1. ISBN13: 9780756615710
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
4. Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Editorial Review :

Recognized the world over by frequent flyers and armchair travelers alike, Eyewitness Travel Guides are the most colorful and comprehensive guides on the market. With beautifully commissioned photographs and spectacular 3-D aerial views revealing the charm of each destination, these amazing travel guides show what others only tell.

Customer Review :

Eyewitness Great as usual (NZ)

This Eyewitness Guide didn't disappoint us as usual. We used it together with 2-3 other travel guides from the library when first planning our forthcoming trip and settled on the Eyewitness one to purchase and take with us. Our only criticism is it is the 2006 issue and the next one isn't available until March 2010 which is too late for us. This means that some of the information is already at least 3-1/2 yrs. old but we still rate the DK books very highly for the way they are organized and most definitely help the user sort out priorities of sites and places to visit. I agree with another reviewer who said the high quality photos and illustrations are helpful and interesting instead of having a book with loads and loads of text. This is easier and more fun to use and still manageable in terms of size, etc. to include in your luggage.

We would have also loved having a large detailed pullout NZ map to map out all the places we are going to visit but are hoping to get this from the NZ Tourist Board.

Rating :

As good as the rest.

I own a few other DK Eyewitness Travel Books and this one is as good as the others. I like to buy them because of the great illustrations and helpful information. There are probably decent travel books with a ton of information but they are not as fun to read as these books. They look and feel like a phone book. I want a travel guide with plenty of pictures and color. I've noticed other reviews that comment on the hotel section being too short. I always book my hotels before I even leave home, so I don't need that section of the book.
I enjoy these books and I'll continue to buy them for any new traveling I do.

Rating :

Putting New Zealand on the Travel Map...

DK Eyewitness Travel Guides typically provide a rich visual and informational introduction to any travel destination. This 2006 guide to New Zealand does not disappoint, with a concise travel narrative embellished by color photos, maps, graphics, and diagrams.

The guide is broken out in the usual DK manner, with an introduction to New Zealand, a survey by area of the North Island and South Island, travelers needs, and a survival guide. New Zealand is one to two long days travel from most US points of origin and is a surprising large and diverse country, ranging from the sub-tropics to the sub-Anarctic.Among the highlights: The big cities of Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch; the spectacular Southern Alps and Fjords on South Island; the beaches in Northland; and the fascinating mixture of Maori and British culture to be found around the country.

Unless the traveler has weeks with which to explore New Zealand, careful advance planning is likely to pay off in opportunities to see more of the country within a limited time. What the guide doesn't cover, the text offers various websites for further investigation. "DK Eyewitness Travel Guide New Zealand" is very highly recommended as an introductory planning guide for what might become the trip of a lifetime.

Rating :

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide to New Zealand is the BEST

We just returned from a trip to New Zealand and this DK Eyewitness Travel Guide was ideal. It gives all the highlights with enough detail to help you to decide what to do or see, and what not to miss. It is helpful to read before your go when planning your trip, and a valued reference guide once you are in a particular place. New Zealand is beautiful and quite fascinating. There are vast differences between the South Island and the North Island and this guide brings each into focus. It also provides the history of this country, which is fascinating and important to understand as this land is particularly isolated. We hope to go back to New Zealand next year, and we will definitely take this guide with us. It offers suggestions for day hikes and longer treks through the southern Alps, new experiences to try in Queenstown the "Adventure Capitol" where bungy jumping was invented, wine tasting opportunities throughout the country, and interesting walks through the beautiful cities such as Christ Church. In general, we are fans of DK Eyewitness Guides because they not only provide great descriptions of places of interest, but they are also very good at restaurant and hotel description and recommendations. They provide an accurate price range, and apt descriptions of the food and ambiance. We have been using these guides for over 15 years, when we travel abroad, and have found that we can always rely on the information contained within them. We find the history of each place, the timelines of events, the color graphics, maps and photographs to be user-friendly, very helpful and engaging.

Rating :

DK does it again!

Dorling Kindersley Publishing (DK Publishing) has once again done a great job in putting together helpful referecne material. From travel guides to fishing books, they are the leaders in fleshing out the most accurate and up to date information. Eyewitness New Zealand is one of those as well.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. ISBN13: 9780470497333
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Customer Review :

Dead weight

I bought this book primarily because it was the most recent book published. I saw some of the bad reviews and figured it was for older version and decided to try it anyways. What a mistake!
I think the writer just find the most expensive accomodation/restaurant and rated it the highest. I'm sure they're great for $500/night. But I think the point is to find good values that we can't otherwise find ourselves.
There were major mistakes too! I went to a company in Franz Josef and not only they got their prices wrong (keep in mind I went 1 month after the release of this book), they also incorrectly say there's a discount when showing the book.
I think "writing" this book is just a way for the author to try the most expensive things in NZ that she couldn't afford herself otherwise.
Save yourself the weight and try a different book.
Oh yeah, don't rely on this book for maps.

