Lonely Planet Australia (Lonely Planet Australia, 10th ed) (Paperback)

by Denis O'Byrne (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
As usual the guidebook standard is set by Lonely Planet

-- Outside

Product Description
Whether you want to walk the Larapinta Trail or dive on Ningaloo, wine and dine in multicultural Melbourne or gaze at the stars in the awesome Outback - you'll find this guide to the continent of extremes indispensable.

Features: 158 maps, including Olympic sites & Outback tracks; full colour features on Aboriginal art, native animals and plants; comprehensive entertainment information, form pubs to opera; hundreds of accommodation options, from bush camping to five star hotels; and Olympic Games section detailing free events & history.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1082 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet; 10th edition (April 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1864500689
• ISBN-13: 978-1864500684
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,633,535 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Unless These Books Bring Back Destinations and Hostel Listings They'll Be Lonely on the Shelves Due to New Better Competitors, December 17, 2005

By	James N Simpson (Gold Coast, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Lonely Planet Australia (Paperback)

Since the late 90's Lonely Planet have been dwindling down the number of destinations and hostel listings in these guides and replacing that space with more five star hotels, fine dining and other useless information backpackers will never use. In this edition Lonely Planet lists the most expensive Hotel in Australia, Palazzo Versace in their Gold Coast accommodation listings. They are so out of touch with their target market now it is not funny.

Buy the Backpackers Ultimate Guide (BUG) Australia instead as it is what Lonely Planet and Lets Go used to be. A comprehensive coverage of all hostels in a destination, not just the one or two that pay to be listed and no weight increasing space taking up useless information that we backpackers do not want to lug around an entire continent.

If you can find an old copy from ten years ago buy it otherwise give Lonely Planet a miss!

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars It is really really really bad travel guide!!!, March 16, 2006

By	Kaifeng Chen "kevin6557" (Aspen, CO, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Lonely Planet Australia (Paperback)

I started to use Lonely Planet 15 years ago. I can say that I am a witness of how much quality deteriorite it has been. I used to just buy it by default. It was a Bible for me. But, a BIG but, this Lonely Planet Australia set a new lowest standard for the series.

First of all, it had so old information. The hostels listed in the book in Sydeny probably were closed more than 5 years ago. One hostel in bondi beach that I wanted to go that was listed in the book. When I showed up in the hotel address, there was a internet café and pub. No hostel at all.

Second. The most unbelieveable of all, the book I have, which is 2004 version, has no mention at all about the Olympic Village in Sydeny. Oh my God! Sydney Olympic was in 2000. Can you believe that after 4 years, they still didn't update it? I was reading it again and again, before I throw this book away to trash can, I still didn't belive that they can omit all the information about Olympic, like the village, the boat to go there, like the stadium... they pretend that there is no such a thing!

I know that Lonely Plante started many years ago in Australia, by some Australian backpackers. So it is a REAL shame that Lonely Planet Australia is so bad. If there is negative score, I will give that. As one star is minimum, I have to give that. But my true belief is that this book deserves negative 5 stars!!!

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for travelers on a budget, December 4, 2000

By A Customer

I just wrote a review of Australia Handbook and decided to have a look at the reviews for Lonely Planet's Australia guide. I bought both books as well as Frommer's and Fodor's guides for my trip to Australia. I have used many Lonely Planet guides through the years, but must agree with the comments of other posted reviews--it is oriented almostly solely to young people out looking for a a job picking fruit and wanting to know the latest nightclub hotspot. I did find the first sections of this book to be thorough on the country's history and what to expect, but as for myself and my wife (40 year olds staying in motels and with a rental car) it was useless once we got there. Lonely Planet is also way behind when it comes to listing websites.

These books may serve budget travelers well, but for my money, it's the Frommer's or Moon book.