About

British-born Australian award-winning entrepreneur and travel writer Tony Wheeler is the powerhouse behind Lonely Planet's decades-long legacy. Fifty years ago, Tony and his wife Maureen published their first Lonely Planet guidebook, which would become the world's largest independent travel publisher company with over 150 million books printed. It was travelling in their twenties following the 'Hippie Trail' from England across Asia to Australia when they spotted the need for a new type of travel guide to cover the wave of independent, laid-back travellers. Since then, Lonely Planet has evolved as a reference and trusted source around the globe, with offices in London and Oakland and headquarters in Melbourne while still under the couple's direction; being sold years later, now owned by a US group.