Books by Alistair Mcguinness

''Get out of the bloody water, mate. There''s a tiger snake behind you!''Within seconds I was on the ledge, breathing hard as I caught sight of the creature. It looked to be a metre long, its banded stripes impossible to miss, as it moved silently across the pond with barely a ripple.As a newly arrived migrant, Alistair was keen to experience the people and places that make Australia one of the most sought-after holiday destinations on the planet ­­­­­and home to the world''s cutest animal - the quokka - but also to some of the deadliest. In A Taste of Australia, the author explores the ''Lucky Country'', from the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge to the hippy vibe of the east coast and the boom and bust of Kalgoorlie, where everyone in town knows the price of gold.Sometimes alone, or with family and friends, these escapades have taken him into the outback, foraging for bushtucker with Aboriginal guides. At other times he''s travelled by campervan to Byron Bay and swam alongside turtles over untouched coral. Along the way he''s stayed in remote mining camps and discovered a new way of working, where heat and dust are a way of life.If you enjoy getting off the beaten track, these bite-sized stories will inspire you to travel far and wide - and perhaps to experience a different kind of life. Don''t forget to slip on a shirt, slop on the sunscreen, slap on a hat and slide on your sunglasses, before seeking a shady spot to enjoy each tale.

Is it possible to cycle 1,000 miles across Britain in 13 days and still find the time to slow down and enjoy the ride? Twenty years after riding from Land’s End to John O’Groats, Alistair set out with his friends to repeat the adventure and quickly discovered that times have changed. Bike computers have replaced maps and thousands of cycle paths now criss-cross Britain. It didn’t help that he now lives in Australia and spends more time on a paddle board than two wheels. With little training and a borrowed bike, he set off from Land’s End, determined to enjoy every moment. Faced with so many natural distractions he soon began deviating from the plan. With many miles to cover, along remote tracks, these diversions came at a price and something had to break. Would it be the bike, the camaraderie or Alistair’s inquisitive nature? Along the way he survived heatstroke in Devon, went in search of a lady called Daphne and braved wild storms in Glasgow. After a swim in Loch Ness he found time to enjoy a beer in one of the remotest pubs in Scotland. Everyone who travels across Britain has a story to tell. This is Alistair’s.If you like travel books, you’ll enjoy this inspirational story, which shows that with luck, curiosity and perseverance, anything is possible.