Unfrozen Caveman
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just let your feet take you where you end up |
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Luleys mum
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My sister backpacks round the world and always uses Lonely Planet guide books. Enjoy your trip. |
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skuddafudda
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lonely planet are the bible for travellers in pretty much any country worth travelling.
whilst youre there though take advice from fellow travellers as this is the best way to learn new stuff and find great places |
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ccf4980
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I've traveled a lot of places and am a big fan of the Lonely Planet guides over some others. Mainly b/c they've got great pictures of the countries/areas that can help spark interest in visiting some different places.
The only downside is that A LOT of people use them, so don't expect to get to too many "undiscovered" places using the LP guides.
Have fun though! |
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Browner_
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Lonely Planet is the best travel guide to use, but when here, go to the nearest tourist information centre, where there are free guides for backpacker type accommodation. |
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Fuzzy Wuzzy
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I was also going to recomend the Lonely Planet books.
There seems to be a pattern here! I guess the Lonely Planet Guide books are the ones to get! LOL
Have fun! |
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JOHN B
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the Travel Independent.com website, this is an analysis of their reviews of the strengths and weakensses of the guides for Australia and New Zealand. See which of these guides fits your planned ideas of travel:
Bug New Zealand: The Backpacker's Ultimate Guide - Tim Uden
Buy/view: in the USA (amazon.com), in Canada (amazon.ca) or in the UK (amazon.co.uk)
As with the Oz version this guide is totally focused on budget travel. In this guide every listing is clearly defined and all accommodation and sightseeing listings include details of prices, opening times, contact details and transport. The guide is updated every year. It's the most thorough listing I've seen of hostels, well organised with good descriptions. However the BBH guide is free and almost as good.
Published: Annually updated (January 1, 2005)
Lonely Planet: New Zealand - Various
Buy/view: in the USA (amazon.com), in Canada (amazon.ca) or in the UK (amazon.co.uk)
This newly updated Lonely Planet is very good indeed it has excellent maps and brilliant accommodation sections including the largest hostel selection of any guide - better than the Rough Guide. However at a push and because it is too overused I would pick the Rough Guide and just take a look at the LP of all the other travellers.
Published: 12th edition (September, 2006)
The Rough Guide to New Zealand - Laura Harper
Buy/view: in the USA (amazon.com), in Canada (amazon.ca) or in the UK (amazon.co.uk)
Highly Recommended
The Rough Guide authors say what they think, and if somewhere is a let down, they will say so. Be warned that prices are always on the increase, and add about 5% to all the prices in this book. New Zealand is a fantastic destination, and one of the most compactly diverse countries in the world, and fast becoming one of the main adventure activity locations in the world. The Rough Guide gives you a huge wealth of information about New Zealand, as well as some in depth history about the country. Its layout is easy to follow, but not very fancy - they don't waste space on prettiness (although the first 20 pages are full colour and a great pictorial intro).
Published: 4th edition (October, 2006)
Footprint: New Zealand Handbook - Darroch Donald
Buy/view: in the USA (amazon.com), in Canada (amazon.ca) or in the UK (amazon.co.uk)
Recommended
Let's face it New Zealand is never going to really be off the beaten track. However, the Footprint guide does allow you to at least find yourself a more un-toursity part of the country and this guide is not in common use. The book is most useful if you have your own transport and you enjoy walking, as its best feature is detailing the large number of 1-5 hour walks you can under-take if you want get out to some of the more incredible and less visited views. However, it may not be detailed enough with regards to the more famous walking tracks (Milford / Keppler etc) and you may want to get the Lonely Planet Tramping guide in addition. I loved this book for its inspirational 2-3 week itineraries, that not only thoroughly cover north and south island, but give you a real flavour of the places you will be visiting. Most importantly this guide book is the only one that actually comes off the fence with its hostel reviews, particularly guaranteeing you won't come across a single bus crowd. It's a great supplement to the free BBH hostel guide.
Published: (September 30, 2005)
I hope these give you some ideas. Have a wonderful trip! Best wishes, John B. |
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Jennifer
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Totally agree with everyone here - Lonely Planet is the best place to start. Then, try connecting with someone who has been there. They will know what worth it to hit and what to skip.
When you get there, ask the locals where is a good place to eat, visit, shop, etc. The Kiwis (New Zealanders) are the friendliest people I've ever met (the Scots are a very close second). And practically every town has an internet cafe, so you can do a little more research while you're there.
Make sure you get to Queenstown - it was my favorite place in all of NZ. And if you liked the Lord of the Rings movies, I highly recommend a book by Ian Brodie that details all the filming locations. You can find it at www.ianbrodie.net. |
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Jacquie6
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I did that in March. How much time are you setting aside for it? There is SO much to see... we went for 3 weeks and did the north island and didn't get any further south than Auckland. WOW at this place. Most beautiful country I've ever seen.
Buy Lonely Planet, it was so great. |
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Brendan
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Two words: LONELY PLANET!, it is by far the best.
