Wait around for a few months. The weather is bad here.
Around Christmas time is the best. You've probably had a White Christmas, but an Aussie Christmas is waaaaaaaaaaay better!
Beach. Babes. Barbeque. Beer. 'Nuff said.
And as for the regions, it is to do with the TV. Sure, most can accept NTSC signals, but I'd say the majority of the population will still only have PAL. Heck, my new video card only accepts PAL input.
Maybe when the whole world moves to digital television that one universal standard appears?!?!?!