Reviews (5)

Fabulous Book - My Favourite NZ Travel Guide
I made a mistake and bought the Essential New Zealand AAA guide before I had discovered this series. That was an error, that book is very short and lacking in most of the details.

I think the best two books are this and the Lonely Planet book. I prefer this book because the phots and graphics are just outstanding and the pictures jump off the pages.

The book has good maps, restaurant guide, some accomodations, culture, history and more. Again the best thing is the photos. But the book includes cutaway drawings and history/political time lines.

Just a great book. Use this book with the local telephone directory plus I recommend an up to date trail/road map(s).

Jack in Toronto

Used it throughout my trip
I spent over 6 weeks traveling in New Zealand, driving from the Bluff in the South to the Cape in the North, and this Guide proved to be very useful. It is better illustrated and more narrowly focused on top attractions than the Lonely Planet which i used on my previous trips. The Lonely Planet was also excellent, and it was better on history and geography, but this Eyewitness Guide made choosing easier. Highly recommended.

Excellent!
My husband and I are planning a trip to NZ and this book has everything! The photos are wonderful and layout of the book lends very well to designing a travel itenerary. There are maps of everything, from a map of the entire country to very detailed maps of specific tourist sites. The only other thing you would need is a detailed road map of the country.

Eyewitness New Zealand
As an airline employee, I have found my new bible. This book is an excellent (pictoral) reference guide, skipping the usual 2 page historical write up on every attraction. It is very concise, has pictures of the area/attraction with an accurate two paragraph description of the place depicted with maps included. I purchased two other New Zealand books prior to this one, and borrowed 5 additional ones from a friend. This book was equivalent to having all 7 books in one. I would give the book a '10' if it contained the hours and admission prices to the attractions/events, however, it does not. I would also recommend to venture beyond the hotel/restaurant section listed as we found many fine establishments beyond their limited list. A great line of books to have if you want a quick overview of things to do in other countries. Once you've determined what to visit, then purchase the book with the historical write-ups.

Wish it were available before my trip
Most people would buy a travel guidebook prior to the trip. I did it the other way round (I vacationed in NZ mid last year but bought the book one month ago). I certainly spared no time clicking the Add to Shopping Cart button when this title first appeared in the website. So... does the book measure up to my expectation? Definitely!!! The photos are great, the coverage on each area's attractions/activities extensive, and the maps up-to-date. It even covers information which I wasn't able to obtain from other guidebooks: special features on Coromandel gold fever, "Wellywood" (NZ's film-making industry), Nelson arts scene, West Coast coal-mining heritage, high country farming etc. If you need one book to show you how beautiful NZ is (in panorama and culture) and how to go about experiencing it, grab this book. You won't regret it. The editors have done a great job for a first edition. Be prepared to call your travel agent...! ... Read more

Book Description

Written by a New Zealand resident, and full of personal insights and opinions, this guide takes you to one of the world’s most exciting ecotourism destinations! It’s much more complete and in-depth than its major competition.

Whether you’re dreaming of hiking along the Marlborough Sound, trout fishing in Lake Rotorua, driving the Milford Road, or feasting on sumptuous green-lipped mussels or succulent lamb, this detailed guide will help you plan the trip of a lifetime. You’ll also find the latest on nightlife in Auckland and Wellington and the best places to lay your head after an adventure-filled day. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great vacation spot - Ho Hum Frommer
If you really like to vacation, the best way to do it is B&B's. When my wife and I vacationed in NZ, we stayed in B&B's for 80% of our trip.

Skip the big cities. Auckland is ok. But the pearls in this vacation are found when you travel by car. To the small cities. Across this geographic treasure. Here's better advice than Frommer can give: stay with the locals and learn the culture.

Kiwis love Americans. While staying on a ranch B&B, our hosts grilled fresh fish, created an incredible smorgasbord of fresh meats and served local brew. They invited their neighbors (about eight in a 10 mile radius) and asked my wife and I to "talk about the States." Price of the dinner for the two of us: $25 US.

At another small home, our hosts provided us with a five course meal, dessert and wine for about $20 each. While we ate our scrumptuous meal, we listened to our seasoned hosts as they recalled childhood stories of growing up "just over that hill." There was a large picture window overlooking their personal rose garden. About a mile away, a series of rolling green hills. Sheep grazing. The view was as pristine and peaceful as any I've seen in all my travels. When we were done with dinner, our hosts took us into their rose garden and proudly gave us a tour of their aromatic flowers.

