Book 4: Outback Adventure

Tommy Bell's safe outback holiday on a farm with Martin and Combo is turned upside down when Martin finds a pair of magic old bushranger's boots. This time, when Tommy's cabbage-tree hat sends him back to the past, his friend Martin is right there beside him. The boys join their new friend, Harry, and his gang on a long cattle-droving expedition across Outback Australia. For once it seems as if a journey to the past might be pure, fun adventure, without any risk of running into bushrangers. But why did Harry lie about his past? And who are the 'thievin" McKenzies? It looks like Tommy and Martin's 'Outback Adventure' might be more dangerous than they expected ...
"Australian history has never been more interesting."
- Julieanne Wallace, "Book reviews and writer's ink"
"... a wonderful way of introducing Australia’s colourful history to children (and their parents)."
- Katy Gerner, "Reading Time"
"These junior novels are an excellent resource; they support the Year 5 History Curriculum and provide understanding of the historical era, making them an easy to use research tool - comparing and contrasting daily life, transport and the motives behind the bushrangers' actions." - Rhyllis Bignell, "Readplus".