Possible Clues:

• ____ Day is a public holiday on the first Monday after January 26
• Queensland's country
• Regularly dally in country, where Christmas starts earlier than most
• Last aria Rameau finally composed for land down under
• The Commonwealth: it could hardly be more distant from Britain
• Country down under
• Land of koalas and kangaroos
• Locale suggested by this puzzle's theme
• Land somewhere in America to climb in country
• A lake in European country or one far away