Our hosts were 75 and 77 years old.

Frommer doesn't give much credit about the B&B's in NZ.

You'll need at least two weeks to enjoy the country. We stayed two weeks (one week on the north island and one week on the south island), then finished up with a flight to Australia to dive the Great Barrier Reef.

The south island is best. Aside from our bungee jumping (269 feet) near Queenstown, we took an exciting raft trip in Dunedin, saw the Yellow Eyed Penguins in Otago Peninsula, and were entertained by the flying Albatross at the Kaikoura Peninsula. Spectacular!

The New Zealand Bed & Breakfast Book by James Thomas offers more opportunities to enjoy this beautiful country. In the best possible accomodation - the New Zealand B&B.

Are these reviews really for 2nd edition?
I'm curious that many of the negative reviews were written before this was published?!?! (were they based on a 1st edition?)

Frommer's New Zealand
As a first time vistor to New Zealand, I found this book to be extremely helpful. It provided an informative overview of the country, and the various recommendations for accommodations and travel services were, for me, very reliable. I used it constantly both before and during the trip.

Frommer's New Zealand
This guide is an excellent introduction to New Zealand for the first-time traveler. The organization is helpful and the area details are of great value in planning self-guided itineraries.

We were able to focus our two weeks in the country on areas of particular interest because of this guidance.

New Zealand is a wonderful country for tourists
I found the criticisms on Frommer's NZ mostly incorrect. At least, I did not have the same experience as the two critics. I consider this book reliable. Actually, certain information in the book closely assembles those on the leaflets found at the tourist information centers. Tourists can find many helpful facilities in NZ and anyone can have a pleasant trip in NZ without a guide book. However, the valuable parts of this book came from the writer. Adrienne is a New Zealander. I trusted the ratings, followed the recommendations, suggested itineraries ... and had a wonderful experience in NZ. ... Read more

Book Description

Experience the infinite variety of New Zealand:Sample the cafés and bars of Auckland, take a gravity-defying bungy jump pr tramp through some of the world's most spectacular wilderness areas with this bestselling guidebook.

• over 120 detailed maps
• colourful guide to New Zealand's unique wildlife
• special section on Maori culture and art
• fully extreme Activities chapter – don't zorb without it
• insider tips for an aspiring hobbit spotters
• exhaustively researched accommodation listings

Reviews (22)

Best to be read BEFORE going!
When I went to New Zealand armed with my Lonely Planet guide and one small travel bag, I found that the book did not go into enough detail about the best places to go, especially in Christchurch and at the Milford Sound/Queenstown area. The book has lots of info but is quite heavy to carry around for 3 weeks. It would be helpful if the Lonely Planet separated the book into two-North Island and South Island for the traveler who is trying to travel carrying the least amount of weight. Next time I will copy the info and carry on a few pages rather than a two inch thick book. The country is NOT to be missed, a magical land!

Dense with information
When we were considering what to do during our month in New Zealand, travel agents were pleading with us to have everything lined up before "the Y2k rush." So, being the literal engineering types, we bought a couple of books -- the Lonely Planet NZ and the Frommers for Under $50/day -- and started poring through them.

Quite frankly, our initial impression of the Lonely Planet book was too dense to be useful to us. The Frommer's guide was more helpful and the author, Elizabeth Hansen, was available to "consult" on the trip on an hourly basis. Because we'd be toting our 18-month old, we used her services and pre-booked the entire trip.

Once there, we found the Lonely Planet book much more useful. The Lonely Planet guide excels at providing abundant information about towns, including attractions, restaurants and maps giving a rough layout.

For example, one of the folks at a Visitor center clued us into Farewell Spit, an area we were going to forego because it was well off our chosen route. As it turned out, Tahuna Park, our campground in Nelson was pretty bad (right under an airport takeoff path; lots of people permanently living there; undermaintained kitchens), and we didn't relish the idea of spending three days there as originally planned.

The side trip to Farewell Spit was long and we'd have to find some place relatively nearby to the Spit to make it a reasonable trip.

This is where the Frommer's guide was very weak. It caters more to the B&B crowd, and there isn't that much north (or west) of Nelson. The Lonely Planet book, however, paid for itself by suggesting a lot of options, providing maps of the little towns, and listing restaurants where we might stop at for "snack time."

