Australian_Geographic_-_February_2016_

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THIS IS WRITER and

naturalist John Blay’s

account of his journey

to rediscover and

reopen the Bundian

Way, a 360km Aboriginal

pathway connecting the

High Country around

Mt Kosciuszko with

the New South Wales

far south coast near

Eden. With the support

and guidance of local

Aboriginal leaders,

John spent more

than a decade exploring these challenging and beautiful

landscapes with little idea as to where, or how far,

he would be walking each day.

On Track: Searching out the Bundian Way,

John Blay, NewSouth Publishing, $39.99 SEVENTY-ONE YEAR OLD John Blay is passionate about the

Australian bush. Born in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta,

he went to live in the forests of Bermagui, on the far south

coast of NSW, in 1970, and has since devoted his career

to writing about his bushwalking experiences. “I’ve

walked most parts of the south-east region of

NSW and I’ve enjoyed its classic walks,” he

says. “Some places nobody else has visited

for a very long time. But nothing prepared

me for the astounding diversity of

landscapes and nature I found along the

Bundian Way. Any time I’m following the

route I feel an intense excitement.”

Author Profile

January. February 111

Reviews Walkabout

WE’RE GIVING away 10 copies of

Oddball: Every underdog has his day,

thanks to Roadshow Entertain-

ment. This inspiring film is based

on the true story of the inventive

chicken farmer from Warrnam-

bool, VIC, who, along with his

granddaughter, trains his dog to

protect the penguins on nearby

Middle Island. You can enter by downloading

the free viewa app and using your smartphone

or tablet to scan this page, or by visiting:

http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/issue130

Competition

THIS FREE APP offers iPhone users a

‘Welcome to Country’ video introduc-

tion to Aboriginal tribes and language

groups across Australia. The app

covers 30 of the 500 or so groups,

and more will be added with future

updates. Developed by Ngarluma man

Tyson Mowarin, the app uses your

phone’s GPS to provide short videos

outlining the basic cultural protocols

for the region closest to you.

Welcome to Country

iPhone app, Weerianna

IN SOUTHWEST WA, there lies a vast Street Media, Free

triangular area of land containing one-third

of Australia’s plant species. It’s been

declared one of the world’s 34 biodiversity

hotspots, and this isolated part of Australia

is considered to be under exceptional

threat from habitat loss. Author and

journalist Victoria Laurie examines the

south-west one area at a time, incorporat-

ing photographs and the testimony of

scientists into her descriptions of the

peculiar characteristics that make this

region so precious.

The Southwest: Australia’s Biodiversity

Hotspot, Victoria Laurie, UWA Publishing, $45

SCIENTIST AND communicator Dr Karl

breaks down some of the biggest

questions you never knew you cared about,

from whether or not the shape of a wine

glass affects a wine’s flavour (it does) to

why synthetic shirts smell after sweating

(it all comes down to bacteria). Skilled at

making science accessible to the public,

Dr Karl’s Short Back & Science is both

entertaining and educational.

Dr Karl’s Short Back & Science,

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Pan Macmillan Australia, $32.99

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