Buy her the book by Bill Bryson called Down Under.
This is a great light hearted history of Australia (he went all over the country) but with Bill Bryson's wonderful writing style she will be laughing all the way through it.
She can read it on the plane and throw it away at the end of the flight if she does not want to carry it around with her.
I remember the opening of the book where he is flying in to Australia and says he is trying to remember the name of the Australian prime minister (after all he says somebody has to remember these things). Then he says as soon as he find out he forgets almost straight away.
He then goes on to tell the story of how they "lost" a Prime Minster. He went swimming in the sea one morning and disappeared and was never seen again.
I had to look it up on the internet and he was right.
Anyone would love reading this book as it is fascinating and funny at the same time.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Down-Under-Bill-Bryson/dp/055299703X