If you do intend a trip to New Zealand, you'll definitely appreciate the Lonely Planet guide.

Don't travel without this guide!
If you're going to New Zealand - and want to enjoy the country to the fullest - DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT THIS GUIDE! I embarked on a 6-week long trip last June with this edition of 'Lonely Planet New Zealand' and fate as my only guides. I was impressed to the max! The only other guide I needed was a road atlas I picked up at the airport in Auckland (and since I was touring some of the Lord of the Rings film locations, Ian Brodie's lovely 'Lord of the Rings: Location Guidebook'). I do recommend renting a vehicle - as someone under 25 years old, Budget was a good bet for rental. Just remember, "Left, left left." It's a cinch! With the US dollar exchange rate favorable, we cheaply rented a top notch 4WD SUV for the entire time based on the recommendation of this book. I love the Lonely Planet series for the sheer fact that it gives you pointers on fantastic locations that may be slightly off the beaten path while at the same time informing you of the best of the best in those tourist meccas. It's a lovely balance. My only regret is that 6-weeks is far too short a time to see everything there is to see in New Zealand!

The top 5 places you shouldn't miss on the North and South Islands:

North Island
1) Take the short ferry ride from Auckland to Rangitoto Island and hike to the summit - otherwordly!
2) Do a touristy bus tour to Cape Reinga out of Paihia - on the bus to Cape Reinga you'll get to: learn a lot about the Maori culture, hug a Kauri tree, stop and surf down sand dunes, wonder in awe at the northern most point of the North Island where untouched white beaches are visible as the Tasman and Pacific Ocean meet and clash (an amazing scene), and to top it all off you'll cruise down 90-mile beach as waves lap the wheels of the bus (yeah, the beach is actually a registered roadway).
3) Drive around the gorgeous Coromandel Peninsula - leave the Thames area just before sunrise and the landscape will just take your breath away! You will come to understand the meaning of Aotearoa/New Zealand: land of the long white cloud.
4) Wander the volcantic parks of Rotorua - Wai-ti-pau was a highlight! Don't forget to sign-up for a traditional Maori concert and haka at the Tamaki Maori Village for a cool cultural experience!
5) Cruise Cuba Street in Wellington for food and shops, and don't forget to visit Te Papa - the national museum of Wellington.

South Island
1) Plan a kayaking trip out of Motueka: the Tonga Island wildlife option is cool - we saw wild Orca and New Zealand Fur Seals up close and personal and then lunched on a secluded beach reached only by kayak!
2) Take a helicopter ride up to Fox Glacier and do an afternoon hike - see where semi-tropical rainforest meets glacier meets the Tasman Sea.
3) Go white water rafting on the Shotover River in Queenstown (be sure you get an option with the Oxenbridge Tunnel)! Then go jet boating, then bungy jumping, you name, it they do it there! Don't miss Deer Park Heights either - say hello to the free roaming buffalo for me!
4) Head to the beautiful city of Kaikoura for whale watching and a dolphin swim.
5) If you love wildlife - head to Dunedin and take a tour out to the Otago Peninsula (you'll see albatross, fur seals, sea lions, yellow-eyed penguins and a variety of bird life up close and personal - by up close I mean walking on the beach less than 10 feet away from a Hooker Seal Lion twice your size). While in Dunedin, visit Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world, and don't miss the Cadbury Factory! It's well worth the admission price!

There is so much more to see and do that I haven't listed - and this guide helped me find it all and point me in the right direction every step of the way. The only thing the guide failed to mention was the abundance of rainbows in this enchanted country - I don't know about you, but where I come from rainbows are a special once in a great while occurance. In New Zealand you see them on a daily basis. I guarantee that with the help of this guide you will leave New Zealand with enough fantastic memories to last a lifetime. Kia ora.

new zealand is a beautiful place
new zealand is a beautiful place

The only decent Lonely Planet book
This book is a lot better than the other Lonely Planet books in that it is the same size as the others but as it is only about one small country, it can fit most (not all there's still work to be done) of the towns and attractions backpackers want to see in New Zealand.

The main difference between this and Let's Go is that this is written for a North American audience whereas Let's Go is more for your British, European, Australian, South African and the like markets. This means those not from North America may find a lot of the information as common knowledge, especially historic things and would prefer to have more further detailed information which is contained in the competitor Let's Go. Since the American education system doesn't teach this stuff American audiences will find it fascinating and will have a need for it maybe.

