Bill Bryson is a delightful travel writer. Unfailingly cheerful, he brings a childlike wonder to out-of-the-way places, of which there are many in Australia. In addition to sharing his impressions, he relates quite a bit of the background and significance of his destinations. With a bibliography of over sixty titles at the end, it's clear he was doing some research for his later book on the sciences. Much attention is given to the many ways one can die or be maimed by Australian wildlife.

Anecdotes from his traveling experience -- immense road trips dodging road trains, looking for food in rough bars, and "singularly execrable" accommodations -- prove the wisdom of Cervantes: El camino es siempre mejor que la posada.