17 Down Under: Australian Rock Climbing

A coffee table book celebrating climbing in Australia, grade 17 and under.

Pre-order the book 

This story began with my dad. When I was 14, I struggled with depression, climbing became my rudder, the thing that kept me steady. I made a list of 50 climbs in Victoria, all grade 17 and under, that I wanted to complete with him. That list became our first book, 17 Down Under: A Celebration of Moderate Grade Climbing in Victoria.

But even then, I knew the title belonged to something bigger: a book that celebrated all of Australia. 

This book is named; 17 Down Under: Australian Rock Climbing.

This project has been over a decade in the making, drawing on 20 years of climbing experiences. Along the way, I’ve explored every major state and territory, camped in countless wild places, and met an incredible community of climbers willing to share their stories and photos. Two years into the journey, I met Mel. Together, we have built a life, travelled around Australia to photograph for the book, got married  and later welcomed our son Teo into the world. Through all the twists and delays of life, the project endured. Now it’s almost ready to share.

This is not a guidebook or a history. It’s a coffee table celebration of Australian rock climbing, the people, the places, the rock itself and the stories that define it.

• 324 pages

• 540 images 

• 8 chapters. One for each major state and territory in Australia

• 66 classic routes, each with its own story

• 30 feature areas introduced with double-page vistas and photo galleries

• 70 bonus crags showcased at the end of each chapter

• Contributions from over 110 climbers, including 70+ photographers and 50 writers

Each state and territory chapter starts with a map and personal story

A feature area double page vista title page

Each feature climb gets a double page spread and a story

Each area gets a gallery after the feature climbs

At the end of each state or territory chapter there is a few double page spreads of bonus crag galleries that include area descriptions and photos of places that did not get featured.

Grades 17 and under are where many climbers begin, but these climbs are often overlooked in climbing media. Yet they are full of character, history, and adventure. Some are beginner-friendly, others are sandbags or bold epics. Together, they capture the breadth of what makes climbing in Australia so special.

This book preserves stories, celebrates landscapes, and shares the voices of our community. It’s about more than climbing grades, it’s about connection: to people, to nature, and to ourselves.

This book is truly a community project. Over 110 contributors generously shared their images, words, and memories. Without them, this book would not exist.

Now we’re asking the wider climbing community and anyone who loves wild places to help bring it into print.

We’re in the final stages of editing and almost ready to go to print. Our goal is to produce 1,000 copies of 17 Down Under: Australian Rock Climbing.

This campaign is your chance to pre-order, show your support, and help build the momentum to carry the project the distance. With your backing, our dream is to have the book ready in time for Christmas 2025.

By supporting this campaign, you’ll help ensure these stories find their way onto coffee tables, into climbing huts, and into homes across the country.

How You Can Help:

• Pre-order the book: Be among the first to receive your copy.

• Spread the word: Share this campaign with friends, at the gym, or with your climbing partners.

We invite you to join us in bringing this project to life. Pack your rack. Hit the track. Be part of the adventure.