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A Taste of Australia: Bite-Sized Travels Across a Sunburned Country
'Get out of the bloody water, mate. There's a tiger snake behind you!'
Within seconds I was on the ledge, breathing hard as I caught sight of the creature. It looked to be a metre long, its banded stripes impossible to miss, as it moved silently across the pond with barely a ripple.
As a newly arrived migrant, Alistair was keen to experience the people and places that make Australia one of the most sought-after holiday destinations on the planet -----and home to the world's cutest animal - the quokka - but also to some of the deadliest.
In A Taste of Australia, the author explores the 'Lucky Country', from the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge to the hippy vibe of the east coast and the boom and bust of Kalgoorlie, where everyone in town knows the price of gold.
Sometimes alone, or with family and friends, these escapades have taken him into the outback, foraging for bushtucker with Aboriginal guides. At other times he's travelled by campervan to Byron Bay and swam alongside turtles over untouched coral. Along the way he's stayed in remote mining camps and discovered a new way of working, where heat and dust are a way of life.
If you enjoy getting off the beaten track, these bite-sized stories will inspire you to travel far and wide - and perhaps to experience a different kind of life. Don't forget to slip on a shirt, slop on the sunscreen, slap on a hat and slide on your sunglasses, before seeking a shady spot to enjoy each tale.
Within seconds I was on the ledge, breathing hard as I caught sight of the creature. It looked to be a metre long, its banded stripes impossible to miss, as it moved silently across the pond with barely a ripple.
As a newly arrived migrant, Alistair was keen to experience the people and places that make Australia one of the most sought-after holiday destinations on the planet -----and home to the world's cutest animal - the quokka - but also to some of the deadliest.
In A Taste of Australia, the author explores the 'Lucky Country', from the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge to the hippy vibe of the east coast and the boom and bust of Kalgoorlie, where everyone in town knows the price of gold.
Sometimes alone, or with family and friends, these escapades have taken him into the outback, foraging for bushtucker with Aboriginal guides. At other times he's travelled by campervan to Byron Bay and swam alongside turtles over untouched coral. Along the way he's stayed in remote mining camps and discovered a new way of working, where heat and dust are a way of life.
If you enjoy getting off the beaten track, these bite-sized stories will inspire you to travel far and wide - and perhaps to experience a different kind of life. Don't forget to slip on a shirt, slop on the sunscreen, slap on a hat and slide on your sunglasses, before seeking a shady spot to enjoy each tale.
301 pages, ebook
Published December 7, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 12, 2021
Travel memoirs and stories are among my favourite book genres, and A Taste of Australia is by far one of the best I’ve read in a long, long time.
The book primarily consists of exciting anecdotes from Alistair and his family’s adventures Down Under. What I particularly like about the book is that Alistair’s writing style is very balanced. It’s detailed but just enough to give the reader an idea of the place/destination so that they can go and someday discover more of it themselves.
Moreover, I truly love the book because it made me feel like I’d known Alistair and his family all my life by the end of it. He shares enough personal information about everyone that it’s easy to relate to the family, which makes reading about their escapades memorable.
Additionally, the content of the travels is varied and so enjoyable. Although I’ve only been to Australia for three weeks, I’ve read about it in detail. Still, there were places and experiences Alistair writes about that I had never heard of.
Weirdly enough, Alistair reminded me of my college friend, Michael. I’ve always been jealous of Michael’s curiosity and inquisitiveness. He is someone who can walk over to a stranger and strike up a conversation about diverse topics. Often I could picture my friend in Alistair as he went about exploring new towns, meeting locals, and learning about life in the outback.
The book does end on a sombre note. Although I already felt a connection with Alistair and his family, it was when the last chapter left me teary-eyed that I knew this was an extraordinary book. I look forward to reading more from Alistair, and I hope to have all his books in my collection one day.
Note: I received an advance review copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book primarily consists of exciting anecdotes from Alistair and his family’s adventures Down Under. What I particularly like about the book is that Alistair’s writing style is very balanced. It’s detailed but just enough to give the reader an idea of the place/destination so that they can go and someday discover more of it themselves.
Moreover, I truly love the book because it made me feel like I’d known Alistair and his family all my life by the end of it. He shares enough personal information about everyone that it’s easy to relate to the family, which makes reading about their escapades memorable.
Additionally, the content of the travels is varied and so enjoyable. Although I’ve only been to Australia for three weeks, I’ve read about it in detail. Still, there were places and experiences Alistair writes about that I had never heard of.
Weirdly enough, Alistair reminded me of my college friend, Michael. I’ve always been jealous of Michael’s curiosity and inquisitiveness. He is someone who can walk over to a stranger and strike up a conversation about diverse topics. Often I could picture my friend in Alistair as he went about exploring new towns, meeting locals, and learning about life in the outback.
