Backpacker Naturalist: Wild Times Down Under

In this lively travelogue illustrated by the author, a keen naturalist and artist, James Hamlon recounts his travels in search of Antipodean wildlife by first hitchhiking around New Zealand, before moving on to Australia besides of wealth of birds, including the elusive kiwi, Hanlon meeet up with dingoes, seals and whales amongst the myriad creatures, big and small, beautiful and occasionally positively dangerous. He has his fair share of adventures too, some like bungee jumping self-imposed, others guided by the fickle hand of fate. Backpacker Naturalist will engage all those who share a love of nature and adventure and have ever entertained similar notions of going it along "down under".

"Traveller's tales are always interesting and this narrative by Janes Hanlon is no exception. James, a keen naturalist and artist (the book is enhanced by 48 of his own sketches plus 48 colour photographs), recounts his travels in search of Antipodean wildlife by first hitch-hiking around New Zealand before moving on to Australia and Indonesia. [...] Wine, women, and song feature significantly. But there are also many encounters with birds, cetaceans, seals, dingoes and the like. And the reader contemplating similar notions of going it alone 'down under' will gleam much useful information [...]"
- Bryan Bland, Birding World 24(12), January 2012

This is James Hanlon's second book, following his highly successful birding book UK500: Birding in the Fast Lane.