Rating :

Can't be relied upon as a single source

Taking the advice from Frommer's New Zealand, 5th edition (2010) for a special place to stay, we called ahead and reserved a room at The Mud Hut in Rotorua (page 218) under "Moments." The way the place was described--"treat yourself to a first-hand experience Maori hospitality...where you'll be able to connect with Maori culture"--and the setting it apart from the rest of the recommended places as a "not to be missed moments in our trip," convinced us to pay double the price (NZ$295 instead of the listed NZ$285) than most of the better hotels in town.

Turns out that this working-class home was far from our ideal of a "chic cottage" and "drop-dead gorgeous B&B." Although the house is reasonably well appointed, it is cheaply made and the art on the walls and stacks of local brochures and pamphlets fail to justify the prominent place given this glowing recommendation. Most strikingly deceiving is the word "hospitality." To travelers, hospitality means human contact with the host and hostess. Instead, we only happened to bump into our landlord, Oscar, because we arrived earlier than 9 PM we had notified him, while he was hiding the key as he had informed us on the phone. He told us that all the instructions were on the sheet of paper and rushed away. We never saw nor heard from him again in the two days of our stay although he lived across the street. He never inquired whether we were comfortable (we had to take cold showers because the only hot water was the thermal water pumped from nearby lava rock into the outdoor tub), and there was no maid service to make the beds and change towels, which is offered in all B&Bs--and no breakfast was included other than boxed cereal in the pantry.

The charming hotels in town charge half the price and offer a lot more friendly atmosphere and "hospitality" with as much local art or music CDs and thermal water baths.

Luckily, this tourist trap was early in our trip. We learned to cross reference this book with Fodor's (which seemed to be more helpful) and never take their recommendations for special "moments," which is normally would be an important element in any travel.


Rating :

We're going to New Zealand

Excellent resource. Just beginning planning. Lots of good information about getting there and what to expect.

Rating :

Good Book.

This book is great but not exactly what I was looking for. I plan on backpacking New Zealand and this book would be little to no use for me. It offers great reviews on hotels and tourist attractions. It would be a great book for someone on a vacation and not on that strict of a budget.

Rating :

Disappointing return to Frommer's NZ

I took a 6 week trip to New Zealand 6 years ago and depended on two great books that helped me tremendously. One was Frommer's, and the other Lonely Planet. So when I ramped up for a 4-week return visit, the first book I ordered was Frommer's, even though the reviews were not terrific. Well. This book was such a disappointment, and proved virtually worthless in planning my trip, unlike the volume from 6 years ago.

First up, the accomodation section is sorely lacking for (truly) middle-class travelers. As another writer mentions, I was stunned by the abundance of listed lodging in the US$400 - $1000 (and up!) per night range. Yikes!! And I was dismayed by the paltry number of lodgings listed at a more reasonable range of US$150 - $300. I did check out a number of these latter on their websites, as well as the official NZ website, but still found better accomodation for the price through links and connections to elsewhere. I booked 28 nights of lodging in NZ using only 1 suggestion from this edition of Frommers. How disappointing. The other bookings are at some truly wonderful, visually beautiful, upscale places, for good prices at Bay of Islands, Whakatane, Gisborne, Nelson, Hokitika, Haast, Queenstown, Te Anau, and Akaroa, -but none listed in Frommers.

As well, some of the great suggestions for things to see away from the main tourist centers, which I found in Frommer's during my last trip, were absent in the present edition. So, from a lodging perspective and a "see the real NZ perspective," this book is just a complete disappointment.

For a helpful guide to traveling NZ, I suggest The Rough Guide to NZ, and the official NZ website.


Rating :

More reviews...

1. ISBN13: 9780767921992
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Review :

pleased

this book was in good shape and shipped to me right away - thank you

Rating :

enjoyable read

This is the lesser of the three books by Troost, if only because there is a bit of the ex-pat feel to it. The book is still a great and quick read, with overtones of serious kava usage (actually made me buy some Vanuatu kava, which is quite potent). The book is quite funny still.

Rating :

Not As Good As The First

Good, but I don't really think it was as good as the first. Though still very laugh out loud funny, Troost seemed to have been trying to hard to achieve what appeared to be more easily gained in his first book.

After finding himself in a boring 9-5 type of job, Maarten and Sylvia can't wait to get back to the life that they had had on Tarawa. This time it's the more settled Vanuatu and Fiji. Though still a bit rustic, with Kava, anything is doable, and so Maarten and Sylivia set out for this adventure.