The book does end on a sombre note. Although I already felt a connection with Alistair and his family, it was when the last chapter left me teary-eyed that I knew this was an extraordinary book. I look forward to reading more from Alistair, and I hope to have all his books in my collection one day.
Note: I received an advance review copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 13, 2024
A fun memoir/guide to Australia. Some out of the way places to see in addition to the normal sites are reviewed. Also some unusual foods are mentioned. Alistair's adventure though came to an abrupt end! I was looking for more. I think there is a follow-up book.
April 18, 2021
A Taste Of Australia,
I thoroughly enjoyed this reading this book on Australia and the life and places that Alister, Fran, family and friends visit after moving to Australia. Alistair’s journey start after the family leaves England and family behind to start a new adventure with Fran. Alister is not in the country long before his first encounter when assailing down a rock on one of his first adventures, as Alister does not here his guide leaps down and lands in water to the screams of “Get out of the bloody water, mate. There's a tiger snake behind you!'
Alister and his family then travel all over Australia and you will laugh as you read some of the trips, he shares with you as he tells the tales of his trips with family and friends plus also his own journeys as he embraces the country he has emigrated to. Alister will takes you on his work journeys one is a chicken plant and of course the Aussie mines. Both have good tales and experience told by Alister.
Some of the trips are iconic places which Alister travels by Campervan from Sydney Harbour Bridge, Byron Bay, Kalgoorlie, Perth, the outback of Australia with an Aboriginal Guide. Alister then relates the things that happen on these trips and the magical way he describes the places he visits with candid humour will makes you want to grab a backpack and take of to see some yourself.
If you enjoy getting off the beaten track, the stories in this book which are told with humour shall inspire you to experience a different kind of life and after reading this book your next travelling holiday can now be mapped out.
I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to travel to Australia as I am sure it would benefit you and I have already spoken to my hubby as part of our Aussie holiday from New Zealand we have several places we definitely will be visiting thanks to this book. I would love to read more stories on Alistair’s travels.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I thoroughly enjoyed this reading this book on Australia and the life and places that Alister, Fran, family and friends visit after moving to Australia. Alistair’s journey start after the family leaves England and family behind to start a new adventure with Fran. Alister is not in the country long before his first encounter when assailing down a rock on one of his first adventures, as Alister does not here his guide leaps down and lands in water to the screams of “Get out of the bloody water, mate. There's a tiger snake behind you!'
Alister and his family then travel all over Australia and you will laugh as you read some of the trips, he shares with you as he tells the tales of his trips with family and friends plus also his own journeys as he embraces the country he has emigrated to. Alister will takes you on his work journeys one is a chicken plant and of course the Aussie mines. Both have good tales and experience told by Alister.
Some of the trips are iconic places which Alister travels by Campervan from Sydney Harbour Bridge, Byron Bay, Kalgoorlie, Perth, the outback of Australia with an Aboriginal Guide. Alister then relates the things that happen on these trips and the magical way he describes the places he visits with candid humour will makes you want to grab a backpack and take of to see some yourself.
If you enjoy getting off the beaten track, the stories in this book which are told with humour shall inspire you to experience a different kind of life and after reading this book your next travelling holiday can now be mapped out.
I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to travel to Australia as I am sure it would benefit you and I have already spoken to my hubby as part of our Aussie holiday from New Zealand we have several places we definitely will be visiting thanks to this book. I would love to read more stories on Alistair’s travels.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 17, 2021
Reading "A Taste of Australia" by Alistair McGuinness will make you want to pack a bag and start a life of adventure in Australia. As a young twenty-something, Alistair wanted nothing more than adventure, and at the top of his long list of places to explore was Australia. However, life always has other plans, and he accepts a good paying full-time job, and he figures he can always travel during his vacation time. Over the next handful of years he chips away at the places he wants to explore, but Australia remains out of reach until several years later he loses his job. It finally seems like the perfect opportunity to go on an adventure of a lifetime and start over on the other side of the world.
Alistair and his wife, Fran, decide to travel around South America before ultimately making the big move to Australia. They tell themselves they will only stay a few years, but life has a funny way of disregarding our carefully made plans. Alistair and Fran end up spending more than a few years in Australia. They quickly realize Australia is a monstrous country with seemingly endless places and things to explore and are still there seventeen years later.
My only critique of "A Taste of Australia" is how the author quickly moves through some adventures in the earlier parts of the books. I later realized this was because Alistair has already written full-length accounts of his adventures in Africa and South America. So my only critique is that I wanted more of Alistair's work, and and it overjoyed me that there two more books of his adventures to enjoy.
