In addition to using travel sites like Fodors and various guidebooks, when planning a trip we usually do additional reading on the background of a country. It brings more life and depth into the whole experience of the trip.

While planning our trip 2017 trip to Australia (trip reports: Lee's Random Ramblings: 30 Days Down Under - Part 1 - Overview & Index ), we read the book "The Fatal Shore" by Robert Hughes about the founding of Australia. A very insightful book review from the New York Times comparing the founding of Australia with the founding of the U.S. is at NYTimes

Just today I learned of another book that we should have read when planning the trip: "A Long Way From Home" by Peter Carey ... a novel about a trio of Australians wending their way through Australia discovering things they had never known about their country. A book review is at https://www.seattletimes.com/enterta...re-with-depth/

Bill Brysons "Down Under " is worth a read. Tim Winton is an Australian author also worth considering.

Down Under is named In a Sunburned Country in US .
I recommend The Secret River by Kate Grenville .
also the chant of Jimmie Blacksmith by Thomas Kenneally for an insight into black revenge against an unjust society