Big Al spins his yarns of off-road New Zealand with Kiwi humour and a love of the land. He recounts numerous trials and tribulations from hunting expeditions, including cooking dinner with a flame thrower, rats in lunchboxes, accidentally blowing up bridges, snow avalanches, a suicidal Canada goose, and a burial at sea!
'Those of you with a sense of humour, a love of hunting and a liking for yarns about the characters that roam the New Zealand mountains, this book is for you.' With Off the Track, 'Big Al' once again revisits his beloved terrain: yarns of off-road New Zealand. With his characteristic humour and love for the land - and larrikin mates firmly by his side - Al recounts numerous trials and tribulations from recent hunting expeditions, including such things as cooking dinner with a flame thrower, knocking off plenty of pig and deer (and plenty more making a lucky escape), rats in lunchboxes, accidentally blowing up bridges, snow avalanches, a suicidal Canadian goose, and a burial at sea! Also available as an eBook
Stag Doo by Al Lester, the master of the hunting genre, is full of rip-roaring yarns for those with a good keen sense of humour and a love for New Zealand's wild outdoors. Once described as 'Barry Crump meets Fred Dagg', 'Big Al' Lester is the modern-day master of the hunting genre. His books are for those with a good keen sense of humour and a love for New Zealand's wild outdoors. 'Many times I have sat by a campfire with its coarse smoke etching into my eyes and tears streaming down my face. The tears not caused by the smoke, though, but by laughing so hard at the oddball, strange, hilarious or simply outright bizarre yarns told by my hunting mates. It never ceases to amaze me how readily my hunting colleagues and others dob in their mates to disclose their mishaps, balls-ups, cunning plans and frequent disasters. Each story is told with great relish, and often, I suspect, with liberal helpings of embellishment. For every story recounted, the often embarrassed subject gets a right of reply, and in turn dobs in his cobber with an equally or more embarrassing yarn, and so it goes. As the evenings pass and the tide-line in the whisky bottle drops, the yarns get increasingly more hilarious. This book contains a number of yarns gleaned from these fireside sessions, and a few from other interesting characters I have had the good fortune to encounter.' —'Big Al' Lester
Once described as 'Barry Crump meets Fred Dagg', 'Big Al' Lester is the modern-day master of the hunting genre. 'I'm often asked what inspired me to take up writing yarns about the mishaps and mayhem that I have endured while venturing into the New Zealand bush.' 'In truth, I am an average to poor hunter who has had more hunting cock-ups than the rest of the country combined. For every deer I've successfully shot, dozens have escaped only to hide in the bush peering back at me, clearly laughing at my stupidity. I have always managed to see the funny side of the situation and had a good old laugh at myself. I began to wonder if my stuff-ups, with a bit of humour and mayhem thrown in, might just make for good reading – the oddball, unusual, humorous, weird and fun side of hunting – and gave it a go. I must have got something right.'—'Big Al' Lester It's a Bit Rugged, Mate compiles the biggest and best yarns from Big Al's first three books – plenty of fun for those with a good keen sense of humour and a love for New Zealand's wild outdoors. Also available as an eBook
What makes a man turn his back on society? What makes him return? For years a man calling himself Will Power lived in near-total isolation in northern New South Wales, foraging for food, eating bats and occasionally trading for produce. But who was this mysterious man who roamed the forest and knew all of its secrets and riddles? Some people thought he might be Jesus. Others feared he was a more sinister figure. The truth was that he was neither miraculous nor malevolent, but he was, most certainly, gifted. And when he finally emerged from the forest, emaciated and close to death, he was determined to reclaim his real name and ‘give society another chance’. Today, Dr Gregory Peel Smith, who left school at the age of fourteen, has a PhD and teaches in the Social Sciences at university. His profoundly touching and uplifting memoir is at once a unique insight into how far off track a life can go and powerful reminder that we can all find our way back if we pause for a moment in the heart of the forest.
Offering a comprehensive guide to economical travel in diverse regions of the world, these innovative new versions of the popular handbooks feature an all-new look, sidebars highlighting essential tips and facts, information on a wide range of itineraries, transportation options, off-the-beaten-path adventures, expanded lodging and dining options in every price range, additional nightlife options, enhanced cultural coverage, shopping tips, maps, 3-D topographical maps, regional culinary specialties, cost-cutting tips, and other essentials.
The Rough Guide to New Zealand is the essential guide to this spectacular country, with lively coverage of its coolest cafés, most vibrant nightlife, best sights and hotels and tastiest restaurants and bars. Everyone from the country rambler to the fearless adventurer, wine buffs to Lord of the Rings fanatics are catered for in this comprehensive guide; with colour sections providing a guide to New Zealand's highlights - whether exploring Maori culture, getting stuck into adventure sports or keying into the country's unique ecology. There's thorough coverage of New Zealand's magnificent scenery: craggy coastlines, sweeping beaches, primeval forests, snow-capped mountains and bubbling volcanic mud pools. You'll also find historical and cultural information - even teaching you how to do the world-famous haka. The Rough Guide to New Zealand is rounded off with detailed town maps to help you get around and stunning photography that brings this extraordinary country to life. Make the most of your time on earth with The Rough Guide to New Zealand.