Oceania Books

Found what we were looking for in this detailed map

As the author of Tonga-Samoa Handbook, I've used James A. Bier's map of the Samoas many times to check dubious place name spellings or to verify geographical information. The detailed index makes finding places a breeze and the drawing is amazingly clear. I recommend this map highly.

If you're interested in James Cook, read this one. I found it hard to put down, and an excellent source of info for all ages.

New Zealand historian J.C. Beaglehole made the history of exploration in the Pacific his life's work and no such effort could possibly be complete without a thorough understanding of the voyages of Captain James Cook. When Beaglehole started, the existing editions of Cook's Journal were not of high historical standards and, in decades of work with the original journals and auxilliary material, Beaglehole eventually produced the definitive, modern editions. They were originally published in the 1960s by the Cambridge University Press. Other outstanding, related works of Beaglehole are his "Life of Captain Cook" - read no other until you've read this one - and the "Journals of Joseph Banks"

I am planning to sail to the South Pacific next year, and this seems like a very valuable planning tool. It has some information about the history of European exploration, weather patterns, general geography, route planning, etc., but the bulk of the volume is devoted to specific info about the individual island groups, and individual islands in them.
I predict this will be open often during my trip, along with Charlies Charts and a few others.

Considing the relatively small market for a book like this, it's not surprising there's virtually nothing comparable in print. And Earl's territory is vast - all of the Pacific islands from Hawaii to New Zealand and north into Micronesia. The numerous maps should prove useful for orientation and could save you a bundle on official charts (although the author and publisher disclaim any responsibility for errors). There's lots of useful 'passage planning', yacht entry, weather, and public holiday information here, but the country intros could be shortened and the yacht facility sections beefed up. The oversized B&W photos throughout the book occupy space that could be better utilized. An appendix provides four pages outlining the use of amateur mobil radios, but no mention of communicating over the internet is to be found herein. At times, the coverage is skeletal and uneven. For example, on Tahiti only Papeete is visited. Moorea isn't included (!) and the popular Leeward Islands merit only a few lines. In contrast the seldom-visited Austral and Gambier islands receive four pages of maps and texts. In Fiji, Earl only descibes facilities in the main ports of entry: Suva, Lautoka, Levuka, and Savusavu. Really out of the way anchorages are seldom discussed. All that said, these criticisms are mute as there simply isn't another South Pacific cruising guide to choose from. It's a credit to Earl Hinz that he has kept this book going through four editions, and hopefully the electronic revolution will allow him to rejuvenate his book. Meanwhile Landfalls of Paradise is a basic reference work every Pacific sailor will want to carry aboard.

Brilliant illustrations bring Lizzie's days in the bush alive, colors and drawings showing rather than telling of an isolated existence in the bush country, where Lizzie's father must take his horse-drawn cart of sandalwood over fifty miles to market. Lizzie, her mother and baby sibling are left behind to manage until his return. It is a lonely life, but Lizzie's overactive imagination turns every task into an adventure.

Whenever Lizzie announces a new make-believe idea, her mother comments, "Nonsense, Lizzie!" But Lizzie will not be deterred. She rides the limb of a tree, reins attached to a branch, a paper crown on her head; when baby is having a bath, Lizzie sings, "You're afloat on a boat on a big, wide sea"; while her mother tends the garden, Lizzie fancies herself a bride, a garland of flowers in her hair; and when her mother prepares the usual fare of turnips for dinner, Lizzie announces, "Tonight we will eat peaches and cream and little sweet cakes".

Although Mother pretends that Lizzie is full of nonsense, the little girl brightens their world, awaiting her father's return, lifting their daily drudgery into light-hearted banter. Even on Sunday, Lizzie's mama indulges a bit in fancy herself, as they dress up in their best clothes, walking along the road, pretending they have been to church. Mother and daughter think their minds are playing tricks when they hear the jangling of a harness, but, indeed, it is Father returning to his family.

The combination of pictures and prose tell a charming story of life years ago in the bush, where dingoes howl at night and nature's presence is part of the landscape. The mind of a child creates a fairy-tale ambiance, bringing joy to her family and to young readers who learn of the early struggles of families in a sparsely populated country, turning hardship into fables, the magic world of imagination. Luan Gaines/ 2005.

Lizzie, her mom, and her baby sister have it tough in turn-of-the-century outback Australia, and its even tougher when Papa travels 40 miles away to sell their crop, following the old "sand rails" (not sure what those might be). Their struggles are physical as well as emotional-- daily chores with minimal nourishment, and dangerous native animals (e.g., snakes and dingoes) among them. To wage this private war, Lizzie uses her imagination to conjure up better times and places: When helping bathe the baby in a tub of water, she sings, "You're afloat in a boat on a big, wide sea." Her mom responds in a seemingly harsh way: "You and your nonsense!" BY the third times Mama responds this way("you are full of nonsense"), we can see a little smile on her face; it's clear this is a playful ritual without any underlying anger or frustration (at least, not at Lizzie, herself). Still, when reading this to youngsters, you might want to say the mother's reproaches with the light touch that the author intended.

