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Alistair McGuinness
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A Taste of Australia: Bite-Sized Travels Across a Sunburned Country Paperback – December 8, 2020

4.1 out of 5 stars 151 ratings
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“Alone and afraid, I shook my head in astonishment and tried to sum up the situation. This had to be the most dangerous tourist attraction in Australia, yet there were no disclaimer forms to fill in–no friendly guides to offer advice–no ropes to hold on to–and no adrenaline junkies waiting in line. It was just me–halfway up the tallest climbing tree in the world–holding on for dear life!”

Renowned for its ice-cold beers, endless summers, deadly creatures and friendly locals, Alistair was keen to discover the people and places that make Australia one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. These escapades have taken him to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge and into the searing outback, foraging for bushtucker with an Aboriginal guide. Along the way, he’s experienced the boom and bust of Kalgoorlie, where heat and dust are a way of life and everyone in town knows the price of gold. From the wilds of Tasmania to the bustling laneways of Melbourne and laid-back vibe of Perth, join Alistair as he goes in search of the real Australia, from deserts to the ocean, including the island of Rottnest for the chance to meet the cutest creature on planet earth.
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  1. Print length
    218 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    December 8, 2020
  4. Dimensions
    5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0994316585
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0994316585
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Product details

  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 8, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 218 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0994316585
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0994316585
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.5 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 151 ratings

About the author

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Alistair McGuinness

Alistair McGuinness

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Alistair always had a yearning for adventure but rarely travelled far and wide. This all changed one winters day, when General Motors decided to close the factory gates. He took the payout and grabbed the chance to finally travel the world.

He grew up in suburban Luton (a large cosmopolitan town 30 miles north of London) where childhood adventures required a vivid imagination and often involved garden hopping, knock up ginger or scrumping. Family holidays were spent in Donegal, staying with his Grandmother in their large family home where she had once raised fifteen children.

It was these annual trips that first made Alistair realise that his Great Uncles were Seanachaís (Irish story tellers).

After a few pints of Guinness, twin brothers Great Uncle Barney and Francis would enthral visitors with their recitations of life in the North West of Ireland. Alistair still remembers these magical evenings and now enjoys telling stories of his own.

48 countries and four decades later, Alistair now calls Australia home. He lives between the beach and the forest with his wife, 2 young boys and an adorable dog, called Peppi.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
151 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • hlhzimm
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    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.

    ,
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  • katrig
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Travel Book to OZ Such Memorable Tales
    Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    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.
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  • sarah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Packing My Bags and Moving to Australia
    Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    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.
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  • Melisa0296
    3.0 out of 5 stars Tales from Australia
    Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    This is quite a long book full of memories of travel and life in Australia. There are some really good parts and a few not so good.

    I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the places that they visited, as well as the process to receive a permanent visa to Australia. One of my favorite parts of the book was the side trip on the island in Fiji while they are waiting for the chance to get said visa. The description of the event on the island, from fishing to drinking with locals in a home during a football match were great.

    One thing that bothered me, and truthfully colored the rest of the read for me, was when the author referred to some tourists from Japan with a shortened term. I don’t how it is received in other countries, but in the U.S. it isn’t a term used anymore due to negative connotations.

    All in all, a good read. Maybe a bit long for me. This wasn’t quite my cup of tea, but others might really enjoy it.

    I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Ives fam
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 2, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    As I read this book, I was transported to Australia. I was so engaged, I feel as though I have visited all these magnificent places. They are all now on our Aussie adventure bucket list!
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  • jkrsyd
    2.0 out of 5 stars List of events rather than story telling
    Reviewed in Australia on January 11, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    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....
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  • Lisa Harlow
    4.0 out of 5 stars Australia snapshot
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 26, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    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
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  • Keith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Easy bedtime reading.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Easy reading, entertaining.
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  • Mrs. Olga A. Danes-volkov
    3.0 out of 5 stars Informative but boring
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    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..
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