Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Australia (8th ed.)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have made four trips to Australia using various versions of this guide. You have to remember that it started off as a backpacker's/ alternative travel guide and has kept the strengths (in depth coverage of offthe beaten track areas) as well as the weaknesses (concentrates on low end travellers) of that approach. It needs to be not just revised and updated but also completely rewritten from scratch. The book is also geared to the traveller who is already in Australia. For example, it is extremely sparing in giving out email addresses and, after all these editions, still does not give the Australian postcodes for places. In its attempt to cover the entire country, it has also gotten very bulky and inconvenient.

I like Lonely Planet and its guides, but I think that it is time for them to either abandon or change the focus of this country-wide guide. In the meantime, I am relying on their series of Australian State guides for my next trip.

I was relatively disappointed with LP's Australia offering - I've been told that The Rough Guide is better. The book provided information typically found in LP guides, but was inadequate in numerous areas - particularly in providing comprehensive lists of tour operators and hostels. As with most LP books, it was short on advice and in-depth information on places, but provided valuable basic information on destinations. It was certainly better than not having a guide, but I missed out on some great opportunities because the guide's information was inadequate.

An excellent read, enjoyed the review of the places of interest, public transport and the flora and fauna of Australia. I decided to totally ignore your advise on Hostels as you where more often than not wrong - I am not sure on what angle you look and inspect the hostels - but it was obvious that you never stayed the night. Apart from that moan I really enjoyed the book - and Have a whole stack of other countries to plough through.

Because Australia is so big.. and there is just so much to see no single book can possibly cover the whole country. That's why lonely planet has published so many titles pertaining to this country.

I think the intention of this book is to give insight into what is available where... then select the relevant lonely planet guide for the area that most interests you.

A lot of people don't know what is where in Aus, as an outline to learn... I think this book serves anyone very very well.

It's much cheaper to buy this book.. and choose where you want to find out more about... than buying the complete series of lonely planet guides in the Australia range.

This book has the sort of nitty-gritty information any would-be tourist or Working - Holiday Visa explorer of Australia will find essential. Whether you want to know if you can get it in a Cairns nightclub ( apparently if you can't get it there there's no hope for you!), which pub to unwind in after a beach-barby, or which bus to take to get to the nearest backpacker's accomodation, you'll find it in here more easily than asking an ozzie local. Which, by the way, should you need to, won't be a problem with the amusing but practical run down on dodgy expressions like 'cobber' and 'stubbie'. Howver, it is more than just a practical run down on entertainment, accomodation and travel. There are accessible potted-guides to history, geography, culture and politics. In addition there are full-colour sections on flora and fauna, and a wonderful aborginal art run-down. And if you get bored, every few pages you'll find a quick 'boxed-aside', telling you concisely everything you need to know, from the Sydney Olympics, to snakes, to buying a car in Australia. Buy it and go there!

the book had an artistacal view and in depth information in some areas, but most over all the book was a very lacking biography type. it needed more info on the perpetual level and needed to be more ribbed. but otherwise a funny, yet witty book. 3 stars

CHECKED IN THE STAFF WERE AMAZING VERY HELPFULL POLITE AND READY TO SERVE YOU AND FULL OF HELPFULL KNOWLEDGE ON ALL THE LOCAL TOURS IN THE AREA AS WELL AS OTHER TOURS IN AUSTRALIA CLEAN AND VERY AFFORDABLE GAMES ROOM TV/CABLE SWIMMING POOL THE BEST THING ABOUT THE HOSTEL IS THAT IT WAS ONLY FIVE MINSTO THE CITY AND THEY GAVE YOU A FREE MEAL EVERY NIGHT AT A RESTURANT COME NIGHT CLUB VERY GOOD PLACE GO AND HAVE A LOOK OR JUST PHONE THEM ON (07)40410249 FROM TWO HAPPY POMMS BACKPACKING AROUND THE WORLD MY RATING FOR THE PLACE IS 5 STARS