Watching Wildlife: Australia (Paperback)

by Jane Bennett (Author), Daniel Harley (Author), Marianne Worley (Author), Bec Donaldson (Author), David Andrew (Author), David Geering (Author), Anna Povey (Author), Martin Cohen (Author) "The kangaroo is one of the most instantly recognisable animals on earth and one of Australia's most famous icons..." (more)
Key Phrases: single joey, common ringtail possums, southern boobook, Great Barrier Reef, Top End, Wet Tropics (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Pursuing a platypus? Questing for a quokka? Go bush with this innovative, all-in-one guide to finding, identifying and understanding Australian wildlife.

• Where?

• discover what's there and where to find it
• pinpoint directions and inside tips for the top destinations
• 65 colour maps from cities to national parks

• What?
• over 350 colour wildlife photos show you what's what
• background on natural history, habitats and wildlife in action

• How?
• the lowdown on planning, itineraries, watching technique and gear
• expert advice on photography, whale-watching, birdwatching, diving and night viewing

From the Publisher
"Watching Wildlife Australia" is a treasure trove of practical clues that will help you plan an independent wildlife expedition. Whether you’re an intrepid wilderness bushwalker, a local resident, a group tourist or a specialist familiar with another landscape looking for insights into new terrain – "Watching Wildlife Australia" will give you a wildlife commentary to take on your journey. "Watching Wildlife Australia" is also a perfect addition to any nature lover’s collection and a useful reference tool for students of any age. It will teach you to interpret what you see, whatever your mode of travel.

• discover what’s there and where to find it
• pinpoint directions and inside tips for the top destinations
• use 65 full-color maps, from cities to national parks
• get the lowdown on planning, itineraries, watching techniques and gear
• get expert advice on photography, whale-watching, bird-watching, diving and night viewing

• read background on natural history, habitats and wildlife inaction

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; illustrated edition edition (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1864500328
• ISBN-13: 978-1864500325
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #896,240 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Only Guide Of Its Kind On Australian Wildlife, March 28, 2003

By	Isabelle Quartly (Mt Colah, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

As a wildlife photographer I was very keen to find out where were the easiest places in Australia to see wildlife. This was the only book I have been able to find of this kind. The guide lists the best locations to see wildlife by state, often with very specific details. It also provides a brief description of some of Australia's most popular wildlife and what are the hotspots for viewing that particular species. This guide is not designed to give detailed information on wildlife behavior or physical makeup, it is designed to tell you where you can see wildlife and it does that brilliantly!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Only One - could be more accurate though, June 14, 2006

By	Laszlo Wagner (Hungary) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is the only one available that describes Australia's national parks from a wildlife-watching point of view - other guides available in Australia concentrate on scenic spots and facilities for holidaymakers.
As such, I found it invaluable in pointing out which parks to visit to see a good cross-section of the continent's unique wildlife, and where to try and spot any particular species.
It describes both parks and selected species of Australian wildlife very attractively, with colour illustrations and inspiring text.

Now for the shortcomings:
The information given often turned out to be wishful thinking, making local park rangers laugh.
Just to give two examples: this book claims common wombats are "abundant" in Giraween National Park of Queensland while rangers there said they were so rare they have only seen one in 10 years; it also claims koalas are "common" in Royal NP near Sydney when in fact they are extinct there. And these are two very popular, frequently visited parks!
In general, the book tends to make seeing much of Australia's unique wildlife sound much easier than it actually is.
My other complaint would be that there is almost no practical information of the sort generally provided by other Lonely Planet guides in this book: no information on public transport [hasn't everyone got a car? ;-)], and none on the costs of accomodation or tours.

Then again, since as I said it is the only guide of its kind to watching wildlife in Australia, anyone interested in the topic is well advised to buy a copy. Just don't put too much trust into its accuracy - something that will hopefully improve in a next edition...

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic guide , December 1, 2008

By	Nels (Alaska) - See all my reviews

This is by far the most interesting and valuable travel guide I've ever come across. It's an incredibly rich source of information for anyone wishing to experience the natural world in Australia.

The book has two basic sections: First, a state-by-state guide to specific places, such as national parks and other outstanding areas to see wildlife. And second, a fairly comprehensive overview of Australia's birds, mammals, and other wild animals. Both sections are packed with useful and fascinating information, augmented with excellent maps and photos.

As a committed nature geek who makes frequent and extended trips to Australia, I can't imagine traveling Down Under without this indispensible book. Thanks so much to the authors for doing a great job, and to Lonely Planet for publishing such a fine book. Very strongly recommended!