Australia

The newly revised fifth edition includes 368 pages, 100illustrations, 13 maps, cultural sites and practicalinformation. American Carl Robinson has made his home inAustralia, the world’s oldest and perhaps most uniquecontinent. His entertaining and intelligent guidebookgives the traveler a wonderful, and very personalized,introduction to this enigmatic country. Blessed by a near-perfect climate, life in Australia has a distinctive paceand its people are among the most hospitable on earth.There are real secrets to Australia, and this bookrecommends some favorites, with the emphasis on how tohave a good time, covering what to see and how to getthere, from the “Wild West” of the Northern Territory andthe natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef to thevibrant cities, such as Sydney and Melbourne. Manyexcerpts from literature, by and about Australians, areincluded, along with essays on the idiosyncrasies of”Aussie” life: the irreverent Aussie vocabulary, pubs,wine, sports, cinema and the uneasy status of the nativeAborigines. - A new and extensively revised edition -Special focus on having fun in Australia - Several newspecial topics, including an essay on nationhood and thereferendum, the world’s biggest celebration of gay prideand identity-Sydney’s annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras,the Great Grain Races, Sydney’s Bridge Climb andAustralia’s National Musuem in Canberra - New colorphotographs reflecting the diversity of Australian lifeand culture - Literary excerpts illuminate local cultureand idiosyncrasies - An entertaining, personal book by anexperienced author who knows the country intimately -Useful and informative maps