Lizzie's imagination is fun, but it contrasts deeply with life in the bushlands: "Tonight,"says Lizzie, "we will eat peaches, and cream, and little sweet cakes." "Such nonsense!" says her mama." We are having turnips, as usual. When Lizzie and Mama mend their clothes, Lizzie (matter-of-factly and with no apparent self-pity) says that she making a dress "with lots of frills and laces and bows." "What an imagination," says her mama. In an especially poignant scene, author/illustrator Ormerod shows that even the admonishing mom needs some fantasy: Every Sunday they "put on their best clothes" and walk along the track and back, pretending that they're going to church.

While this story of struggle on a non-American frontier doesn't sentimentalize, there are some bright spots that could be excellent discussion points. Lizzie and her mom have a close relationship, out of necessity, yes, but also out of their shared experience. There's also the implicit beauty of the land. Ormerud's beautiful and evocative watercolors show the play of light upon rich foliage, playful kangaroos and the dusk-lit forms of marsupials and dingoes, the warmth of the fire and the oil-lit lamp. At the conclusion, they hear the jingling of Papa's horses, and out of an orange-colored dawn they see him approaching. They run excitedly to meet him, and Ormerud has another, even more warm round of affection and disclaimer:

"You're as pretty as a picture, Beatrice," says the father.
"Nonsense, Albert!"

"And you," he says to Lizzie, "are as brave and pretty as your mother."
"Nonsense!" says Lizzie.

Warm, funny, yet realistic and historical, this 33-page book would make a wonderful addition to the school or home library.

My husband and I took a 18 day trip from Sydney to Cairnes, and used this book for almost all of our motels/B&B's, etc. We were looking to budget less than $100/night for rooms, and all the recommendations in this book were spot-on. The maps of towns are okay, but you'll want a full-size map to get around with and figure distances, too.

This book is perfect for seeing the east coast of Australia by car, but will work just as well if traveling by bus, moped, etc. A friend and I had been planning to drive the east coast, visiting national parks and doing lots of hiking, so when I saw this book I knew it was perfect. As with all titles in the LP family, it lists many places to stay/eat based on price range, which is really nice when you are traveling on a limited budget. There are many hikes listed in the book, along with museums, oddities, and points of interest along this 'classic overland route.' My only complaint about the book is that I wish the authors had listed traveling distances between major cities at the beginning of each section, so the reader doesn't have to add up each little segment on the maps. Otherwise the book is very complete.

This pocket sized book followed me everywhere when I enjoyed Melbourne and its surroundings for a couple of months of 1999. The extensive map section helps you navigate without problems. Its restaurant guide is excellent, the prices and the foods are exactly as described. If you are a student or budget traveller you will find your money back with this book in no time. All events (Melbourne has got heaps of that! ) are listed with tips and details, accurate and witty. Also, you find everything you need to get to Anglesea, Torquay and Phillip Island for the surf or for the splendid nature. It's got the lots for Melbourne - simply go there with it and enjoy!

I spent several months In Melbourne the second half of 1999. It proved worth its price alone for the detailed maps which I studied constantly my first weeks there to figure out Lonsdale Street from Bourke Street and which tram goes where. It covers the high lights of everything to see and do in this wonderous city in a very compact size. While the Lonely Planet guide to Australia is useful as well, this is a must have if you plan to spent any amount of time in Melbourne. Looking back now, I wish I had taken the time to visit more of the suggested places in this guidebook.

I practically wore this book out during my 2 week trek through "The Top End" - Darwin, Litchfield, Katherine and Kakadu. It was extermely helpful in deciding where to go, what to see, and where to stay. All the supplemental reading was very useful and entertaining as well. Go Lonely Planet!!

The Northern Territory of Australia is one of the world's most facscinating places to visit. Kakadu and Litchfield are superb national parks with stunning landscapes and further south things like Devil's Marbles and Ayers Rock are breathtaking. Of course, the whole journey of about 2500 miles from Darwin to Alice Springs along the Stuart Highway is an adventure.

The LP guide gives a lot of good tips on where to stay and what to see. The information, as usual, is accurate and certainly helps to get around. It contains a lot of interesting "extra" information on things like Aboriginal Art etc.

However, the book misses out on quite a few things which you can see and do in the parks and villages you visit like e.g. the gold digger in Pine Creek who for the "gold museum" in Pine Creek where we could "find" our own gold.

The best thing is to take a couple of books. During the long ride there is plenty of time to read. The LP guide is not an appetite wetter, but it is a very good tool for planning your trip and should not be missed out.

