Aboriginal Art  •  Wally Caruana ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 239 PAGES This well illustrated survey of Aboriginal art, ancient and modern, focuses on the spiritual and geographic sources of art and ritual traditions in Australia. It covers the range of art from all parts of the continent, including a chapter on the Wandjina rock art of the Kimberley region. The concise text is augmented by 187 well produced black-and-white and color illustrations. (AUS14, $14.95)
Adventuring in New Zealand, The Sierra Club Travel Guide to the Pearl of the Pacific  •  Margaret Jefferies GUIDEBOOK •  2000 •  PAPER  • 542 PAGES An overview of the culture, geography and especially the natural history of New Zealand, suitable for anyone with an interest in the outdoors. With some practical information on where to go, what to see and where to stay. It includes 25 maps and 15 illustrations. (NZL11, $20.00)
Albatrosses  •  W. L. N. Tickell NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 480 PAGES A complete and illustrated account of the albatross by British biologist naturalist W.L.N. Tickell. Organized geographically, he covers the biology and natural history of all 13 species of Diomedeidae, the most oceanic of birds. With numerous charts, graphs, an extensive bibliography, and a section of color photographs, many by the author. (FG49, $70.00)
Auckland Map  •  Periplus Maps REFERENCE •  2006 •  MAP A city map of Aukland published by Periplus for the traveler. (NZL27, $12.95)
Australasia Map  •  Bartholomew Maps MAP A colorful map of the region from Australia to Samoa, including Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and many Pacific Islands. Shows relief on land, as well as ocean depth. Scale 1:8.5 Million. (AUS61, $13.95)
Australia, A Traveler's Literary Companion  •  Robert Ross ANTHOLOGY •  1998 •  PAPER  • 256 PAGES Arranged geographically, this collection of mostly local writers is an excellent overview of the cultures, geography and mindset of Australia. It includes stories by Patrick White, Peter Carey and other luminaries, as well as transcriptions of several aboriginal myths. (AUS38, $13.95)
Birds of the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic  •  George E. Watson FIELD GUIDE •  1975 •  HARD COVER  • 350 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE A compact, comprehensive guide to the birds of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean Islands published by the American Geophysical Union, long the standard. With color plates, range maps, detailed species accounts and an excellent geographic overview of islands and habitats in the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic. (ANT99, $25.95)
Culture Smart! New Zealand  •  Peter Oettli GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 168 PAGES A concise, well-illustrated and practical guide to local customs, etiquette and culture. (NZL75, $9.95)
Daisy Bates in the Desert: A Woman's Life Among the Aborigines  •  Julia Blackburn BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1995 •  PAPER  • 232 PAGES In this wonderfully original biography, tBlackburn recreates the life of Daisy Bates (1861-1951), who abandoned her comfortable surroundings in 1913 to live for 30 years in the wilderness. It opens memorably "There was once a woman who lived in the desert" -- setting an appropriate tone for a book which artfully combines biography, fiction and history. Blackburn consulted the archives and interviewed contemporaries to create this absorbing portrait of a fascinating character. (AUS37, $13.00)
Diving and Snorkeling Guide to Australia's Great Barrier Reef  •  Len Zell FIELD GUIDE •  2006 •  PAPER  • 144 PAGES A practical, illustrated guide to diving and snorkeling sites in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Outer Coral Sea and Torres Strait. With a short overview of the marine setting, ecology, coral reefs and inhabitants. The 17 maps, and many aerial and underwater color photographs are reason enough for an interested diver or snorkerler to buy this slim book. (AUS27, $24.99)
The Fatal Shore  •  Robert Hughes HISTORY •  1988 •  PAPER  • 752 PAGES • FAVORITE A celebrated social history, both scholarly and entertaining. Hughes traces the fate of those who were transported to the penal colonies of Australia between 1787 and 1868 in this engaging popular account, drawn from the experiences of the colonists themselves. A precursor to the gulags and prison camps of the 20th century, the British penal colonies in Australia are an oft-forgotten experiment in 19th century social reform and colonization. While the colonies were concentrated mainly in small coastal sections of New South Wales and Tasmania, the book helps elucidate how this first chapter in their history was the most vital factor in defining the early Australian character. (AUS04, $18.95)
