|
Australia: Guidebook Reviews
by Richard Steel
 Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet's Outback Australia is simply the best because it is a complete guide specifically tailored to the Outback, rather than just being a section in an otherwise comprehensive country guide. Rarely do we find fault with Lonely Planet's format, practical advice, organization, or insight. This edition, printed in early 1998 still holds excellent information, if not totally up to date. Valued inclusions like the compact Geology sections and flora and fauna descriptions are to the point and interesting. The fact that Lonely Planet started in Australia is not lost on us here; they really make use of their local knowledge and produce the most outstanding and comprehensive book on the region. The guide is packed tight with information, has excellent desert maps and even includes a special section on how to prepare for an Outback four-wheel drive adventure. They mention everything on their checklist from tea towels to gasket cement. I can rest assured that student travelers can feel at home with a Lonely Planet guidebook nestled in their packs. It is well worth its price.
ISBN: 0-86442-504-X
$21.95
www.lonelyplanet.com
 Rough Guides
Rough Guides publishes the most easily readable guidebook, with the most detailed descriptions of Australian culture and history. Heavily laden with text, there is a reasonable amount of useful information in this guide. Included are simple and easy to follow accommodation listings and up to date information on activities. The book is a guide to Australia in its entirety and has only so much space for information on the Red Center. Lacking distracting advertisements, the main oversight I found in this otherwise adequate guidebook was the need of a highlighted edge tab, which would allow the reader to thumb to a particular section faster. Rough Guide's consistent brash style and brutally honest reviews are well appreciated and have made them a favorite among young travelers. This is a decent handbook for the traveler looking to explore only the main highlights of the Outback.
ISBN 1-85828-461-9
$21.95
www.roughguides.com
 Fodor's
Fodor's Exploring Australia promises a smart, fun and informative read - for an eight-year-old! Stuffed with pictures, the book makes one wonder why even go, it's as if we had seen it all already after perusing the guide. Most of the text is a cursory listing of interesting sites with little or no helpful detail. There are a lot of color pictures throughout the book that try to make up for the flat text and, unfortunately, the guide falls short on most other criteria as well. While reasonably easy to navigate, it (like the Rough Guide) lacks the highlighted edge tab, which would allow the reader to thumb to a particular section quicker. It is a pretty book; fun, colorful and concise. But with only twenty-two pages devoted to the Outback (a dollar per page as it turns out), save yourself a nickel and buy the Lonely Planet version instead. This volume might get you excited to go, but it is hard to recommend it for anything more than the coffee table. We had expected more from Fodor's. ISBN 0-679-00472-6 $22.00
ISBN: 0679004106
$19.50
www.fodors.com
|