A fair amount of the hostels in New Zealand actually do appear in this book which is very surprising for a Lonely Planet as they usually miss about 75 per cent of them. Be aware that there are other hostels out there though, so don't completely rely on the book and use the best method word of mouth from other backpackers as well. Of course the price information is out of date as usual.

If only Lonely Planet could achieve as good a book for their other country/continent versions then they might be a worthwhile purchase. I'd say buy this if you're a North American but get Let's Go if you're not. Well actually I'd say don't bother with either as you're just reliving someone else's experiences and it's better to explore for yourself but for hostel listings and background info if you don't know much about New Zealand then this is useful. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fun from Down Under
This collection of travel writer's accounts of their experiences in the land of kangaroos is amusing and informative. From an explanation of why Aussies call Americans "seppos" (a legacy of the rhyming slang of convicts, seppo means septic tank and tank matches Yank)to adventures in the Outback and quite a lot else, this is just a fun book to read. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover New Zealand's compact kaleidoscope of landscapes – amble along white-sand beaches, weave between steaming volcanoes or step onto chiseled mountains.Let your feet be led by this comprehensive tramping guide.

• 52 detailed trail descriptions, including the classic routes and, for the first time, day tramps
• two-colour contour maps for each tramp
• expert health and safety advice for trampers
• practical planning information, including transport and accommodation options
• special feature on fishing New Zealand's rivers and lakes
• illustrated guide to New Zealand's wildlife

Reviews (2)

A book for the planning Tramper
This edition is far better than the previous editions. It's new organization and additional information sections are a marked improvement. A new section on Flora and Fauna gives a highlight of any New Zealand tramp. This book acts as an excellent reference book while tramping. Of course, if the book contained every piece of required information, (i.e. highly detailed maps and every step of the way instructions) it would require 1000's of pages. The authors surmount that difficulty by including instructions on how to obtain additional necessary information. The book is perfect for those that are looking into or planning a backpacking trek to New Zealand.

Easy tramping in New Zealand
This is a great book for planning a tramping trip to New Zealand, although it's a bit too much to carry while actually hiking. The book contains good references and maps to the most popular tracks, and some of the lesser known tracks. If your tight on cash, I recommend going to the visitor centers in New Zealand and picking up the DOC pamphlets they supply. D.O.C. has detailed pamphlets on pretty much every track in New Zealand and they only charge about 50 cents (US) for each one. But if you want to plan a trip from home, this is the book to get, it's far easier to understand than the other New Zealand tramping books, and gives good information on what you need to bring. It also gives good info on the New Zealand back country hut system. Buy a hut pass, they're only 35 bucks (US) for a year. It even supplies some decent fly fishing tips for the rivers that border some of the tracks. But be warned that almost every other tourist hiker in New Zealand also has this book, so if you really want to get away from people, you'll have to do some bushwacking. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Globetrotter New Zealand Travel Map
Desiring a travel map for the purpose of driving, I found this map inadequate. It was difficult to read because the towns were printed in very small print with little coordination of print size to size of town. Generally the city map inserts were good. The map legend or reference referred only to the city inserts so there was no description of roads, train routes, tunnels, hiking tracks etc. I prefer the Kiwi Pathfinder map series or the Wises maps. ... Read more

Book Description

Since the first screening of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001, New Zealand has become the embodiment of "Middle-earth" to millions of moviegoers the world over. This definitive guidebook showcases the principal movie-set locations around New Zealand as seen in all three films.

Ian Brodie's guide enables fans of Peter Jackson's cinematic masterpiece to experience their own unique insight into the magic and complexity of Middle-earth. Produced with the full cooperation of New Line Productions, Inc., he presents a comprehensive review of the movie locations, useful touring information including accommodation, food and entertainment suggestions, interviews with key cast and crew, and a foreword written by Peter Jackson.

Reviews (9)

Plan the Ultimate New Zealand Lord of the Rings experience!
The Good: During June/July of 2003 I had the unbelievable opportunity to spend 6 weeks exploring New Zealand (this was before the revision of the book to include the Return of the King locations). As a lover of Tolkien and the LOTR movies I knew I could not miss seeing some of the filming locations used to portray 'Middle-Earth.' Ian Brodie's location guide is a godsend! I do strongly recommend renting a 4WD vehicle - the best locations are way off the beaten path and there is no other way to get to them!

