An extraordinary volume–even a masterpiece–about the early history of Australia that reads like the finest of novels. Hughes captures everything in this complex tableau with narrative finesse that drives the reader ever-deeper into specific facts and greater understanding. He presents compassionate understanding of the plights of colonists–both freemen and convicts–and the Aboriginal peoples they displaced. One of the very best works of history I have ever read.
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

For 80 years between 1788 and 1868 England transported its convicts to Australia. This punishment provided the first immigrants and the work force to build the colony. Using diaries, letters, and original sources, Hughes meticulously documents this history. All sides of the story are told: the political and social reasoning behind the Transportation System, the viewpoint of the captains who had the difficult job of governing and developing the colonies, and of course the dilemma of the prisoners. This is a very thorough and accurate history of Australian colonization written by the author of the book and BBC/Time-Life TV series The Shock of the New . A definitive work that is an essential purchase for both public and academic libraries. BOMC and History Book Club main selections. Judith Nixon, Purdue Univ. Libs., W. Lafayette, Ind.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Discover a land of roaring surf, towering rainforests and day after day of sunshine with The Rough Guide to East Coast Australia. Be inspired by the cosmopolitan cities, the countless wine regions, gorgeous Byron Bay, the Great Barrier Reef and all the fascinating, less-travelled places in between. With full-colour sections of Taking the Plunge, diving and surfing on the east coast and Ecotourism, the guide takes you way off the beaten track to discover the real Australia. Covering every region, from remote and unspoilt beaches where kangaroos hop along the shore, to alternative country towns with a character all their own, the guide also highlights unforgettable side-trips to the Torres Strait Islands and Uluru. Places to stay – the funkiest hostels, the glitziest resorts, the leafiest rainforest lodges – are covered in detail and with our hand-picked restaurant and nightlife recommendations you’ll always know where to find the action. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to East Coast Australia.

Frommer’s. The best trips start here.

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer.

*

From the Outback to the Great Barrier Reef and everywhere in between, let our expert authors guide you around Down Under.

*

Outspoken opinions on what’s worth your time and what’s not.

*

Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget.

*

Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

Frommer’s. The best trips start here.

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer.

*

From the Outback to the Great Barrier Reef and everywhere in between, let our expert authors guide you around Down Under.

*

Outspoken opinions on what’s worth your time and what’s not.

*

Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget.

*

Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

Describes many things that originally came from Australia, including inventions, sports and games, food, musical instruments, animals, and words.

Bill Bryson follows his Appalachian amble, A Walk in the Woods, with the story of his exploits in Australia, where A-bombs go off unnoticed, prime ministers disappear into the surf, and cheery citizens coexist with the world’s deadliest creatures: toxic caterpillars, aggressive seashells, crocodiles, sharks, snakes, and the deadliest of them all, the dreaded box jellyfish. And that’s just the beginning, as Bryson treks through sunbaked deserts and up endless coastlines, crisscrossing the “under-discovered” Down Under in search of all things interesting.

Bryson, who could make a pile of dirt compelling–and yes, Australia is mostly dirt–finds no shortage of curiosities. When he isn’t dodging Portuguese man-of-wars or considering the virtues of the remarkable platypus, he visits southwest Gippsland, home of the world’s largest earthworms (up to 12 feet in length). He discovers that Australia, which began nationhood as a prison, contains the longest straight stretch of railroad track in the world (297 miles), as well as the world’s largest monolith (the majestic Uluru) and largest living thing (the Great Barrier Reef). He finds ridiculous place names: “Mullumbimby Ewylamartup, Jiggalong, and the supremely satisfying Tittybong,” and manages to catch a cricket game on the radio, which is like

listening to two men sitting in a rowboat on a large, placid lake on a day when the fish aren’t biting; it’s like having a nap without losing consciousness. It actually helps not to know quite what’s going on. In such a rarefied world of contentment and inactivity, comprehension would become a distraction.

