Island have always stirred the human imagination as places of escape, natural beauty and seemingly magical charms. During the past 150 years, islands have also attracted attention as windows to the patterns of evolution. With this understanding has come a recognition of the crucial role islands play in the conservation of species and habitats. Since the break-up of Gondwana 80 million years ago, Australia has itself spawned an astonishing array of outliers, possessing one of the world's most phenomenal collections of offshore habitats.
This book celebrates the spectacular life and times of 24 of these lands apart. Included in the selection are such well-known destinations as Fraser Island, the Whitsundays and Lord Howe Island, together with many examples that are remote and little known, yet no less fascinating. With its vivid portraits of place, its echoes of the past and exquisite glimpses of plant and animal life, this book offers an unforgettable experience. Above all else, it evokes a powerful feeling for the diversity and precious solitude that make islands worthy of being among our most cherished places.
