Editorial Review

As the name implies, the Eyewitness Travel Guides bring you the world in full living color. In the Read more

Reviews (17)

Not only covers the usual places to go and stay, but adds tips on local foods, cutaways and floor plans of all major sights
Two fine new travel guides use the popular 'Eyewitness' approach DK fostered in its children's books to provide adult travelers with clear, eye-catching and fun guides. AUSTRALIA packs in the color photos, maps and illustrations and not only covers the usual places to go and stay, but adds tips on local foods, cutaways and floor plans of all major sights, town listings of sights and beaches, timelines of festivals and special events, and more.
Discovering Australia
I really enjoy this series of travel books. Always guaranteed a clear concise and very illustrated description of the subject matter and this book is delightfully no different.
Australia by DK Publishing
The actual weight of this book is too much for lightweight travellers.Great photos and descriptions but will read, make notes and leave this book at home.Another book selection for actual travel will probably be Fodors. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - Australia    3. Australia & Oceania - General    4. General    5. Guidebooks    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Travel / Australia & Oceania   

Editorial Review

Bill Bryson follows his Appalachian amble, Read more

Reviews (361)

"Que Sera Sera"
I checked this out of the library and read it on the way to Australia to visit my daughter during her study abroad semester in Brisbane. She read it while we sailed the Whitsundays and dove on the Great Barrier Reef - well, not when we we actually in the water. Before whe started reading it, in conversations I regularly sited Bryson having commented on many of our topics, by saying something, "Just like in the book," or, "Bryson talks about that in the book." A little like Seinfeld having done so many topics, that we live parts of them in our daily lives. Anyway, we left the book on a plane. So, I'll buy a copy for the library and one for me - money well spent. It was a great introduction and punctuated much of the trip. A bus driver in Brisbane was actually whistling "Que Sera Sera," which,I think, was mentioned in the book. I'll find out when I read it again. I'd read Bryson's Sort History of Nearly Everything a couple of years ago. It's also a good read.

Audio CD review: His prose is annoying when spoken aloud
You get your money's worth here--there are a ton of CDs in this audio book. Unfortunately, I found Bryson's prose (which I enjoyed a lot when reading silently, as I have done with his other books) to be greatly irritating when spoken aloud. To me, he sounds kind of 'affected' in parts, and sometimes there is a sort of "moist" sound when he pronounces words. Hard to describe until you hear the CD, but trust me on this one. I think a lot of the positive reviews on here are for the book, and not the CD. I would stick with the written word on this one.

Why I read it twice...a review in two parts.
I took this book with me on a recent trip to Central America and absolutely loved it.While there is less narrative flow than, say, A Walk in the Woods, reading Bryson's thoughts on Sydney harbor, Australian-rules football, former Prime Minister Harold Holt (peace be upon him), forever walking through Canberra, and his near run-in's with a seemingly endless list of nasty (and apparently deadly) native animals was engaging and thoroughly enjoyable.He does this all the while encountering some pretty terrific and endearing folks, drinking many Victorian Bitters, and relaying an impressive and affectionate recounting of Australian history.There really is a lot to like here.So much so that upon finishing the book while still in Central America, and realizing that I committed the unpardonable sin of only bringing one book with me to read (you try finding a decent bookstore in Central America), I turned to the first chapter and started all over again.And it was equally engrossing, witty, and informative if not more-so.I can think of no higher compliment for a book and I recommend it whole-heartedly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - Australia    3. Australia & Oceania - General    4. Bryson, Bill    5. Description    6. Description And Travel    7. Essays & Travelogues    8. Journeys    9. Travel    10. Travel - Foreign    11. United States - General    12. Travel / United States / General   

Reviews (1)

Great
This book is pretty thorough.I haven't gone on my trip yet, but I feel much more confident traveling with this book in hand.I'm very pleased and the information is all relevant to this year.Written clearly and concisely and something for every budget. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Reference - Guides (General)    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Travel Guides    7. Australia    8. Travel & holiday guides    9. Travel / Australia & Oceania   

