 700 48.68 86.77
500 - 999m 940 600 12.28 99.05
1000 - 1499m 66 600 0.87 99.92
1500 - 1999m 5 200 0.07 99.99
2000m + 800 0.01 100.00

* Excludes islands

Highest cities and towns by State/Territory

State/Territory City/Town name Height (m)
New South Wales Perisher Valley 1 740
Victoria Hotham Heights 1 700
Tasmania Reynolds Neck 1 100
Queensland Ravenshoe 930
Western Australia Tom Price 750
Northern Territory Areyonga 700
South Australia Amata 700
Australian Capital Territory Canberra 660