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia  •  Ken Simpson  •  Nicholas Day FIELD GUIDE •  2005 •  PAPER  • 440 PAGES A handbook and field guide to Australia's birds with 2,000 vivid color illustrations, each accompanied by a brief description and revised range map. This more compact seventh edition features 16 new or revised color plates, new maps and condensed information. (AUS06, $39.50)
Fiordland Underwater, New Zealand's Hidden Wilderness  •  Paddy Ryan  •  Chris Paulin NATURAL HISTORY •  1998 •  HARD COVER  • 192 PAGES (NZL58, $34.95)
Fodor's Exploring Australia  •  Michael Ivory GUIDEBOOK •  2007 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES This excellent, up-to-date guide will take you Down Under with ease -- and style. With maps, illustrations and unusually solid information on features of cultural, historical and natural interest. (AUS29, $22.00)
Fodor's New Zealand  •  Fodor's GUIDEBOOK •  2008 •  PAPER  • 596 PAGES A practical guide featuring suggested itineraries, recommended restaurants, shops and hotels, and good coverage of outdoor activities. (NZL56, $22.95)
The Future Eaters, An Ecological History of the Australasian Lands and People  •  Tim F. Flannery NATURAL HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 432 PAGES An ecological history of the region, focusing on human impact on local environments and animal populations in the recent geologic past. Flannery, the prolific author of "Throwim' Way Leg," as well as many more books (often about nature and/or Australia), sets out a powerful tale, none too flattering about the intelligence or foresight of our own species. (AUS48, $16.00)
Gap in Nature, Discovering the World's Extinct Animals  •  Tim F. Flannery  •  Peter Schouten SCIENCE •  2001 •  HARD COVER  • 184 PAGES An illustrated, informative tribute to 103 species that have perished in the last 500 years. Not surprisingly, islands are well represented, including (famously) the dodo which once roamed the forests of Mauritius and many birds and mammals from New Zealand. Flannery and Schouten, who visited museums around the world to see specimens and collect information, focus on animals that could be realistically re-created. The paintings, which are spectacular, were all drawn at life size in the original. Organized by date of extinction from the Upland Moa (1500), Dodo (1681) and Steller's Sea Cow (1768) to the Passenger Pigeon (1914), Darwin's Rice Rat (1929) and Guam Flying-fox (1974). (SCI55, $34.95)
Joseph Banks, A Life  •  Patrick O'Brian BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1997 •  PAPER  • 328 PAGES A fine biography of naturalist and explorer Joseph Banks by one of our great writers of the sea. O'Brian's account of the three-year voyage of the Endeavor -- and the discovery of Australia -- is particularly good. Chapters cover globe-trotting botanical adventures with James Cook and others in Polynesia, Australia & New Zealand, Iceland, England and France. With a few maps, engravings and illustrations. (AUS47, $18.00)
Lonely Planet New Zealand  •  Lonely Planet GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 772 PAGES The most comprehensive guide to New Zealand, this hefty book includes maps, a new color section on flora and fauna, and an extensive overview of the culture, history and nature of the archipelago. You'll also find the usual detailed treatment of accommodations, restaurants and sightseeing. (NZL21, $25.99)
Maori Tattooing  •  H.G. Robley ART & ARCHITECTURE •  2004 •  PAPER  • 240 PAGES A new unabridged edition of the classic, illustrated sourcebook on Maori tattooing (moko), first published in 1896 and featuring black-and-white photographs and drawings by the author. Robley (1840-1930), who recognized that the traditional art of tattooing was endangered (along with the Maori themselves), pays scrupulous attention to the intricate patterns, design and cultural meaning of traditional Maori tattoos. Robley, a talented artist who had served in the British army in New Zealand, lived among Ngati Tapu at Matapihi from 1864 to 1866. (NZL67, $12.95)
Miles from Nowhere, A Round the World Bicycle Adventure  •  Barbara Savage TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1985 •  PAPER  • 340 PAGES The adventures of a beginning cyclist and her husband who cover 23,000 miles and 25 countries in two years. The personal, unpretentious writing captures the colorful characters that cross the path of this young couple and the flavor of the countries they traverse. Sadly, Barbara Savage died in a cycling accident training for the triathlon upon her return home as the book was going to press. (BCY02, $16.95)
The Nature of Penguins  •  Jonathan Chester NATURAL HISTORY •  2001 •  PAPER  • 112 PAGES Expedition leader, author and photographer Jonathan Chester presents a beautiful collection of full-color penguin photographs along with accompanying essays on these much-loved birds. (ANT19, $17.95)