Reviews (5)

Almost perfect handbook for newcomers to Australia
I moved to Australia from Israel, and this book was of great help.
From someone who actually used it
I bought this book when I found out that my company had actually agreed to transfer me to Australia ... but they were giving me very little help in what to expect.This book is not a "travel" guide.It's a practical guide on how to settle down in Australia - things like, how to get a drivers licence, where to apply for a tax file number, even how to do a hook turn in Melbourne.It has never steered me wrong, and I've recommended it to many expat friends. the title says it all
Having read a number of publications of similar approach I must admit this one's outstanding. The information provided is not only considering almost every single aspect of living in Oz, but most important: it's (imho)spot-on and even pretty much up-to-date. David's writing is fun and easy toread and I would recommend this book to everyone on the move down under. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Children's Books/All Ages    4. General    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel Guides    8. Australasia, Oceania & Other Land Areas    9. Living & working abroad    10. Travel / General   

Reviews (2)

It is really really really bad travel guide!!!
I started to use Lonely Planet 15 years ago. I can say that I am a witness of how much quality deteriorite it has been. I used to just buy it by default. It was a Bible for me. But, a BIG but, this Lonely Planet Australia set a new lowest standard for the series.
Unless These Books Bring Back Destinations and Hostel Listings They'll Be Lonely on the Shelves Due to New Better Competitors
Since the late 90's Lonely Planet have been dwindling down the number of destinations and hostel listings in these guides and replacing that space with more five star hotels, fine dining and other useless information backpackers will never use.In this edition Lonely Planet lists the most expensive Hotel in Australia, Palazzo Versace in their Gold Coast accommodation listings.They are so out of touch with their target market now it is not funny.
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Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Reference - Guides (General)    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Australia    7. Travel & holiday guides   

Editorial Review

Natalie Kruger and Marc Llewellyn are native Australians. They both live in Sydney, and they're both veteran travel writers. And this serves them well, for their goal is ambitious. It's no small task to provide detailed and accurate information on lodgings, restaurants, and activities throughout a continent that spans some 2,400 miles from Shark Bay to the Sunshine Coast, and 1,600 miles from Darwin to Kangaroo Island--a chunk of land roughly the size of all of western Europe or the contiguous 48 states of the U.S. To do so and aim for a budget of $50 a day is a feat comparable to crossing the outback by foot. Yet they do it, and they do it admirably well. They know where to stay and where to eat, where to snorkel and where to view wildlife, where to repose on a beach and where to experience Aboriginal culture. They explain Australian history, culture, food, and nightlife, and they describe what to expect from the big city versus the small town. In addition, Kruger and Llewellyn provide all sorts of tips for saving money and include more luxurious options as well. The result is an entertaining, knowledgeable, reliable guide--one that makes a lot accessible to many for not that much. Read more

Reviews (7)

Practical, excellent guide - worth every penny
I actually bought 4 different guide books to plan my trip Down Under.I ditched 3 of them almost immediately because Frommer's format was easier to read and locating appropriate information quicker.The advice on suggested tours was especially accurate; the boxed information warrants a second (or third) look - Frommer's never steered us in the wrong direction.Take the price information with a grain of salt as seasoned travelers know that pricing can and will fluctuate. Practical, excellent guide - worth every penny
I actually bought 4 different guide books to plan my trip Down Under.I ditched 3 of them almost immediately because Frommer's format was easier to read and locating appropriate information quicker.The advice on suggested tours was especially accurate; the boxed information warrants a second (or third) look - Frommer's never steered us in the wrong direction.Take the price information with a grain of salt as seasoned travelers know that pricing can and will fluctuate. All You Could Want
Our group of six friends just returned from atwo week trip to Australia.We did much planning ahead of time using this guide.It was so helpful that even our travel agent was impressed with the information we could give her about our plans to travel by plane, car, and train.Information about each of the cities we visited was right on the money.We stayed in some of the hotels recommended and ate at some of the restaurants.With the information we had ahead of time, our trip went very smoothly.Practically everytime anyone had a question regarding just about anything in the area we were visiting, I just grabbed the book and had the answer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Australia    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

