Milan and Como - fantastic place! My daughter spent 2 months living with a family in Olcio near Mandello del Lario and got to see lots of the local countryside, including Como and many a trip to Milano! The images she brought back on her little P&S were stunning (she actually won some prizes for her effort with some of the images!).
Don't forget to post some images of your region!
As for visiting Australia - the AUD dollar is worth next to nothing now compared to the Euro (its about Euro 0.50 to the AUD$
) - so its cheaper than you think!
We have lots of interesting places to see over here - whether you like beaches, rainforests, mountains or deserts. Admittedly, we don't have the great historical monuments etc that Italy has, but for landscapes, sand, surf etc we rate pretty well!
The only down side is that if you visit in our summer you'll dry out! We aren't as humid as Eutope in summer. Still, save your Euros and come and visit when you get the chance!
Arrivederci!