North Island Highlights -
1) Visit the remains of the Hobbiton set in Matamata. Even without the remaining Hobbit hole facades, this lush green country is instantly recognizable as the Shire. To walk up the same stone steps at Bag End that Gandalf climbed is unbelievable. If you're lucky, you'll get one of the Alexander brothers as your guide!

2) Do not miss the opportunity to reenact the "get of the road" hobbit sequence on Mt Victoria. We had a bit of trouble finding the spot as much of the smaller brush and shrubbery had recently been trimmed, but once you're there you will recognize the location (focus on finding the older tree growth)!

3) Spend some time in Kaitoke Regional Park - aside from the lush vegetation you won't recognize anything directly from the movie, but the park is gorgeous and offers several walking trails.

South Island Highlights -
1) You MUST make the trek out to Erewhon/Mt Sunday. This was one of the best days of my trip. It is a long unpaved road and an endless drive deep into what seems like the middle of nowhere, but very much worth it! Mt Sunday/Edoras is instantly recognizable and you'll hardly notice that Meduseld isn't still standing there in all its glory. The Rangitata Valley is immense and breathtaking. There simply aren't words to describe the experience. Oh yeah, and it really is windy!

2) Queenstown, Queenstown, Queenstown! Do not short yourself on time in this adventure capital of New Zealand! You will recognize the Remarkables, overlooking Queenstown, from the movie immediately - they were used in many landscape shots in the film. Deer Park Heights is amazing - the LOTR locations are labelled with small guide markers, but also take your time to enjoy the animals roaming the preserve! When you find the tiny mountain tarn Peter Jackson used to film the refugees escaping Rohan you will truly come to understand this man's genius and vision! One of the Glenorchy Dart River safaris out of Queenstown is the best way to see the Isenguard location!

3) The second greatest day of my New Zealand trip was yet another long unpaved drive to the Mavora Lakes. I can't stress 4WD, common sense, and following speed signs in unpaved locations enough here - going slightly too fast at a road bend, we did at one point lose traction and drive staight off the road. Nonetheless, this worthwhile drive hits several locations. Without a GPS device, you'll find the burning Orc hill/Fangorn Forest location easiest by lining up the mountains to the forest looking for the matching movie shot. Hop the fence (watch out for sheep poo) and take the easy walk up to the hill. Reenact Aragorn's "a hobbit lay here and another here" sequence. Highly amusing after the long drive! Keep on driving (and do not mistake South Mavora Lake which you'll pass first for North Mavora) and you'll eventually get to the location used for Nen Hithoel. The waters where Sam nearly drowned trying to swim to Frodo are indeed cold! The fallen tree where Merry and Pippin hide is easily recognized, as is the tree Frodo hides behind - it is less that 10 feet away from the fallen Merry/Pippin tree. Don't let the prospect of getting a little dirty deter you from crawling under the fallen tree and whispering "hide here"! The guide directions aren't the greatest, but just at the forest edge in the open parking area, stand with the lake parallel to your left and these film locations are close by at the top of the ridge in the 2 o'clock direction. Personal rant to follow! Please do not stray too far into the forest - there is no trail to follow and the forest here is so dense that you could quite easily become lost/disoriented! As a word of warning - at one point in our search my friend and I were separated by only 20 to 30 feet and we could not see each other let alone the lake or parking area. Even though this is no more than a quick climb up a hill, be smart (we did find the car in case you were wondering) - as a precaution bring a daypack/backpack with drinking water for two days (for each person in your party), a small amount of food, and winter warm clothing even if the weather is hot. In the event that you do become lost, don't panic, don't run/rush, and at a calm walk DON'T WANDER FOR MORE THAN 5 MINUTES thinking that you'll find your way out (the average person who wanders for 15 minutes will have walked a mile) - stay put, settle in, and wait to be found. Whether you're going alone or with others - tell someone at your hostel/hotel that if you do not check in with them by a certain hour they should notify authorities of your location - by doing this, someone will find you if the worst case scenario does occur! The same goes for any location you are heading to that is off the beaten track! LOTR draws people from all walks of life, and hopefully those without outdoors experience/knowledge wishing to explore 'Middle-Earth' will stay safe in these wonderful locations!

