Amazing true tales of travel and adventure from Australia's master storyteller Trucks, trains, boats and planes – welcome to a treasury of unsung heroes and extraordinary journeys that have shaped Australia's history. From the bravery of Australia's sailors to our great age of rail, the resilience of the truckers crossing the Nullarbor to the daring aviation pioneers who turned the skies into a new frontier, Great Australian Odysseys is a rich tapestry of adventure and ingenuity, with a good dose of Aussie laughs. Journey through tales of hardy truckers braving isolation, mechanical mishaps and political battles. Navigate the high seas with our first submariners' record-breaking journeys and daring rescues of the shipwrecked and marooned. Relive the golden age of rail with evocative stories celebrating Australia's railway heritage, from Mark Twain Down Under to Ben Chifley's locomotive legacy. Soar through the skies with aviation legends such as Smithy, Bert Hinkler and Francis Birtles, whose courage and innovation transformed how we travel. With humour, heartbreak and a deep respect for history, bestselling chronicler of Australia Jim Haynes brings to life the pioneers, larrikins and legends who define our country's unique spirit and who dared to dream big and journey across this vast continent. 'It's fair to say that Jim certainly knows how to pull together a collection of ripping good yarns.' – Australian Rural & Regional News 'Aussies love a good story and entertainer Jim Haynes has been telling them for decades.' – Courier-Mail