17 Down Under: Rock Climbing Australia

A coffee table book celebrating moderate climbing  in Australia.

From the Author John Morris:

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 ready to share.