The Bad: The only drawback to this book is that I didn't bring GPS equipment and thus sometimes found the directions to locations slightly vague - nonetheless, the directions do offer enough information to find the locations!

The Ugly: This last comment in no way relates to the book! If you're going to this fantastic country simply to see LOTR filming locations, I promise that you are missing out on what could be one of the greatest experiences of your life. Yes, go to see 'Middle-Earth' but do not forget the rest of New Zealand!

Essential, Though Better Maps Would Be Nice
This excellent and indispensable guide is thoroughly researched, richly illustrated with photographs, and well written. But while it is an essential book for anyone planning a visit to Middle Earth, it is handicapped by one glaring omission: though several maps are provided, none adequately indicate the locations of Middle Earth's features. This is frustrating for anyone who wishes to use the book as a travel guide (though it is always possible to sort out locations by using the text and the limited maps provided) and a serious drawback for the armchair traveler who just wants to get a sense of how Middle Earth maps onto New Zealand.

Be sure to get the "Revised Edition".

A Comment from the Author
It has been interesting reading the reviews of my book. As a Tolkien fan for the last 32 years I wanted people to enjoy the scenery of New Zealand as it relates to Middle-earth.
Certainly there are more than 3 locations easily accessible. In fact, 90% of the locations listed in this book are accessible by car. There are very few (about 6) that are only helicopter accessible.
The GPS co-ordinates are listed to enable some fans to find the exact spots. They have been checked to within 5 metre accuracy.
The book is not intended as a travel guide to NZ, hence the sparseness of maps. I would recommend any visitor purchasing a good NZ atlas as well.
My major disappointment with this book is the small pictures - but the book is a guide to allow people to pit it in glove-boxes or backpacks.
A much larger coffee-table version will be released later this year with more pages and much bigger pictures.

Good but could have been better
With something approaching 100,000 copies in print this is one of the all time best-selling NZ books. Probably the publisher didn't expect it to be the sales success it has been otherwise more money would have been spent on it. The pictures are all there but they are are small. A bigger page format would have done them and the beatiful scenery justice. It's nice to know where the scenes were filmed, but don't expect to recognise the settings in the film instantly as there was a heap of digital manipulation done and a standard requirement of their getting permission to use the locations was that everything look the same after they had finished. I haven't been on one of the guided tours but I think that would be the best way to go, rather than use this book as a self guide.

A Must Have For an LOTR Pilgrim
I just returned from New Zealand. This book is everywhere there at substancially more money.It is supposedly a best seller there.That aside if you want to know about where some of the movie sites are, this book will pinpoint it down for you. It is a good thing to read before you go. Many, many of the sites are on private land there and you can't get to them, others are way, way down dirt roads and best accessable by 4x4,car rental companies severly frown on using their cars on unpaved roads. The GPS coordinates are in the book and you may want to try to find them yourself. However, several local tour companies have sprung up, especially in the Queenstown and Matamata area, that use this book and will take you to the exact locations quickly. I found the book a real asset in that it not only told you things about the movie but also delved into interesting related sites, like what to see in Wellington or Te Anua. I learned from the book that Hobbiton is still partially in existance, far of in the middle of a huge sheep station, only accessible by a local tour company. To know that is worth the price of the book. ... Read more

Book Description

At last - the two hottest stars on the travel circuit combined in one sizzling guidebook!Grab your pack and head south to Australia's awesome beaches and New Zealand's spectacular landscapes.Written for backpackers by backpackers, this guide to the wonders down under helps you travel further and pay less.

• TWO IN ONE - No other guide covers both Australia and New Zealand, let alone from a backpacker's perspective

• GET THE LOWDOWN on where to go for nonstop parties, and where to find a little space all to yourself

• EAT CHEAP AND SLEEP EASY with our fully updated coverage of the best local eateries and great-value accommodation

• TAKE YOUR LIFE IN YOUR HANDS - get your thrills from the best scuba diving, bungy jumping, skiing and jet-boating that Oz and NZ has to offer! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Culture Smart! is a new series of travel guides written for the traveler on the go. Each volume is a quick, accurate guide to customs and etiquette.