This lifestyle doesn't seem as challenging as Tarawa, but still they do find themselves in a quagmire to two, but they are veterans at this paradise thing so what are a few cannibal, bugs and mother nature. Besides, when you have the local chiefs living next door. Life's a piece of cake.

Rating :

Everything I was looking for in a book about Vanuatu and the Pacific Islands

Absolutely, hands down one of the best traveling books I've read. Maarten brings the Pacific Islands to his readers with humor and honesty. A must read if you want a some history and laugh out loud stories.

Rating :

I'd pay good money to travel with Troost

I read Troost first book, Sex Lives of the Cannibals, twice. I read Getting Stoned three times. I have read several of the user reviews and will add Amen, to what they write. This is not a typical travel guide, more like a guide to living and putting up with the locals, who have no idea what a hot shower means to an American. But the book is quite fun to read. Again and again. In fact, I think I'll put on the night table right now.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. ISBN13: 9781741047141
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Insider Guide, Aloha Spirit

Recommended itineraries help you plan your vacation by time or interest
Opinionated reviews and Our Pick icons guide you to the best choices for your trip
Interviews with locals offer additional insider tips and insights
Simple to use, with color-coded chapter and 50 easy-to-follow maps

In This Guide:

Sustainable icon highlights establishments that preserve Hawaiian environment, culture and identity
Stunning highlights chapter showcases Maui's very best beaches, sights and experiences
Activities chapter gives the lowdown on island adventure, from bodysurfing to ziplining
Road to Hana chapter leads you curve by curve along this magical highway

Customer Review :

Good guide, but not best among stiff competition

This is a good and up to date guide to Maui. Photography is gorgeous, and information in it is solid. But I don't feel it quite lives up to the standard of "Maui Revealed". That book and the other Hawaii guides from Wizard Publications seemingly can't be beat for conveying confidence that the guide writer has lived what is being written about and has the real scoop on the places you will visit. The Lonely Planet guide here is also worth buying, but only as a supplement to the other book.

Rating :

Maui the easy way

I love this book. its realy fun to read and full of pictures for those of us who desire some isslustrations. I got this book as a gift from a tourist couple from Florida when I was at the airport.

Rating :

Finally in full color!

Just got back from a trip to Maui, the Lonely Planet really helped. Good collection of ideas and things to do. I liked the full color version over the old Lonely Planets I have for various destinations!
Road to Hana chapter was a bit dissapointing, it did not mention that there is NO place to stay until you reach the end...

Rating :

Good Info

Very well done.

Looks like a new type of format compared to most Lonely Planet books but I like it.

Rating :

More isn't always better.

Lonely Planet: Maui
In the spirit of Facebook's 25 Random Things here is a list of the top 25 good and bad things about this book:
1. Magnificent pictures -if you didn't want to go to Maui before, you will now
2. Has an itinerary for everyone - whether you have 4 kids or are always looking to save the environment, lonely planet has an itinerary for you
3. In addition to being organized by area, there are sections just for outdoor activities, how to be green in Maui, and the history and culture of Maui
4. Literally every single thing you can do on this island is in the book - this can be a good or bad thing
5. Following #4, it is overwhelming to read if you do not have a good idea of what Maui offers beforehand - having finished the whole book I have no idea what to do or where to stay unless I can go for a really long time
6. Includes in depth sections on The Road to Hana and Haleakala National Park
7. Includes extra sections on the surrounding islands - Lana'I and Moloka'i
8. Gives you the touristy stuff and the local secrets
9. Well written - the words really bring Maui to life
10. The book could really use a tear out map, like some other travel books have - because it is so in depth it is hard to figure out where things are without a separate map of all of Maui
11. Includes a Top Experiences in Maui section
12. The writers include a little green clover next to anything that is sustainable or a green product
13. Equally useful for experienced and novice surfers
14. Includes Island Voices sections where different local people are asked about their connection to Maui and what they do for a living
15. Gives you tips for getting involved in volunteer activities
16. Has a Top Picks or Don't Miss section every few pages
17. Includes brief sections on the Hawaiian language
18. Gives you a brief lesson on music in Hawaii
19. Has a food glossary so you know what you're eating
20. Has a list of price information for a quick reference
21. Like all travel books includes information on planning your trip and local necessities
22. Relatively small and compact book
23. Includes a brief section on habits and customs
24. Has a bio of the authors in the back
25. Overall, very useful book in conjunction with a map and some guidance from other visitors

Overall the book was helpful but it provided way too much information about everything and as such was a slog to look through and plan a trip from. I would say that this is a great reference book about Maui, but as a travel guide, it falls kinda flat. I hope in the future Lonely Planet will take a note from Facebook and Twitter and say more with less space, by not including every detail in the book and sorting what is included in an easier to plan format.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. ISBN13: 9780140094299
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Review :

