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These mountains along the ocean provide for orographic precipitation and this allows for adequate rainfall all along this eastern coast of Australia. Orographic precipitation simply refers to precipitation that is caused by the mountain-- air is forced up the mountainside and is therefore cooled. The moisture in the air can no longer remain suspended and falls as precipitation. Most of Australia's population lives along this coast.

The Eastern Highlands are sometimes called the Great Dividing Range because their slopes divide the flow of the rivers in the region. The highlands are not a single range, nor are they overly mountainous.

The Central Lowlands have the lowest elevations in Australia. The region is generally flat. Many rivers flow through the lowlands after heavy rains.

Farmers in the southern part of the Central Lowlands grow wheat. Most of the rest of the region is too dry or too hot for most kinds of crops. The west-central part of the region is barren, sandy desert.

The Western Highland area covers the western half of Australia. The region has a higher average elevation than the Central Lowlands, however, most of the land is flat, as in the lowlands.

New Zealand is generally mountainous country with regions of plains. New Zealand is an "Island Arc" that has been created due to tectonic pressure between plates (just like Japan). New Zealand is also part of the "Ring of Fire" that circles the Pacific Ocean (ring of volcanic activity all around the Pacific Rim). The country has more than 220 named mountains exceeding 7,500 ft in height.

On South Island, 17 peaks exceed 10,000 ft in elevation. Mount Cook (12,316 ft) is the highest point in New Zealand.

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In New Zealand, the land is the most important resource. It is ideal for crop farming, dairy farming, and the raising of sheep and cattle, all of which dominate the economy. Numerous mineral deposits are found throughout the islands, including coal, gold, sand and gravel, limestone, clay, dolomite, and magnetite.