Travelogue into outback Australia following the footsteps of explorers such as Leichardt, Sturt, Strehlow and Giles. Gives biographical details drawing on historical letters, journals and maps to piece together motivations and personality of explorers. Recounts characters met and trials faced as author retraced their steps in five journeys. Author who lives in the Northern Territory is a journalist for the 'Australian' as well as a novelist.