A Huge Disappointment
On my previous trip to Australia in 2001, I used the Let's Go travel guide.It was okay, but after the excellent book I had for Hawaii, I thought I would try for something better.Frommer's isn't it.This book has no more information than the website and is probably not as up to date.Hours and prices were consistently wrong--by more than allowable for a yearly update.Attraction ratings were unhelpful.That is, they did not include the sort of information that helped me decide what I wanted to see.For example, a museum in Adelaide is supposedly known for it's extensive collection of Aborigine artifacts and was highly rated based on that.However, the items are presented with minimal context, so that the collection is not the tremendous learning experience it ought to be; it's more like an art show.Another example:The botanical garden in Melbourne is like a park, with few flowers; the one in Brisbane is organized like a zoo, divided into geographic regions, and with lots of flowers.The distinction wasn't made in the book.
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Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. Australasia, Oceania & Other Land Areas    7. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY    8. Travel / Australia & Oceania   

Reviews (2)

This is a great guide
I am planning on backpacking for an extended amount of time in Australia. This guide is invaluable in planning my trip. I love the series - it is perfect for a budget traveller like me. I don't know yet how accurate the info is, as I have yet to go, but the book itself is well written and organized.

Enjoy the outback, but watch out for the spideys n snakes.
This was my 2nd time using Let's Go guides, my 1st being Let's Go Japan.I prefer them to the Lonely Planet guidebooks in general.They seem to have a less intoxicated following.As with my NZ review, I wish that the authors would've stressed the quarantine & customs issues regarding everything including food. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Australia    5. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (3)

Worthless, Mate!
Don't waste your money.This map shows such a small part of Sydney it is worthless.Using this map is like riding through one of the prettiest cities in the world while looking through a pipe.I threw it away the first day in Australia!

great stuff
prompt delivery by amazon. Product quality extremely dependable. Very clear and significant details well highlighted.

It's not a map, it;s a travel agent
Streetwise Sydney is essential to experiencing a city rich in history.It is laminated, so it's easy to fold, and it fits almost anywhere - a breast pocket perhaps.The map color codes different points of interest and ofnecessity- i.e. the Royal Botanic Gardens, Restaurants and Hotels.Thismap made a trip to a foreign city not so intimidating, and I wouldn't wantto use any other kind when I plan my next adventure. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - Australia    2. Maps & Road Atlases    3. Politics/International Relations    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Australia    6. Maps, charts & atlases    7. Travel / road maps & atlases   

Reviews (1)

Usefull stuff in, out with the rest...
I bought this book 2 months ago while planing a trip to OZ & NZ later on this year.
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Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Australia & Oceania - New Zealand    4. General    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel - General    8. Travel Guides    9. Australia    10. New Zealand    11. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (28)

Probably more than you ever wanted to know about camels...
The beginning third of this book, in which Ms. Davidson is preparing for her trip, really should have been cut in half. I thought she'd never get going.
Essential reading
Robyn Davidson's Tracks is an epic journey of a woman travelling across 1,700 miles across Australian bush, from Alice Springs to Hamelin Pool (Western Australia), with 4 camels and a dog.Davison feels unsettled with her life in the city, so chooses to become a borderland person, living on the margins of civilized society to find her identity and a sense of place in central Australia.Davidson cleverly interweaves the injustice of Aboriginal assimilation, land issues, and racial and cultural genocide with the process of preparing for her journey and the trek itself.Here the reader not only becomes aware of Davidson's identity crisis being experienced by a white woman living in Australia, but the unsettlement of Aboriginal people who are struggling with cultural and identity displacement.

