Australia 3D: The Wild Continent, at IMAX - 38 minutes

Five years in the making, Australia 3D: The Wild Continent presents a stunning showcase of this country’s flora and fauna.

What we see is so striking that, I venture to suggest, anyone viewing it in Australia will be captivated by the plethora of natural wonders in our backyard.

As to those who witness the documentary abroad, I dare say they will be astonished at the richness of what our continent has to offer.

Tourism Australia couldn’t have a more forthright or compelling ambassador than this 38-minute footage.

The crew travelled 50,000 kilometres – the length and breadth of one of the most sizeable land masses in the world … and beyond – to capture many hidden gems.

From the rainforests of the Great Dividing Range to the dramatic limestone cliffs of the Nullarbor.

Across unspoiled beaches and down into the ocean depths to reveal exquisite, brightly coloured sea life, Australia 3D is an eye-opening journey of discovery.

The diversity is astounding, many of the landscapes captured in their full glory from above. There are places shown that only few have seen.

The detail comes with stunning clarity.

Australia is teaming with animal life. Kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wedge tailed eagles, emus, giant turtles, dolphins, whales, sharks, stingrays, crocodiles, birds and insects.

The fact is more than 80 per cent of plants, reptiles, mammals and frogs in this country can’t be seen anywhere else in the world.

The 3D imagery had me figuratively gasping at how up close and personal I came to creatures. Frankly, even more 3D would not have gone astray.

The engaging tone of narrator Mark Coles Smith authoritatively guides us through a land first inhabited 65,000 years ago.

To that end, the doco features traditional owners, vested in conserving the natural beauty.

Australia was originally part of Antarctica, to where the cameras also venture. At the time, both were part of the supercontinent Gondwana.

Separation began about 85 million years ago and was completed approximately 30 million years ago.

Now Australia continues to drift northward at the rate of about seven centimetres a year.

Emmy award winning director Nick Robinson has created something mighty special.

High praise, indeed, for a filmmaker of renown about a place unlike any other that needs to be appreciated for what it is.

Robinson has the key to wonderment as captured in Australia 3D: The Wild Continent, which can be seen exclusively at IMAX cinemas.