Outstanding features of CULTURE SMART! * All the essential cultural and etiquette points are covered, making you confident in a variety of situations. * You will know what to expect in each particular culture.* You will learn how to behave in specific social and business situations.* Essential attitudes and values are clearly explained.* You will find each topic a quick, easy read due to the concise writing style. * Laid out in a clear and easy-to-read format. * Each book has the same look, page count, and organization for reference use. * Small and light, it tucks into your pocket or purse for on-the-go use. * Your Culture Smart! books are written by a staff of experts consult on world travel as a profession.

Be smart!Take Culture Smart! along when you travel abroad! ... Read more

Book Description

With over 1.5 million copies sold worldwide, the Culture Shock! brand name is recognized as the leading reference source for international customs and etiquette.

Notable features of the entire Culture Shock! line of titles: * A comprehensive source of detailed information about more than seventy travel destinations * Written by individuals, often ex-pats, who have lived in each country and experienced life there* Full of anecdotal information that is insightful and useful to know before you leave home

CULTURE SHOCK! COUNTRY guides: * Provide full explanations of social and business customs * Use practical examples and personal stories * Include a helpful Appendix of Dos and Don'ts* Provide a cultural quiz to test your understanding * Include a calendar of festivals and holidays ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Concise information for all spending levels
Out of the 5 or 6 books I've reviewed on NZ travel, this is the one that will be actually carried and used on my month-long trip. The information is never vague; for example excursion trips are described, the top providers are listed with all necessary details. Maps are extensive and frequent. I particularly liked the fact that while there are many ideas for budget travel, also included are the special hotels or restaurants or offroad trips that can cost more but are considered worth it. This guide is for everyone, versus Lonely Planet, (the backpacking crowd) or Fodors ( high end spenders) or Inside Guides (good pictures and background, no practical information). ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Delightful
I bought this book when I was visiting New Zealand in 1988 where people kept recommending it, and I am just now rereading it for something like the fifth time--including one time with a discussion group.This time through I am finding new delights that I must have skimmed over before.Parts of the book are naively New-Agey, but even those parts are personal and honest and fun to read.It is the story of a woman whose job takes her into the middle of an enormous cultural shift, and she manages to stay in the middle--between the world views of American bureaucracy and a traditional people's values, and somehow to walk that precarious boundary and to be receptive to the ways it changes her.It's an amazing story.

First Light: Shedding the myth of working in museums
One of the most unexpected, wonderful and funny true day to day experiences of a woman who worked for one of the most prestigious museums in the world.Her journey, both physically and spiritually increating and formalizing a major exhibit of the Maori People of New Zealand on a world tour.Her writing style was easy to read and I am still searching for a copy of my own! ... Read more

Book Description

Fodor's Exploring Guides are the most up-to-date, full-color guidebooks available. Covering destinations around the world, these guides are loaded with photos; essays on culture and history, architecture and art; itineraries, walks and excursions; descriptions of sights; and practical information. Fodor's Exploring New Zealand gives you great tips on dining and lodging for all budgets as well as tips on basics such as getting there and getting around and when to go and what to pack.

"Authoritatively written and superbly presented...Worthy reading before, during, or after a trip." -- Philadelphia Inquirer ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Best New Zealand Travel Guide
Being on a long term stay in New Zealand, we have received nearly all the travel guides as gifts. This on is by far and away the most functional. It is not merely a laundry list of sites and hotels, but includes rankings and other information to prioritize your visit. It helps enable you to get the most out of the time you have available. Strongly recomended ... Read more

Book Description

This ingenious city guide to Sydney packages a concise full-color mini guide with a color fold out map. The mini guide contains the top 25 attractions; itineraries, walks, tours, and excursions; capsule reviews of key hotels, restaurants, shops, nightlife, and more; and concise travel facts about getting there and getting around. The full-size color foldout map comes complete with detailed city coverage; neighborhood blowups; public transport, hotels, points of interest, parks, and more. This convenient two-in-one travel resource is perfect for the on-the-go traveler who only needs the highlights of Sydney.
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Reviews (1)

Used this plenty in Sydney
This guide was concise and easy to find things in. It divided the city into the various regions and had what there was to see and do in each area. It was a great fast reference tool for activities and places to see.

If you are using this guide for hotel and restaurant info, that is where it is a bit lacking and I would refer you to another book or to the fodors.com website where on the message boards you can ask Australians or prior travelers about first hand experiences.

Truly a guide to what there is to see and do when in Sydney! (And I hope if you travel there you will love it as much as my new husband and I did!) ... Read more