What makes Alistair's written so engaging is how personable and intimate is can be. A common theme throughout the book is Alistair's struggle with feeling like an outsider in Australian society because he originally came from England. During one of my favorite sections of the books, Alistair and a longtime friend from England visits and they go on a tour with an Aboriginal guide. During this quick weekend trip, he gets a close look at the complicated relationship between Australians and the Aboriginals. Within their community they are respected, but outside it, they are outsiders. It has a profound effective on his perspective, and opens his eyes to the complixities of Australian culture and history.
Alistair McGuinness's "A Taste of Australia" is more than just a travel memoir, but the story of a life well lived through all the ups and downs. It is a lesson to keep looking for adventures in your own life, big or small.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Alistair and his wife, Fran, decide to travel around South America before ultimately making the big move to Australia. They tell themselves they will only stay a few years, but life has a funny way of disregarding our carefully made plans. Alistair and Fran end up spending more than a few years in Australia. They quickly realize Australia is a monstrous country with seemingly endless places and things to explore and are still there seventeen years later.
My only critique of "A Taste of Australia" is how the author quickly moves through some adventures in the earlier parts of the books. I later realized this was because Alistair has already written full-length accounts of his adventures in Africa and South America. So my only critique is that I wanted more of Alistair's work, and and it overjoyed me that there two more books of his adventures to enjoy.
What makes Alistair's written so engaging is how personable and intimate is can be. A common theme throughout the book is Alistair's struggle with feeling like an outsider in Australian society because he originally came from England. During one of my favorite sections of the books, Alistair and a longtime friend from England visits and they go on a tour with an Aboriginal guide. During this quick weekend trip, he gets a close look at the complicated relationship between Australians and the Aboriginals. Within their community they are respected, but outside it, they are outsiders. It has a profound effective on his perspective, and opens his eyes to the complixities of Australian culture and history.
Alistair McGuinness's "A Taste of Australia" is more than just a travel memoir, but the story of a life well lived through all the ups and downs. It is a lesson to keep looking for adventures in your own life, big or small.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 23, 2021
I have read some of Alistair‘s previous books and I’ve always found them entertaining. I choose books mainly for the travel stories and Alistair certainly provides some of these, but it’s more than this that I’m giving this book a high rating as I feel that I’ve come to know him and his family and much of this book reads like a section of an autobiography rather than a travel adventure. Having said this he does give some very interesting accounts of the places he visits in Australia and what life is like in Southwest Australia.
March 12, 2021
Unlike many books that gloss over the surface of all that Australia has to offer, Alistair McGuinness takes you on a personal odyssey.
Combining his humour in tales of exploring his adopted country, with poignant snippets of the sacrifices all expats make in settling far away from home, you feel like a family friend, along for the ride.
I for one and waiting to see what Alistair does next in his very interesting life journey.
Combining his humour in tales of exploring his adopted country, with poignant snippets of the sacrifices all expats make in settling far away from home, you feel like a family friend, along for the ride.
I for one and waiting to see what Alistair does next in his very interesting life journey.
December 17, 2024
Even following the chaos of his travels across South America and Africa, McGuinness masterfully details finding the joy in settling down - even when that joy comes from an unexpected source. A heart-warming collection of daily life and gossips from family life, and a lovely discussion of the realities of moving somewhere completely new. Extremely enjoyable read.
July 9, 2024
Interesting and enjoyable
There Is not a lot of excitement in this book, But there are adventures. The story is interesting, Enjoyable and educational. The author has a tremendous Talent for description. I feel as though I shared some of his actual adventures in this book.
,
There Is not a lot of excitement in this book, But there are adventures. The story is interesting, Enjoyable and educational. The author has a tremendous Talent for description. I feel as though I shared some of his actual adventures in this book.
,
August 26, 2024
Australia snapshot
Loved this book, and read in just two sittings! Starts off with Alistair’s life in England and then his journey to a new life in Australia, well written, funny and poignant
Now to download his next travelogue about Australia
Loved this book, and read in just two sittings! Starts off with Alistair’s life in England and then his journey to a new life in Australia, well written, funny and poignant
Now to download his next travelogue about Australia
November 4, 2024
Informative but boring
Very boring read. It was like reading an over-extended travel pamphlet. A litany of what he or they did but nothing else. There was no humour. I find it amazing that the author has managed to get so many books published. Recommend it? I don't think so..
Very boring read. It was like reading an over-extended travel pamphlet. A litany of what he or they did but nothing else. There was no humour. I find it amazing that the author has managed to get so many books published. Recommend it? I don't think so..
April 1, 2024
Good easy read, enjoyable, looking forward to reading the next one!
January 11, 2024
List of events rather than story telling
The events could have been told much more interestingly & Creatively. It was difficult not to get bored when reading and waiting for the interesting part Starb....
The events could have been told much more interestingly & Creatively. It was difficult not to get bored when reading and waiting for the interesting part Starb....
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews