1. ISBN13: 9781741048162
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Discover New Zealand

Glimpse Mitre Peak through the mist on majestic Milford Sound
Hold your nose and dip your toes in a Rotorua thermal pool
Shelter from windy Wellington with the arts crowd in a low-lit lounge bar
Enjoy a hangi - but stop short of getting a moko - on a Maori cultural tour

In This Guide:

Food & Drink chapter by Lauraine Jacobs, editor of award-winning Cuisine magazine
You asked, we listened - more budget accommodation
Content updated daily - visit lonelyplanet.com for up-to-the-minute reviews, updates and traveler insights

Customer Review :

Get Lonely Planet and Nz Frenzy

We just got back from weeks in New Zealand! God it was great when the sun was shining, but the South was a bit wet. Anyhow, we bought a Lonely Planet, were given a Rough Guide, and when we got to Auckland we bought an Nz Frenzy. We liked Lonely planet more than Rough Guide, but they both cover almost exactly the same stuff, and neither gives enough details about trails and directions to beaches and waterfalls. The Nz Frenzy book was definitely our favorite to get us to cool spots on the North Island, but it only covers the North and there is no South one, so that was disappointing. Overall we agree that you should get a Lonely Planet for all the traveler essentials, but definitely get an Nz Frenzy if you have your own car/van on the North. Also you'll need a good map because it's just too hard to use all the little maps in Lonely Planet. Hope you find Kerosene creek and Tongaporutu on the North and Kaikoura's cute seals on the South. Cheers!!

Rating :

Good compromise between level of detail and portability

After one week in New Zealand I realized a travel guide was essential to get the best benefits from our journey. So I picked this book in a bookshop in Masterton. It was difficult to pick one, because there were several guides to choose from.
I did not regret my choice! From that day on, I carried it along with me wherever I went and I was always able to find useful information in it. It helped us to find interesting sights and accomodations we would certainly have missed without it.
We did not find any inaccuracy in the factual information. Recomendations are not facts, they are a matter of taste, but most of the time we found things that were listed as "Our pick" at least "pretty good indeed", even though our personal pick might be different.
My only regret is I did not buy the book BEFORE we started our trip. If I had done that, it might have saved me some problems I encountered in the first week, when I did not have it yet.
Now that I have returned home, I know it will be a great help in writing the blog postings about our journey.

Rating :

Useless, basically

This Lonely Planet is basically useless for families. The authors are all single, adventure-seekers and have probably never changed a diaper in their lives. So they go on about sky-diving and hiking 75 km trails around Christchurch and grabbing a beer here and there... Not practical for many.

This books also presumes you know WHERE you want to go in New Zealand. There's no explanation about choosing north vs. south island. Instead, it's just an endless mish-mash of "activities" without any real themes to it all except the "maori" and "nature". Unless you read the entire book cover-to-cover, you won't know what to do.

Not recommended unless you have all the time in the world to research the trip. And that's not why one buys a guidebook! Last point -- there's limited visual appeal with almost no color/photos -- the book looks mostly like a newspaper.




Rating :

Lonely Planet NZ is great....and....

I feel that I know NZ really well--I've spent 4 NZ summers and over 270 days camping and exploring the wonders of New Zealand. And, OhMyGod, the natural wonders of NZ blow me away!!

Lonely Planet New Zealand excels at examining and reviewing and lending insight into the places and activities and attractions that have been commercialized. LP knows cities, hotels, motels, backpackers, tours, restaurants, and museums. LP knows tourist attractions, jet boats, bungees, sky-dives, zorbs, helicopter flights, ferries. LP knows tour bus companies, resorts, amusement parks, and wildlife centers. LP knows hours of operation, prices, websites, and phone numbers.

Lonely Planet is filled with helpful info snippets about each town and what to expect from it--whether touristy or rural, or possibly just "don't bother". LP details the history of each town and region and gives you a general sort of "flavor" for each part of NZ.

