Epic Drives of the World book

There are plenty of guide books about travel destinations, but this quality new hardback from Lonely Planet is designed as much to inspire as inform.

Designed to get you off the couch and behind the wheel, ‘Epic Drives of the World’ features 50 famous and not so famous road trips around the globe, including six in Australia.

The coffee table-style book avoids turn-by-turn directions – instead focussing on the joy of the journey via superb photography and entertaining, first person travel writing. To make it more interesting a variety of vehicles are used, from electric cars to motorhomes and vintage automobiles.

Like any good road trip, the focus is on remaining independent, with the option to stop off or take a detour at any time. In other words, it’s all about the bits between ‘A’ and ‘B’, unlike the monotonous daily commute.

The six ‘epic’ Australian drives featured in the book include Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, Tasmania’s Hobart to Queenstown, West Australia’s Gibb River Road, Queensland’s Captain Cook Highway, the Great Alpine Road through Victoria’s High Country, and the Alice Springs to Darwin ‘Track’ through the Northern Territory.

It’s not completely devoid of practical information, with each chapter ending with a few ‘fast facts’, including total distance, best time to go, and suggestions on where to stay and eat. There are also suggestions on other, similar road trips, with the Simpson Desert, Gunbarrel Highway and Canning Stock Route offered as Outback alternatives to the dusty Gibb River Road.

Other thrilling road trips take place in Africa, Asia, Europe and New Zealand, ranging from a self-drive safari in Zambia (roof-top tent compulsory!), to following the skid marks of Italy’s Targa Florio and winding up Norway’s majestic North Coast. Of course, America’s legendary Route 66 and Pacific Coast Highway are included.

The book should appeal as much to the dreamers as the doers planning their next self-drive travel adventure, either locally or overseas. If we have one criticism it’s that the text could be slightly larger to cater for those with less than 20:20 vision, but you can’t complain about the size or choice of photography.

RRP is $44.99, although we’ve seen it for $24 at one online bookseller.