Great subject, poor plot

In "The Songlines," Bruce Chatwin shares his journey through the "arid scrub" of Outback Australia with Arkady Volchock, an Australian citizen originally from Ukraine. Chatwin's wit and intellect shine through. He spills secrets of late nights in bars, exotic women, and corrupt police officers.
The novel combines fiction and autobiography to form a dramatic account of his adventures. The first half is prose but the second half includes quotes, notes and observations about nomadic people and the importance of travel. It would have been less choppy and easier to follow if he included these fragmented notes throughout his story when they related best instead of all of them at the end.
It is important to note that during the time this book was written and published, Chatwin was dying of HIV/AIDS.These stories have extreme sentimental value, as Chatwin describes, "To lose a passport was the least of one's worries: to lose a notebook was a catastrophe." He wanted to share his stories before he died.
If you are looking for an informational book about Songlines and Aborigine beliefs, there are better options. Chatwin uses Australia as a setting to describe man's desire to preserve his history and defend his tribe instead of fighting for power.
"The Songlines" is written in a simple and streamlined style, which makes it easy to read. Sentences are poetic yet to the point: the perfect balance.
The plot was anti-climatic. As the book progresses, Chatwin deeply develops the characters and the reader shares their emotions. However, there is no real climax despite all of the build up.
The reader should search beyond the book's literal meaning in order to learn about human nature and even his or herself.

Rating :

Bruce Chatwin wrote half a book...

The Songlines really captured my attention. Human ecology, cultural anthropology, human evolution, cultural imperialism, Songlines, Native Australians ("aborigines"), travels... this is a book with information about a people and a place. I enjoyed the flow and pace of the story, and I hope I learned the reality of Native Australian culture.

However, Bruce Chatwin chose to use this book to publish assorted observations, quotes, and reflections from other travels. For me (me), they affected the flow of his storytelling, my ability to focus on the theme - Australia, not nomads - and the ending. Perhaps this is a style thing, and I don't know if Chatwin applies this style in his other books.

Didn't work for me. I wanted a conclusion to his original story.

Rating :

Annoying interjections

The first sentence sounded promising:"In Alice Springs - a grid of scorching streets where men in long white socks were forever getting in and out of Land Cruisers - I met a Russian who was mapping the sacred sites of the Aboriginals." And indeed what follows in the next thirty or so chapters is a very readable and insightful travelogue of a British (author? archaelogist? historian?) "going bush" with Arkady Volchok, trying to learn about the mythical Aboriginal songlines. Not understandably, then, the author throws in bits and pieces of the protagonist's notebooks, which all more or less anthropological citations and thoughts from very different sources. The concept reminded me a bit of the motif in "The English Patient", where Almasy carries a copy of Herodotus' The Histories with him, adding his own notes and observations. Fortunately, in Ondaatje's novel, this remains a motif which does not disrupt the plot itself. With "The Songlines", however, I found myself flicking impatiently through the interjection-pages in order to get back to the story.

Rating :

Aboriginals in Australia

In Alice Springs the narrator called Bruce meets Arkady Volchok, an Australian citizen who is mapping the sacred sites of the Aboriginals. Arkady is fascinated by them, by their grit and tenacity and their ways of dealing with white people. Arkady speaks a couple of their languages and he is often astounded by their intellectual vigour, their memory and their capacity to survive.
It was during his time as a schoolteacher in Walbiri that Arkadi learned of the labyrinth of invisible pathways which meander all over Australia and are known to Europeans as Songlines - a way for Aboriginals to sing out the name of everything that crosses their path during their wanderings: birds, animals, plants, rocks, waterholes and so sing the world in existence.
When a route is suggested for a new Alice to Darwin railway line, Arkady's job is to identify the traditional landowners, to drive them over their old hunting grounds and to get them to reveal which rock or soak or ghost-gum is the work of a Dreamtime hero. Bruce is happy to join Arkady and to spend some time "out bush".
The reader of this novel learns a lot about Australia and the Aboriginals. The plot and the characters however are a bit thin. One finds it hard to sympathise with the Aboriginal figures appearing in the story. What they have to say and the way they express themselves amounts to practically nothing. It seems as though they need the white people to tell their stories and traditions.


Rating :

Fascinating, informative, and original work

The Songlines is an amazing book: it's not just travel writing, although it's partly that. It's not just philosophy or social commentary although it's partly that. It's not just autobiography although it's partly that also. The format is very different: partly non-fiction describing the world of some aboriginals and partly a collection of the insights of the creative and brilliant mind of Bruce Chatwin.

Rating :

More reviews...