I just got back on a trip from Tasmania where I used this book. Given that there aren't many tour books just on Tasmania, and the only other option would have been to carry around a huge Australia book with a little section on Tasmania, this was the best option. This not too shabby book proves there is enough to talk about in Tasmania, and so I think more tour book companies should publish single editions.

When I look at a tour book, especially Lonely Planet, I feel overwhelmed at all the information. And I think that's what LP does best - get the facts across. It's always good to have a second book about the same place for a second opinion. So as this book did fine at informing me, I also like to have a book that is more of an editorial, I don't think it's bad if in a tour book the author will give his/her personal opinion of something. This is what makes Rick Steve's so popular. Unfortunately he seems to only do Europe.

Rough Guides are good at giving opinions, and I think they are laid out in a much more accessible way. Also Fodor's just has one page where they list the big important "to do's" in one area; and I don't think that's a crime.

As a traveler I wasn't very selective because I went all over the island and saw just about everything.

So here's my little editorial:

Launceston: A nice town, smaller than Hobart. I think it's best to know someone here; otherwise I wouldn't spend much time.

Hobart: A great town, rich in history and activities. Try to be near the Salamanca boardwalk. The fantastic flee market happens there on Saturday mornings and it's also the general center of commotion. If you happen to be around during the "10 Days on the Island" festival, (early April) there will also be a lot happening there too.

Bruny Island: Skip it.

Tasman Peninsula: This large promontory sticks out of the south western part of the island, and along with great (bush) walking, also contains the islands premier tourist attraction, Port Arthur. This is a famous jail where the worst British convicts were sent. It has impressive buildings and a church, but probably wouldn't rank up with what you've seen if you have been to Europe. For history however, it is a great stop. I just went on the ghost tour, which was a waste of time. Go during the day.
Also in the Tasman Peninsula was the best hike I took on my stay. It was to Cape Raoul, just south of Port Arthur. Really impressive sea cliffs and you're looking straight at Antarctica from the view. You may want to spend one night on the peninsula, but keep in mind it's the countryside, so not the center of it all. The Comfort Inn is surprisingly nice, and has a good restaurant.

And of course, go to the devils park, seeing them fed is priceless.

West Coast: Strahan is a tourist rigged port, but still a trip up the Gordon River is worth it. Stay at the Gordon Gateway, eat at Risby Cove.

Cradle Mountain: A necessity, this is the big nature attraction in Tasmania. The walk around Dove Lake (which sits below the mountain) is unforgettable.

Mt. Field Park: Here I did the most strenuous hike, straight up to an alpine plateau. Great scenery but I wouldn't do it unless you really want your ass beaten.

Freycinet: Interesting mountains, and seeing Wineglass Beach makes you think you're in the tropics, wish it was warmer.

On a recent trip to Tasmania I refered often to this book and found it a useful companion. Like all Lonely Planet books it has good coverage of contexts such as political, historical, natural. There aren't too many guidebooks specifically devoted to Tasmania, and this one does the job admirably.

Not only does this book hold a wealth of information impossible to find elsewhere, it is also accompanied by beautiful photos.
The detail on the fauna of the Moluccas is better than anything one could find for any other, actually far less remote region of Indonesia. Every bit as good as the book on the Mammals of New Guinea by this author.

Absolutely fascinating book by well known mammalogist Tim Flannery. In the same series as "The mammals of Australia" by Strahan and "Mammals of New Guinea" by Tim Flannery, and equally as well laid out. Sections of the book are divided into families such as muridae (rats), phalangeridae (possums) and pteropodidae (fruit bats). Each species description includes a colour photograph, along with most available information on the species (many species are relatively unstudied. Overall, this book is a wonderful insight into the mammal fauna of this area, and I highly recommend it for any mammalogist or interested individual.

Book was pretty good, but much better if you are moving to Brisbane, because it focuses a lot on that.

Bob Hill's book, Moving to Australia; Two Texans Down Under, is a must-read for anyone thinking of making that major, life-changing move. But even if you are not contemplating such a move, you will enjoy reading about the adventures of Bob and his wife Kristi as they overcome their reluctance to leave behind the familiarity and comforts of home and venture off to a new home, a new culture, a new environment. The book is not only packed with detailed, practical information and advice for the newly-arrived in Australia, but is a nice mix of personal anecdotes spiced with Bob's special brand of Texas humor. There are tales of Bob and Kristi's travels away from their home in Brissy (Brisbane) to beaches, deserts, mountains, and forests, and their hikes through natural areas where they see hundreds of Australia's unique animals and birds--roos and koalas, kookaburras and lorikeets, and many more. Go with them to local farmers' markets, meet some of the Australians they come to know, and laugh at their attempts to decipher some of the oddball Aussie words and phrases they encounter, like "whinge" (whine) and stoush (fight), and "not all that flash" (smart). You will share in their Australian odyssey without having to leave home, and perhaps even get motivated to set out on your own great adventure.