The Cape York Peninsula is arguably the most exotic wilderness region in Australia. Its history is as colourful as its geography and as steamy as its climate. The era covered is from 1845 to 2003, but historian Lennie Wallace also tells us of early Chinese, Indonesian, Spanish and Portuguese mariners and of the many shipwrecks and daring rescues along its dangerous coastline.

As a lifelong Peninsular cattlewoman Lennie of course tells of the feats of the early pastoral explorers, drovers and pioneers with special affection. But equally she tells us the stories of the sandalwood traders, the pearl divers and the gold and tin miners.