130,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

IT'S FINALLY HERE! HAPPY ACOTAR 6 RELEASE DAY! ✨

The Well at the World's End

Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A.J. Mackinnon leaves his life in Australia to journey to the Well at the World's End, a legendary Scottish island spring said to grant eternal youth. Refusing to fly, he relies on chance and a rucksack to traverse the globe by every conceivable mode of transport. Along the way, he faces wild adventures: surviving a bus crash, marrying a princess, confronting Komodo dragons and enduring imprisonment. This memoir recounts a bold, whimsical quest blending old-fashioned adventure with modern-day exploration.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$4000
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This travelogue appeals to readers who enjoy real-life adventure stories, passionate travellers seeking inspiration, and those fascinated by extraordinary global journeys filled with humour and unexpected encounters.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

When A.J. Mackinnon quits his job in Australia, he knows only that he longs to travel to the Well at the World's End, a mysterious pool on a remote Scottish island whose waters, legend has it, hold the secret to eternal youth. Determined not to fly ('It would feel like cheating'), he sets out with a rucksack, some fireworks and a map of the world.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

When A.J. Mackinnon quits his job in Australia, he knows only that he longs to travel to the Well at the World's End, a mysterious pool on a remote Scottish island whose waters, legend has it, hold the secret to eternal youth. Determined not to fly (‘It would feel like cheating’), he sets out with a rucksack, some fireworks and a map of the world and trusts chance to take care of the rest.

By land and by sea, by train, truck, horse and yacht, he makes his way across the globe, and through a series of hilarious adventures. He survives a bus crash in Australia, marries a princess in Laos, is attacked by Komodo dragons and does time in a Chinese jail. The next lift, or the next near-miss, is always just a happy accident away.

This is the astonishing true story of a remarkable voyage, an old-fashioned quest by a modern-day adventurer.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781863954761

Publisher: Black Inc.

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 June 2010

Country: Australia

Imprint: Black Inc.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 154.0mm

Height: 232.0mm

Weight: 422g

Pages: 320

About the Author

A.J. Mackinnon is the author of The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow. He was born in Australia in 1963 and he spent his childhood between England and Australia, traveling as a small boy with his family on the last P&O liners to sail between the two countries. His interests include painting, philosophy, writing, conjuring and home-made fireworks. He is currently a teacher at the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar.

Also by A.J. Mackinnon

View all
  • Quaint Deeds
    From the bestselling author of The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow, a hilarious and heart-warming memoir of teaching, treasure hunts, and finding your own way in life. A.J. 'Sandy' Mackinnon is best known to readers as a much-loved travel writer. But between eccentric voyages, he has for almost forty years taught at schools in Australia and the UK. In...
    Paperback
    $4100
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow
    Beautiful hardback edition of this beloved bestseller, with a charming new afterword and illustrations. A couple of quiet weeks sailing the River Severn was the intention. Somehow things got out of hand - a year later I had reached Romania and was still going ... Truly hilarious books are rare. Even rarer are those based on real events. Join A.J....
    Hardback
    $4500
    Elsewhere:
    $5000
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Realms of Gold
    New Release
    Realms of Gold
    The charming sequel to the bestselling The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow When A.J. 'Sandy' Mackinnon sailed a tiny dinghy through twelve countries from North Wales to the Black Sea, he survived pirates, the English Channel, international incidents and all the disasters, big and small, that can befall a little boat on a long voyage. Those adventures became his...
    Paperback
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow
    An epic journey, undertaken with courage, and recounted with flair and humour. Truly hilarious books are rare. Even rarer are those based on real events. Join A.J. Mackinnon, your charming and eccentric guide, on an amazing voyage in a boat called Jack de Crow. Equipped with his cheerful optimism and a pith helmet, this Australian Odysseus in a dinghy travels...
    Paperback
    $3800
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Well at the World's End
    When A.J. Mackinnon quits his job in Australia, he knows only that he longs to travel to The Well at the World's End, a mysterious pool on a remote Scottish island whose waters, legend has it, hold the secret to eternal youth. Determined not to fly ('It would feel like cheating'), he sets out with a rucksack, some fireworks and...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow
    A couple of quiet weeks sailing the River Severn was the intention. Somehow things got out of hand - a year later I had reached Romania and was still going... Truly hilarious books are rare. Even rarer are those based on real events. Join A.J. Mackinnon, your charming and eccentric guide, on an amazing voyage in a boat called Jack...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from Travel & Adventure