“You see,” Bryson observes, “Australia is an interesting place. It truly is. And that really is all I’m saying.” Of course, Bryson–who is as much a travel writer here as a humorist, naturalist, and historian–says much more, and does so with generous amounts of wit and hilarity. Australia may be “mostly empty and a long way away,” but it’s a little closer now. –Rob McDonald
–This text refers to the

Hardcover
edition.

With the Olympics approaching, books on Australia abound. Still, Bryson’s lively take is a welcome recess from packaged, staid guides. The author of A Walk in the Woods draws readers in campfire-style, relating wacky anecdotes and random facts gathered on multiple trips down under, all the while lightening the statistics with infusions of whimsical humor. Arranged loosely by region, the book bounces between Canberra and Melbourne, the Outback and the Gold Coast, showing Bryson alone and with partners in tow. His unrelenting insistence that Australia is the most dangerous place on earth (“If you are not stung or pronged to death in some unexpected manner, you may be fatally chomped by sharks or crocodiles, or carried helplessly out to sea by irresistible currents, or left to stagger to an unhappy death in the baking outback”) spins off dozens of tales involving jellyfish, spiders and the world’s 10 most poisonous snakes. Pitfalls aside, Bryson revels in the beauty of this country, home to ravishing beaches and countless unique species (“80% of all that lives in Australia, plant and animal, lives nowhere else”). He glorifies the country, alternating between awe, reverence and fear, and he expresses these sentiments with frankness and candor, via truly funny prose and a conversational pace that is at once unhurried and captivating. Peppered with seemingly irrelevant (albeit amusing) yarns, this work is a delight to read, whether or not a trip to the continent is planned. First serial to Outside magazine; BOMC selection. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
–This text refers to the

Hardcover
edition.

Many teachers use ABC Books to teach different concepts and this one is especially good for use as a sample to show students. The pictures are bold and very colorful. –Ft. Worth ISD, Ft. Worth, TX

In this book, you’ll learn about the world’s smallest continent, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Sydney Opera House.

This is the Operator’s Manual for Australia. This book covers the basic and essential information the author and his family learned in order to survive their first few years living in Australia. It will help you avoid making the same embarrassing mistakes and asking the same dumb questions they did. Includes a 1,500 word Australian-American Dictionary. An essential tool for tourists, business travelers and migrants.

Nobody covers the world like Lonely Planet.’ –New York Post, May 2004
–This text refers to an alternate

Paperback
edition.

No one knows Australia like Lonely Planet…remember, we live here! We know where Sydney’s best surf beaches are, where to get the best coffee in Melbourne’s cobbled lanes, and how to cross the great red plains in a van without getting scorched.

Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honest advice, designed to give you the information you need to make the most of your trip.

In This Guide:

Full Coverage. Bustling cities, outback trails and everything in between.
Road Atlas. 16-page color map section, to navigate the country’s highways and byways
Unique Green Index to help make your travels as ecofriendly as you wish

Frommer’s Australia is packed with all the facts, tips, and descriptions you need to have perfect vacation:

• Completely updated every year, Frommer’s Australia features gorgeous full-color photos of the Outback vistas, curious wildlife, and white-sand beaches that await you.
• Our authors have lived in and written about Australia for years, so they’re able to provide valuable insights and advice. They’ll steer you away from the touristy and the inauthentic and show you the real heart of the land Down Under. Let them take you to exciting cities, Aboriginal homesteads, Barossa Valley vineyards, and natural wonders, from the Wet Tropics Rainforest to Uluru to the Great Barrier Reef. You’ll travel Australia like a pro using their candid advice and in-depth knowledge of the culture.
• Also included are accurate regional and town maps, up-to-date advice on finding the best package deals, a free color fold-out map, and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap!

Frommer’s Australia 2010

With Foldout Map

The best time to see the unusual limestone formations of The Pinnacles is at sunrise or sunset. See chapter II.

• Foldout map, plus detailed maps throughout

• Exact prices, directions, opening hours,and other practical information

• Candid reviews of hotels and restaurants,plus sights, shopping, and nightlife

• Itineraries, walking tours, and trip-planning ideas

• Insider tips from local expert authors