Girt By Dirt: An Australian Adventure

by Phillip Butters

Girt by An Australian Adventure will take you on a light-hearted and informative 35,000-kilometre journey around Australia. It follows the travels of two mates from Sydney, Australia, Phil and Glen, who spent five months on a trip of a lifetime in a four-wheel-drive. The trip started in Sydney and followed a clockwise route around the country. While a lot of thought went into the general route, most of our planning was on the fly, depending on advice from fellow travelers, last minute research, local knowledge or just how we felt at the time. We didn’t go too far off the beaten track, and mixed up accommodation with camping, on-site vans and budget accommodation. Coverage of the country is comprehensive, with a humorous balance of personal experiences, geographical and sociological interpretation, and historical insights. It will appeal to the armchair traveler, the travel professional or anyone considering or planning a trip to regional Australia. I hope this inspires you to see more of this amazing and diverse country, or at least teaches you a little about it, with a few laughs on the way.

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 28, 2016

Reviews

[Sidney E. Carlstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable informative look at Australia. Almost makes you want to fly there, rent a four wheeler & head to the outback. Or as you would say have a ripping good time with my mate & stopping to throw a kangaroo burger on the barbie. You have a beautiful country.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a migrant who came to Australia over a decade ago but never had the chance to travel widely, Girt by Dirt gave me the opportunity to experience the country in a truly Aussie way. The pairing of two mates with starkly different personalities and interests creates unexpected drama and humour—something you wouldn’t typically expect from a travelogue. The author’s clear passion for wine adds a unique flavour to the journey, offering some genuinely interesting (if slightly biased) winery recommendations. The way history is woven throughout the book is engaging and accessible—even for someone like me who doesn’t usually gravitate toward the subject. Overall, this book lives up to its name: it’s grounded, relatable, and still bursting with colour.