Our Favorite Books Set in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji
Literary inspiration for a South Pacific journey.
November 13, 2026
5 minute read
For most people, a trip to the South Pacific is an epic journey. And for book lovers, that means you’ll need plenty to read: books set in Australia; books set in New Zealand; books for long flights; and books that make reading time feel like part of the adventure.
Here is my short list of books to read before a trip to Australia, with picks for Tasmania, New Zealand, and Fiji as well. After all, if you fly all that way, you’ll want to see more than one country.
Haven’t booked your trip yet? Collette offers guided tours that range from New Zealand itineraries to a complete South Pacific tour. See all Australia and New Zealand tours.
Books Set in Australia
Travel Memoirs
Start your trip early with these books about Australia penned by fellow travellers.
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
Laugh at Bryson’s misadventures while learning about Australia’s history, geography, and wildlife. Wit and humour make this chronicle of his trips to Australia a delightful and informative read.
Tracks: A Woman's Solo Trek across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback by Robyn Davidson
Follow Robyn on an incredible nine-month journey across the Australian Outback with four camels and her dog, Diggity. If that leaves you craving more, photographer Rick Smolan pairs images from Davidson’s journey with stills from the motion picture in Tracks: Robyn Davidson's Solo Journey Across the Outback.
Historical Fiction
This is my favourite genre to read while I’m travelling. You get a great story and some historical context for the places you visit.
Jessica by Bryce Courtenay
Experience the harsh Australian Outback around the time of WWI through the eyes of a young girl fighting against social conventions. This heavy family saga delves into Australia’s history to explore social injustice, prejudice, and resilience.
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
Lose yourself in the beautiful writing of Australian author Kate Morton as she draws you into a family mystery that spans generations, moving from Australia to Dickensian England and back. While most of the story takes place in England, it nicely ties England and Australia into a delightful read. One of my favorites.
Tasmanian History
Tasmania is an island state of Australia where you can still see remnants of its history as a penal colony.
The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline
Explore Tasmania’s history as a penal colony through the experiences of three women: a disgraced governess, a midwife, and the orphaned daughter of an Aboriginal chief. Readers praise the writing style, characters, and historical detail that reveals this lesser-known side of Tasmania.
Gould's Book of Fish by Richard Flanagan
Meet William Buelow Gould, sentenced to life in prison on Sarah Island in the penal colony of Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania). Told from Gould’s perspective, this work of historical fiction adds a dash of magical realism as he unravels under the strain.
Airplane Read for Australia
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
Pop on your noise-cancelling headphones and lose track of time with this dark comedy. Unlike the HBO series, the book is set in the fictional Australian suburb of Pirriwee. Regularly described as addictive and unputdownable, it’s a delicious read for a long flight.
Books Set in New Zealand
New Zealand offers a completely different setting, worthy of its own book list and a place in your travel plans.
Autobiography
Lucky: A Kiwi Memoir by Scott Nelson
Gen Xers, this one is for you. Nelson gives a hilarious account of growing up in New Zealand in the 1980s and ’90s, from his childhood through his journey to becoming a journalist. Note that this book is also titled Lucky: A New Zealand Memoir.
Historical Mystery With an Astrological Twist
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
Pay close attention as you unravel this slow-burn historical mystery. Catton uses astrology to weave a cast of characters and clues into a complex mystery. Plan to finish this one before your tour. At more than 800 pages, it’s too big to carry with you!
Airplane Read for New Zealand
The Accidental Plus One Down Under: Travel Tales from a Trailing Spouse by Alison Ripley Cubitt
Join the adventure as Cubitt follows her partner on an untimely move to Australia in 2019. Part of her Accidental Plus One series, this is a fun read covering pandemic lockdowns and post-pandemic travel to Tasmania and New Zealand.
Books Set in Fiji
This island country north of New Zealand is available—and highly recommended—as an extension to all of Collette’s South Pacific tours.
For Fans of the Underdog
Sevens Heaven: The Beautiful Chaos of Fiji's Olympic Dream by Ben Ryan
Get swept away in this heartwarming sports tale, which offers both an inside look at the Fiji Sevens’ journey to Olympic gold and the personal story of an Englishman learning to embrace life in Fiji.
Historical Memoir
Kava in the Blood: A Personal and Political Memoir from the Heart of Fiji by Peter Thomson
Learn about Fiji’s 1987 military coup through the personal memoir of diplomat Peter Thomson, and see how the beauty of the islands shines through. He also penned a follow-up collection of personal stories from Fiji, Wild Vanilla.
Cozy Crime Fiction
Death on Paradise Island by B.M. Allsop
Solve the case with Joe Horseman, a former rugby star turned detective, in the first book of the Fiji Island Mysteries series. Allsop lived in Fiji and wrote the series to share her love of the islands with fellow mystery readers.