North Island New Zealand Map  •  HEMA Maps MAP A reference map of New Zealand's North Island at a scale of 1:1,000,000. (NZL74, $10.95)
Odyssey Guide New Zealand  •  Elisabeth Booz GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 304 PAGES An illustrated, literate guide to New Zealand and its attractions for the visitor, much enhanced by color photography and maps. Compact, but includes background on culture and natural history. (NZL20, $21.95)
Penguin Planet: Their World, Our World  •  Kevin Schafer NATURAL HISTORY •  2000 •  HARD COVER  • 144 PAGES • HARD TO FIND ELSEWHERE A collection of 112 stunning color photographs of penguins around the world. Schafer, a veteran naturalist and expedition leader, has photographed these much-loved birds on voyages to the Antarctic, Sub-Antarctic islands, Galapagos, and South Africa. Schafer also wrote the accompanying text. Winner of the 2000 National Outdoor Book Award. (ANT131, $49.95)
Penguins  •  Lloyd Spencer David  •  Martin Renner NATURAL HISTORY •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 232 PAGES A concise, comprehensive overview of the penguins, their evolution, ecology and behavior. With line drawings, figures, charts and black-and-white photographs. A volume in a series of monographs on birds published by T & AD Poyser in Britain. Spencer, who has done field work on Erect-crested, Yellow-eyed and other New Zealand penguins is a professor at the University of Otago in Dunedin. (ANT207, $42.00)
The Road from Coorain  •  Jill Ker Conway BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR •  1990 •  PAPER  • 238 PAGES A literate, absorbing memoir of girlhood on a sheep ranch in New South Wales and coming of age in post-war Sydney. Conway, who left Australia and eventually became president of Smith College, paints a vivid picture of isolation and beauty -- and of the challenges of a bright, ambitious woman growing up Australian. (AUS03, $12.95)
Seabirds of the World, A Photographic Guide  •  Peter Harrison FIELD GUIDE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 317 PAGES • COMING IN A field edition of Harrison's definitive seabird identification guide, featuring 740 color photographs. It illustrates all the world's seabirds, many in a variety of plumages. The book also contains a convenient key to identifying the confusing albatrosses, petrels and other tubenoses, as well as range maps and information about habitats and distribution. This is the book that you'd carry on any sea voyage; our ten-year-old edition has been everywhere. (FG16, $29.95)
Seabirds, An Identification Guide  •  Peter Harrison FIELD GUIDE •  1985 •  PAPER  • 448 PAGES • COMING IN Much more than a field guide, this essential reference includes detailed descriptions of all the world's seabirds, full-color paintings of adult and juvenile birds and keys to identification. It's definitive, authoritative and weighs in at over a pound. The late Roger Tory Peterson called its publication "a red letter day for the field glass fraternity." Also available is Harrison's more portable Field Guide to Seabirds of the World. (FG01, $32.00)
The Snorkeller's Guide to the Coral Reef, From the Red Sea to the Pacific Ocean  •  Paddy Ryan  •  Peter Atkinson NATURAL HISTORY •  1994 •  PAPER  • 184 PAGES An illustrated overview of coral reefs, coral reef fishes, invertebrates and plants of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, this compact book is an excellent resource for anyone thinking of exploring the underwater world. Beginners will appreciate the chapters on learning to snorkel, reef etiquette, photography hints and first aid. With 200 color photographs. (DIV18, $19.95)
The Songlines  •  Bruce Chatwin CULTURAL PORTRAIT •  1988 •  PAPER  • 294 PAGES • FAVORITE This celebrated travelogue is as much about its gifted author -- and the meaning of travel -- as about the Aboriginal people and their ways of life. In this unusual book, Chatwin combines straightforward reporting, history, dream-time stories, and a heady mix of quotations from his notebooks. Along the way, he transforms a journey through the outback into an exhilarating, semi-fictional meditation on our place in the world. (AUS01, $15.00)
South Island Map  •  HEMA Maps MAP A handsome map of New Zealand's South Island at the scale of 1:1,000,000. With good topographic relief, roads and index. Traveling distances between major points of interest are indicated. (NZL24, $10.95)
Southern Exposure  •  Chris Duff TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  2003 •  PAPER  • 264 PAGES In this book, subtitled "A Solo Sea Kayaking Journey Around New Zealand's South Island," seasoned kyacker Chris Duff challenges the waters of the Pacific while ruminating on the beauty of New Zealand's coast and people. (NZL63, $17.95)
