Memoirs by Australian Adventurers and Explorers

Picture this: a young woman leading four camels across 2,700 kilometres of Australian desert, completely alone except for the occasional visit from a National Geographic photographer. When Robyn Davidson set off on this journey in 1977, people called her mad. Her memoir "Tracks" proves she was anything but.

Davidson's raw account of crossing from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean sets the tone for this collection of Australian adventure memoirs - stories that push against the boundaries of what's possible, sensible, or even survivable. Each book here captures that peculiarly Australian blend of determination and self-deprecating humour in the face of extraordinary circumstances.

"In the Land of Plenty" sees Tim Flannery recount his decades exploring Papua New Guinea's remote highlands, discovering new mammal species whilst navigating both physical dangers and cultural complexities. His scientist's eye brings a different flavour to adventure writing - where Davidson is introspective, Flannery is observational, turning his gaze outward to the remarkable biodiversity around him.

The collection takes an unexpected turn with "Alone on the Wall" by Alex Honnold. Wait, isn't he American? Indeed, but this rock-climbing memoir earned its spot through its Australian connection - Honnold's most death-defying free solo climbs include routes in the Blue Mountains that local climbers still speak of in hushed tones.

Jessica Watson's "True Spirit" brings us back to the ocean, chronicling her solo sail around the world at just sixteen. Her voice carries the enthusiasm of youth tempered by moments of genuine terror - imagine being knocked down in mountainous seas, alone, thousands of miles from help. Beck Weathers' "Left for Dead" delivers the most harrowing tale, his first-hand account of surviving the 1996 Everest disaster after being abandoned in a blizzard, presumed dead.

"Solo" by Vicky McAulay rounds out the collection with her account of crossing Bass Strait in a sea kayak - a journey that seems almost modest compared to Everest or solo circumnavigation, until you realise the Strait's reputation as one of the world's most treacherous waterways.

For those new to adventure memoirs, start with "Tracks" - Davidson's introspection makes her extreme journey surprisingly relatable. Armchair travellers who prefer their adventures with scientific insights should begin with Flannery. If you're drawn to stories of survival against impossible odds, Weathers' account will leave you breathless.

These aren't just tales of physical endurance. They're explorations of why some people feel compelled to push beyond the edge of the map, even when home offers plenty of unexplored territory. After all, in a country where the Outback alone could swallow several European nations, going to the ends of the Earth might just be a natural progression.