Beautifully captivating.
When I was in New Zealand, about to go to Australia, I read this book.
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Subjects:  1. 1950-    2. Australia    3. Australia & Oceania - General    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Davidson, Robyn,    6. Description and travel    7. Essays & Travelogues    8. Travel    9. Travel - General    10. Davidson, Robyn    11. Journeys    12. Travel / Australia & Oceania    13. Travel writing    14. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (3)

Great approach, good content
I just got back from 10 days in Sydney, and I took this book and also the Rough Guide to Sydney.This book is vastly superior to the other.
Excellent all round guide
I must say I am pretty impressed by this travel guide to Sydney. And I can doubly assure you of that it is excellent because I live here in Sydney! The reason I got this book was because in my experience the best travel guides are generally the ones from DK and this one didn't dissappoint. A travel guide like this is great for people who come to Sydney and stay with me. I can lend them this book to get around town during the weekdays while I am at work - but that said, even I find it useful.
decent...
this got a lot of good reviews and I was a bit disappointed. The format is easy to read, and there IS a lot of good information in the book. This book isn't going to help you find good cheap restaurants. Most of the restaurants and bars listed are expensive. This book is far better than the Rough Guides or Lonely Planet for sure BUT I'll be ordering Frommers to take with me when I go to Australia... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Guidebooks    4. Sydney (N.S.W.)    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel / Australia & Oceania   

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Tasmania    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Travel / Australia & Oceania   

Editorial Review

It's not every day that a fellow decides to pack in a good job, pack up his saddlebags, and set off by bicycle to make a circumferential journey around Australia. In 1996, that's just what American-born Read more

Reviews (17)

Cold Beer and Crocodiles : A Bicycle Journey into Australia
Having travelled through Australia a number of times by airplane, car, and train, I found the perpspective of a bicylist to be enlightening, funny, and exasperating.While I never intend to pedal around Oz, I think Smith captured the spirit of the country.It was a good read.I would recommend the book but not the means of transport....

True to the cycle touring experience
Having finished only half the book, I'm amazed at the experiences he has. I'm at a loss to understand just how he went about getting into the situations he did. And yet, being a cycle-tourist myself, I can understand.
A Great Journey
Roff Smith hit a crossroads one day and didn't know whether he should stay in Australia or move back to the US.Since he hadn't really seen or experienced Australia like he felt he should have, how could he be expected to make a decision as to whether he should stay?The only solution, of course, was to hop on his bicycle and pedal 10,000 miles around the entire island.
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Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - Australia    3. Cycling    4. Description and travel    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. Smith, Roff Martin    7. Special Interest - Adventure    8. Travel    9. Travel - Foreign    10. Travel / General    11. Travel writing   

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. Australia    7. Travel & holiday guides    8. Travel / Australia & Oceania   

Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - Australia    3. Australia & Oceania - General    4. Australia & Oceania - New Zealand    5. Guidebooks    6. New Zealand    7. Travel    8. Travel - Foreign    9. Travel & holiday guides    10. Travel / Australia & Oceania   

Reviews (4)

Very informative, telling you many things no ordinary travel book does
Bill Bryson is best known for writing very humorous travel books, and "In a Sunburned Country" is indeed a funny account of his travels in Australia. Those who love Bill Bryson's books for their humor won't be disappointed.
cheated
This book has the exactly same content (word by word) with another Bill Bryson's book under the title 'In a Sunburned Country'.
Great book
This book's definitely a keeper. Bill, in his self-deprecating & exaggerated humour, makes this an entertaining read. Also, he decorates all the various locations he visits with intriguing historical information (that I love) & he gives enough detail for this to be a a guide book (to some degree, I reckon). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Australia    3. Travel writing   

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Australia    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

Amazing Underwater Universe
This is a great, specializated guide with the best diving and snorkeling tours in the impressive Australian reef. Information about the best agencies, tours' schedules, instructors and amateurs courses and differentsubmarines kinds that habitate the colorful coral world. An indispensablebook for this magnific adventure. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Scuba & Snorkeling    4. Special Interest - Adventure    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Queensland    8. Travel & holiday guides