In essence, if you are traveling to NZ for the first time, I would definitely encourage you to get an LP or one of its brethren (or an older copy). You'll DEFINITELY benefit from all of LP's maps and Auckland info and all the reviews of all the commercialized "tourist" attractions. Choosing which of the mainstream guidebooks is not any easy choice--I've looked at them all and own quite a few and I still can't tell you which one is "best"--they all vary and have their strong points. But you should DEFINITELY get at least one, even if you consider yourself a total seat-of-the-pants traveler (I've met SO many NZ travelers without any guidebooks, typically people on a round-the-world "Big Trip", and I feel that they just cheat themselves because all the "free" info they get from the Info-sites is often crap, and they end up at the touristy spots because they get no "free" info about anything that's not commercialized). Believe me, when you get to NZ you'll soon realize that EVERY commercial attraction or activity will be bombarding you with info and brochures...what you won't find info about is FREE places--the wondrous natural spots without admission prices, hours of operation, or parking lots filled with tourist buses...the "Real" NZ.

My major gripe with LP (and Rough Guide, DK, etc) is that they don't pay their authors enough and give them enough time to actually visit the uncommercialized beaches, forests, hikes, natural hot springs, mtn tops, caves, swimming holes, etc etc. They all expect their authors to spend their time in the towns and cities detailing the commercialized offerings at each locale--the restaurants, hotels, tours, etc.. This info is what these books are about--the "commercialized". Almost all the info about hikes and such in LP is just parroting NZ's "Dept of Conservation" brochures. It's easy to tell, once you've been in NZ a bit, that the authors have not actually walked to the peaks nor swam in the rivers nor soaked in the remote hot springs.

BUT, isn't this what you're going to New Zealand for?? To actually embrace uncommercialized and untouched nature? Aren't you imagining remote beaches, jungly fern forests, sweeping mountain vistas, glaciers descending to the sea, hot spring Shangri-las, crystal clear plunge pools under charging waterfalls, beaches where hot water bubbles thru the sand, beach coves fit to be cathedrals...places where there are no lines of tour buses...places where it's just you and unfettered nature?? Unfortunately, this is where LP lacks, as do the others. You'll want an LP for the extensive commercialized info, but don't think LP/RG/DK will guide you off the beaten path. They won't. They are the beaten path.

I learned from my years in NZ that just because LP/RG doesn't talk about the huge "hidden" waterfalls, hot springs, swimming coves, etc...doesn't mean that they don't exist. The country is FULL of "hidden" spots, most of which are completely overlooked by the major guidebooks. Their authors have no time (or possibly motivation) to find the sweet free spots.

There are plenty of sweet, free, off-the-tourist path spots...they EXIST and they're AMAZING. Don't get an LP and think that just because they haven't told you about any cool natural places between towns A and B, that there are no cool spots --it's just that their authors probably haven't found them in their hurry to get to the next town and get to reviewing the restaurants and hotels and such. What make NZ such an amazing travel destination for an English-speaker is that in NZ getting off-the-path is safe and generally worry-free...unlike in most of the Third World where off-the-path can equate to "take-your-chances". LP and their ilk treat NZ as if it were another Third World "scary" travel location, and only give you info about "safe" places. But NZ isn't like that--it's very safe to go find your own Eden...and wonderfully, there's an Eden at the end of many a road once you get away from the commercialized tourism and know which road to take.
I say GET A LONELY PLANET--you will benefit from it, no doubt. But know that NZ has so much more to offer than the commercial stuff LP presents. Go ahead, scratch the surface...NZ is a safe and wonder-filled country. Bring an LP, but then put it down and find some ADVENTURE!!!!



Rating :

Essential for backpackers

If you plan a trip - I would recommend a longer one if you really want to experience the country - this guide is necessary to have, it would give you every essential information you need to know about everything, with appropriate dose of humor and wit. If you are buying this book just for mere dreaming of New Zealand, it will give you pretty good touch of the country, but it doesn't go deep into the material, so don't expect too much - rather buy real travel memoirs. This book is primarily for people who are really going to this country, who need basic information to orient themselves around, and who intend to learn more by themselves on the spot. Just like real backpackers :-)

Rating :

More reviews...

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 :

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 :

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 :

More reviews...

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

Editorial Review :

Customer Review :

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 :

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 :

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 :

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 :

We're going to New Zealand

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

Rating :

More reviews...

Editorial Review :

A profoundly powerful and inspirational memoir.

In 1993, Judith and Michael Sleavin and their two children set out to live their dream: to sail around the world. But one night, a freighter off the coast of New Zealand altered its course by a mere ten degrees. And changed everything. After surviving forty-four hours in the water, with a back broken in several places and paralyzed below the waist, Judith miraculously survived. Doctors would later say she suffered one of the worst cases of post-traumatic stress syndrome ever documented. News of the collision made headlines around the world, but, distraught, Judith never talked to the press. Her body was broken, and so was her soul.

Twelve years later, Judith turned to her best friend, Hester Rumberg, and asked her to write what was too painful for her to write. The result is a gripping, unbelievable yet true story of one family’s love, of profound loss, and of a remarkable woman who decided to live when others might have decided otherwise. But always it is a stunning account of survival, a meditation on the strength of friendship and community. It is a universal tale of how any of our lives might be unexpectedly altered, how we might have to change what we hope for, and how we can move forward in times of tragedy.

Judith Sleavin now divides her time between Portland, Oregon, and New Zealand.

Customer Review :

Wow, what a story

This book had me in tears the majority of the time. It was really well written and I think raises awareness about things that most people have no idea about. I really did like this book.

Rating :

A survivor

When telling a co-worker about this book and how it had affected me, she asked, "Why are you reading it--it sounds so depressing." "Because Judy Sleavin survived," I replied, and being totally in awe of how she did it.

I found myself actually not breathing a few times while I was reading Ten Degrees of Reckoning. To say that it is a riveting story cheapens what is in fact a horrendous real-life event. Ms. Rumberg does an excellent job of laying out the facts. Yes, she is obviously a good friend of Ms. Sleavin, but this does not at all detract from the facts of the disaster, and the appalling lack of accountability from the Pan Ocean Shipping Company (and, as an aside, Senator Slade Gorton, page 217, who should also be ashamed of himself).

Everyone should read this book to revel in the truly amazing depths the human spirit can go through in order to survive, the humanity that can be shown by caring individuals (Pan Ocean Shipping and Senator Gorton excluded), and also to become aware of how the Death on the High Seas Act can affect anyone who travels on a plane or ship in international waters.

Five stars--no question.


Rating :

Very suspenseful

Ten Degrees of Reckoning has all the elements of a good story: the forces of nature, man's inhumanity to man, love of family and friends, the will to survive and psychological trauma.

The book is suspenseful and well worth reading. It is a short book and will not take much time to read.
I would have like to hear more directly from Judy, the subject of the book.


Rating :

Great book - important subject

My husband and I were at a sailboat show last weekend, and we met the author - Hester Rumberg. We casually discussed her book, and frankly, mostly because it was on the Kindle (which is how we read most of our books), and to support a sailboat show vendor, we bought the book. I'm a huge reader - and very picky. Shame on me, but the truth it, I didn't really expect to be impressed. I thought if there was a great sailing book out there, I would have read it.

Boy was I wrong.

Without giving away too much about the book or the author (because that relationship is a key piece of what makes this book work), the writing is good. The subject is engrossing. There are few 'stops' in the book - it flows easily from one element to the next. It is overwhelmingly sad at points, full of hope at others. I laughed, I cried, I was moved.

I find myself replaying parts of this book over and over. I am drawn to the subject, and now I want to learn more about international maritime law. Isn't that the hallmark of a great book? I am so lucky to have stumbled upon this great author and book. Definitely a great read.

Rating :

Heartbreaking Stuff

Ten Degrees of Reckoning is very heart-breaking stuff. The book would have received five stars instead of four if the author had actually been able to write better. The author is not really a writer, which becomes apparent as she just jumps around the events willy-nilly, not actually linking the important points together. On the lack of good writing, I completely agree with a two-star review from Andy written March 31, 2009. The only reason I bring up the bad writing is that it interferes with what is a compelling, tragic tale.

A few thoughts came to me as I read about the family's struggle to survive in the open ocean water (after their boat was destroyed). One, and this may not sound charitable, is that humans are simply not meant to be out on the open ocean, at least not in small craft. Think about it. Can we drink salt water and survive? Can we swim for days at a time? We are not fish, sea turtles, whales, dolphins, or sea lions. We are land animals, and that's where we belong (you can tell I care not for the ocean). I'm sorry the family suffered so much, but as humans, we are completely out of our element on the open ocean (I'm sure sailors would disagree). The second thought I had, is after I talked to a polyurethane foam salesman, I found out there is a requirement for small craft to have enough polyurethane foam built into their structure (hull?), that even if the boat is cut in half, it would still float. Why didn't the Melinda Lee float longer than a minute or two? Was it an older construction? If they had a vessel with unsinkable polyurethane foam in the hull, maybe they could have held onto it - we will never know.

At any rate, my heart goes out to the family of this tragedy. I think the survivor may have been better off asking Sebastian Junger, author of "The Perfect Storm" to write the book. It probably would have become a best seller, and then the maritime safety foundation the survivor started would have more money to help prevent this sort of tragedy in the future.



Rating :

More reviews...

Editorial Review :

Make tracks across the spectacular range of New Zealand landscapes. The deep valleys of Fiordland and Mt Aspiring beckon, the Marlborough Sounds call, the volcanoes of Tongariro are steaming ... explore on foot the natural wonders of this country from coast to Cook. foreword by New Zealand adventurer Peter Hillary 53 detailed trail descriptions for trampers of all levels colour section on the Great Walks of New Zealand two-colour contour maps for all featured tramps essential accommodation and transport information expert advice on equipment, health and environ- mentally responsible walking

Customer Review :

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.

Rating :

Absolute Must for Tramping tourists

I bought this book about a year ago and I'm not going to NZ until 2010, but I just wanted to get to know the tramps and the areas around them. Once Again, lonely planet delivers a 5* guide. This is an absolute must if you travel to NZ for the sake of tramping.

Rating :

Great book with all the basic info you need

The book had all the basic info. you need for hiking in New Zealand. It's easy to read with a couple of nice pictures. Enjoy!

Rating :

Limited day hiking info; good for multi-day treks

If you are going to New Zealand to hike the multi-day tracks called the Great Walks, this is a pretty good guide to them, but is somewhat dated (over 4 years old). What really surprised us on our recent trip is that for the most part you can't do a day hike on many of the famous Great Walks such as Milford, Kepler, or Heaphy. The trails are designed to be one-way multi-day hike trails with a designated start and end spot for backpackers who want to camp or stay in the huts.

There are a couple of locally written hiking books that have good information on 2-8 hour day hikes in New Zealand that let you sample some of the Great Walks that are not one-way routes. One of the most useful is "Day Walks in New Zealand" by Shaun Barnett. It has 100 day treks on both the north and south island with some amazing two dimensional maps and beautiful photos. We used the book on a two week trip to the South Island and found some wonderful hikes from the book in the Milford Sound area that let you stay at nice hotels and lodges and still experience the back country and beauty of New Zealand. For example, the book highlights the hike to Lake Marian near the Hollyford Track and the day hike to Key Summit which is part of the Routeburn Track. It also has wonderful short hikes in Abel Tasman National Park using the water taxi services, several hikes in Mt Cook National Park, and multiple tramps in Mount Aspiring Park as well. The book is produced in New Zealand but is listed on Amazon so you should be able to buy it before you leave.

Another great resource for shorter hikes is the New Zealand Department of Conservation website: [...] It has a lot of useful planning information to supplement any books you purchase on Amazon to help in your trip planning.

Rating :

Great reference guide

By far the best guide available about tramping opportunities in NZ. The track guides are pretty accurate and provide a good overview of what to expect.

Rating :

More reviews...