View all
  • On Sale
    19% off
    The Salt Path
    The bestselling true story of the couple who lost everything and embarked on a journey not of escape but salvation, soon to be a major motion picture starring Golden Globe winning Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, the couple lose their home and their livelihood. With...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Abroad in Japan
    The hilarious number one bestselling memoir from YouTube sensation Chris Broad, a Brit trying to assimilate into life in Japan as he unravels the wonders and eccentricities of one of the world's most mysterious cultures. When Englishman Chris Broad landed in a rural village in northern Japan, he wondered if he'd made a huge mistake. With no knowledge of the...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Penguin Lessons
    Now a major film, this is the true story of an unlikely friendship between a flightless bird and a teacher out of his depth. When schoolteacher Tom Michell pulls a penguin from an oil slick off the coast of Uruguay, he has no idea what to do. Back at his apartment, Tom cleans him, but upon returning to the beach,...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    17% off
    Lonely Planet Pocket Lisbon
    Lonely Planet's Pocket Lisbon is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life - neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Experience the city's most scenic tram routes, find the best pastéis de nata and discover the winding backstreets of Alfama; all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Lisbon and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Cozy Bookshops: Colouring Book
    Cozy Bookshops—your ultimate escape into a world of bookish bliss and mindful relaxation in 46 adorable scenes, from the coziest book nooks. Wander labyrinthine bookshelves, sink into soft armchairs by roaring fireplaces, and lose yourself in snug, atmospheric corners. Escape, relax, and unwind with this colouring book for all skill levels and bring your own personality. The possibilities are endless!...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Domesday
    Pre-order
    Domesday
    The Domesday Book describes the furniture of a culture and its economy – the legacy of Anglo-Saxon England. When King William I sent his agents to survey every shire in England, he asked them to list his holdings and calculate what was owed to him. The manuscript record of the resulting ‘Great Survey’ is not just a tax record, but...
    Hardback
    $5499
    Pre-order
    Out 5 Jan 2027
  • On Sale
    17% off
    Lonely Planet Pocket Porto
    Lonely Planet's Pocket Porto is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life, neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Experience the historic Se cathedral, marvel at the stunning Palacio da Bolsa, and visit peacocks in Jardim do Palacio de Cristal, all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Porto and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Auto Biography
    From one of the world's most popular motor journalists, a highly entertaining, clued-up and panoramic guide to cars. A highly entertaining, clued-up and panoramic guide to cars by Mat Watson, the world's most followed car journalist on social media. Mat Watson knows everything there is to know about cars. In his 25-year career as a motor journalist, he has driven...
    Hardback
    $4600
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Around the World in 80 Trains
    WINNER OF THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER AWARD FOR BEST TRAVEL BOOK SHORTLISTED FOR THE STANFORD DOLMAN TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 'Monisha Rajesh has chosen one of the best ways of seeing the world. Never too fast, never too slow, her journey does what trains do best. Getting to the heart of things. Prepare for a very fine ride'...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Lonely Planet Norway
    Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to Norway. Discover popular and off the beaten track experiences from watching walruses lolling and hunting in Borebukta to hiking in the remote causeway of Ekkerøy in Finnmark, and road tripping along the Lofoten Islands to admire villages replete with traditional fishing...
    Paperback
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    17% off
    Lonely Planet Pocket Paris
    Lonely Planet's Pocket Paris is your guide to the city's best experiences and local life - neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Wonder at the city's museums and architecture, stroll through the Pere Lachaise, and dine on rich French cuisine; all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Paris and make the most of your trip! Inside Lonely Planet's Pocket Paris:...
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Lonely Planet Thailand
    Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime to Thailand. Discover popular and off-the-beaten-track experiences, from sinking your toes into the soft white sand of Ko Lipe's Sunrise Beach to slurping boat noodles with locals at food stands in Ayuthaya, and spotting wild elephants on a night safari at Khao...
    Paperback
    $4100
    Elsewhere:
    $4499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.