Why go
Use the state and territory map to make sense of regional names before planning a cross-country journey. New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia are states; the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory are the two major mainland territories. This distinction is especially useful when an itinerary moves between Canberra and the surrounding New South Wales.
The full story
Australia has six states: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. It also has two major mainland territories, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. Western Australia is the largest state, covering just under a third of the country's land area; Queensland and New South Wales follow it in size. Those proportions are a useful correction to a map that makes the eastern cities appear close to the west. The territory picture extends beyond the mainland. Jervis Bay Territory is a separate federal area within New South Wales, associated with the national capital's access to the sea. Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are inhabited external territories. Australia also has several largely uninhabited external territories, including the Coral Sea Islands and Heard Island and McDonald Islands. For most trips, the six states and two major mainland territories provide the clearest first layer of orientation.