Southern Land, Southern People  •  Neville Peat NATURAL HISTORY •  2002 •  PAPER  • 48 PAGES This book celebrates the gallery of the same name at the Otago Museum in Dunedin, which opened in August 2002. It's a short, illustrated overview of the people, geology, fossil record, climate, and the flora and fauna of southern New Zealand with a focus on the Otago Region. (NZL66, $14.95)
Southern Night Sky  •  Pocket Naturalist FIELD GUIDE •  2001 •  PLASTIC CARD A glow in the dark laminated card showing the most conspicuous stars, constellations and celestial objects of the Southern Hemisphere. (SCI30, $5.95)
The Southern Sky Guide  •  David Ellyard SCIENCE •  2001 •  PAPER  • 82 PAGES A primer of the southern sky for the amateur astronomer. With 24 outstanding charts by Wil Tirion and an introductory chapter on skywatching. (SCI05, $16.99)
Spinners  •  Antony McCarten LITERATURE •  2000 •  PAPER  • 288 PAGES A striking and imaginative debut novel from New Zealand playwright Antony McCarten, this book deals with extraterrestrial visits, teenage pregnancy, overworked meat-packing high school girls, and small town life, if not necessarily in that order. Through these seemingly random occurrences, McCarten weaves an amazing mystery with as much poignancy as intrigue. (NZL35, $13.95)
Trailblazer New Zealand, Great Walks  •  Alexander Stewart GUIDEBOOK •  2004 •  PAPER  • 272 PAGES A guide to recommended walks and treks with 50 trail maps, plenty of practical information and an overview of the nature and history of New Zealand. With city guides to Aukland and Wellington along with sections on trip planning and camping. (NZL68, $19.95)
Tramping in New Zealand  •  Lonely Planet GUIDEBOOK •  2006 •  PAPER  • 400 PAGES A thorough guide hiking in New Zealand, featuring descriptions of 50 multi-day treks, dozens of two-color topo maps, and good information on getting the most out of your adventures on foot. There's no better place on Earth than New Zealand for enthusiastic walkers. (NZL10, $21.99)
The Trial of the Cannibal Dog, The Remarkable Story of Captain Cook's Encounters in the South Seas  •  Anne Salmond HISTORY •  2003 •  HARD COVER  • 536 PAGES An intriguing history of the voyages of Captain Cook with a focus on the relationship between the Pacific islanders and seafaring Englishmen. Salmond describes how mutual curiosity turned into animosity, culminating in the death of Captain Cook in Hawaii. (PAC138, $30.00)
Two Wheels Around New Zealand  •  Scott Bischke TRAVEL NARRATIVE •  1996 •  PAPER  • 286 PAGES An amiable account of travels through New Zealand by bicycle with Scott and Kate. With route maps and some back-and-white photographs. (NZL18, $12.95)
Volcanoes, Fire From the Earth  •  Maurice Krafft NATURAL HISTORY •  1993 •  PAPER  • 175 PAGES • COMING IN A volume in the acclaimed Discoveries series, this lavishly illustrated pocket-size encyclopedia is an overview of volcanoes and volcanology by the great French scientist (who died on the job on Mount Unzen in Japan in 1991). It's a history of our understanding of volcanoes, a profile of some of the most famous examples, and an excellent introduction to how they are formed. (GEO06, $12.95)
Voyage of the Beagle  •  Charles Darwin EXPLORATION •  2002 •  PAPER  • 468 PAGES • BEST SELLER • FAVORITE The wide-eyed tale of a young man on a five-year voyage that changed his life -- and our way of thinking about the world. First published in 1839, this book is still essential reading. Darwin's South American chapters are an excellent introduction to the Galapagos, Beagle Channel, Chile, Tierra del Fuego, the Chilean fjords and the Brazilian coast. With maps and appendices. (GPS02, $12.95)
Wake of the Invercauld, Shipwrecked in the Sub-Antarctic: A Great-Granddaughter's Pilgrimage  •  Madelene Ferguson Allen EXPLORATION •  1997 •  HARD COVER  • 256 PAGES Robert Holding was one of only three young sailors to survive being shipwrecked in 1864 on the Auckland Islands south of New Zealand. This is his story of survival and exploration as told by his great-granddaughter who twice ventured to these remote shores to trace his fate. Allen interweaves her own research and travels to the region with excerpts from Holding's 19th-century diary of the shipwreck. With modern and archival photographs. (NZL31, $60.00)
Whale Rider  •  Niki Caro 2003 •  DVD The acclaimed screen adaptation of the novel by Witi Ihimaera. Faced with rejection from her family and her village, a young girl in New Zealand is determined to prove that she is meant to be a leader within her tribe. (NZL70, $26.95)
Wild Central, A Natural History of Central Otago  •  Brian Patrick  •  Neville Peat NATURAL HISTORY •  1999 •  PAPER  • 160 PAGES A natural history of South Island's ecologically distinct central region by the "Wild Fiordland" author/photographer team. Peat and Patrick cover geology, climate, botany, entomology and some exquisite vistas in this handsome book. (NZL44, $39.95)