"Quentin Chester gets around. From Kakadu and Uluru, to deep rainforest and remote outback gorges, he likes nothing better than loading his rucksack and heading bush. This collection of keenly observed stories explores the ragged, liberating charms of the outdoors – be it the rough and tumble of wild terrain, the eternal lure of the campfire or the chance to share nature’s wondrous gifts with friends, family and even four-legged companions. Both revealing and irreverent these reflective tales celebrate the power of the bush to challenge, inspire and set us free."
AUSTRALIA'S WILD ISLANDS (co-author Alasdair McGregor) Hodder & Stoughton 1998
Australia is a continent surrounded by islands of every kind - from craggy basalt pinnacles to sandy coral caves. Yet very little is known about many of these island jewels. Remote and unspoilt islands are the prime focus of conservation and scientific research. Other islands have been home to Aborigines or were used for foraging grounds and sites for ritual ceremony. For European explorers, islands were a key feature of the voyages and for subsequent settlers the islands have continued to be sites of endeavour and exploration. This work describes the heritage, wilderness character and history of 24 islands. It also includes Aboriginal stories and legends, material from the journal of European navigators and explorers, and literary and contemporary references.
THE KIMBERLEY: HORIZONS OF STONE (co-author Alasdair McGregor) Hodder & Stoughton 1992, Reprinted New Holland 1998
The Kimberley is a remarkable, yet little-known region of Australia. Occupying an immense area of the continent's northwest, it is remote, sparsely populated, and features an abundance of natural diversity. As a region, it stands apart. The great arc of ranges to the south and east effectively isolates this area from the rest of the mainland. The deeply indented coastline to the north, fortified by rugged cliffs and washed by monstrous tides, completes the Kimberley's natural borders. Home to an amazing array of wildlife and vegetation, the Kimberley is also one of the world's last great natural refuges. From its scorched desert fringes and vast eucalypt woodlands, to pockets of remnant rainforest and coastal mangrove communities patrolled by saltwater crocodiles, the Kimberley's variety of habitats has few equals. This volume delves into the most remote and least-known parts of this wild frontier.
THE WILD CALLING: Confessions of a hit-and-miss adventurer New Holland 1998
"Quentin Chester is an accidental adventurer. In his travels he has survived tropical fevers, dehydration and hypothermia and been caught with his pants down. Yet, despite such hair-raising predicaments, he continues to answer the call of the wild. The Wild Calling charts the kind of territory not covered by maps and guidebooks. Lively tales explore the urge to submit to the simple pleasures of the bush. From the thrill of wild weather to the quest for the perfect campsite and the delights of dining under the stars, this collection of stories takes a sideways look at the joys and pitfalls of the outdoor life. The emphasis is on the fine line between high adventure and humbling absurdity, and how a taste for risk and remoteness can give a new twist to relationships."
KAKADU: A Guide for All Seasons (with photographer Peter Jarver) Thunderhead Publishing 1998
THE OUTOOR COMPANION (co-author Jonathan Chester) Simon & Schuster 1991
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
The Painted Trail (SA's Heysen Trail) - July 2009
The Fertile Desert - Simpson Desert - October 2009