Here are some other resources that will make your life MUCH EASIER and can really help you out. There are plenty of internet cafes around and these websites are just awesome.
hostels.com
wikitravel.org
thorntree.lonelyplanet.com
Trust me on these, they will help a lot. Thorntree is a site where you can post questions and you will get answers from other travellers who will probably give you great suggestions. Also, talk to the locals!! You will probably meet some great people and have some awesome experiences, and they probably know best where you can eat, sleep, have fun. |
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crkadct (srlsy)
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Lonely Planet books. I used one of them for Morocco...I couldn't have made it without that book. It will be a great help. |
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BarbieQ
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Lonely Planet always helped me.
Have fun in NZ. It's AWESOME! |
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brancomicguy
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Get a Book Titled New Zealand by DK Publishers. You should be able to find at a bookstore for a good price. |
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Fancy_****
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i would use a lonely planet guide book but they just show you the culture nothing else.
The best place to look for answers on traveling is by asking people not reading books.
I live in nz and i can say that its a very chilled out and loose country. i suggest going to mayor island near tauranga, its just beautiful |
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Chris D
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You could use a lonely planet guidebook, but as I have been to New Zealand 9 times, and spent quite a lot of time there, I could suggest a few places.
1. Tongariro National Park (North Island)-Three of the most incredible mountains in the country. Also, there is excellent lodging in the skotel or chateau on Ruapehu. This is also one of the numurous sites where Lord of the Rings was filmed. Many walking trails also.
2. Eggmont (North Island)-Another mountainous park with many trails.
3. Matamata (North Island)-Sprawling farmland and the site of Hobbiton in LOTR (GO ON THE HOBBITON TOUR-YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!!!-it's not commercialized at all)
4. Remarkables/Queenstown (South Island) Another spectacular mountain range
5. Wellington (North Island)-The city has some large parks for casual strolls. |
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rrbowker2002
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Well, I don't know how great it is, but I know of one called "Backpacking through New Zealand." You can try finding it at the library, but it's probably already checked out... |
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The Squadd
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Zagat's Resturant Guide. Go for the food. |
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Amy N
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you obviously never saw the movie "Hostel" i would suggest watchin it before you go......you will defintely have a change of heart about going back packing anywhere........ |
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JOE :)
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all i have to say is TAKE ME WITH YOU! lol! |
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chad b
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Im living in New Zealand at the moment and funny enough I work at a major internet cafe in Wellington, so I see many backpackers walking in and out daily. To answer your question just ask any local aswell you could buy many books at our book stores. If you do come to New Zealand, come to Wellington and to a internet cafe called Iplay. I will assist you with anything you would like to know :) |
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Rose
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Kia ora fellow travler,
I'm SOooooo Jealous! I lived in the godzone for a year on a student exchange program! I think there are literally dozens of them, and I think I bought them all. I think you really need to get to both islands to take in the best tramping areas.
Your in luck though, N.Z. is a country with a lot of hikers (trampers) and there are a ton of maps and guides available to you at almost any sports/book/travel shops. If you're not talking about literally hiking/backpacking... I think you'll find that there are great hostels in almost every town and city there. My favorites were in the Paihia, auckland, rotorua, wellington, nelson, napier, (I lived in Hamilton, so I can't say either way about accomidations there... though there are some awsome bars and resturants there), and Invercargill.
My best advice though on traveling over there, is to ask the locals. Kiwis are awsome, and so friendly! (they also know the best and most unique places to go, stay and eat!)
Have fun and make memories of a life time! |
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chazzer
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When are you going so it will be taken off of here, hurry up and go!!!! |
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Aussie
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We travelled N & S New Zealand in Jan. 06 I used 2 books NZ Complete Guide by Passport Books & GlobeTrotter New Zealand. You can also contact NZ Visitor Information Network (VIN) website www.nztb.gont.nz/visitor/visitor. NZ has alot of Backpacker Hostels, contact YHA NZ National Resv. Centre www.yha.org.nz |
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Randy R
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Im a creative person I will design your trip to your specifications for a fee of $150. Let me know on email tfilaramo@yahoo.com |
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Faerie loue
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Find out where all they filmed "Lord of the Rings" beautiful scenery. |
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?
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Lonley planet is good.. but has some big holes in it (wonderful areas, that for some reason they just seem to miss out) Best thing is to pick up leaflets and ask other backpackers as u go.... Don`t forget to do Kaikoura - but only in nice weather ! |
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Unefemme
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Lonely Planet guidebooks are always good: they're thorough, detailed and even provide recommendations for accommodations, sights, touristspots, dining and entertainment.
I personally would recommend going to Lake Taupo, Rotorua, Christchurch and of course, Wellington, capital of NZ (although be prepared for some strong winds.)
If you like a bit of real New Zealand culture, you can attend maori performances and visit maraes, especially designed for tourists ;) Look up information on them for performance places.
Also, if you like the sea, go to Coromandel; it's summer here right now and the place is just perfect for strolls along the shore, or sitting under the pohutukawa trees :D
Have fun on your trip around New Zealand! |
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Justin S
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Can I come too? I don't eat very much and would be great company. Just ask your wife |
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Rashad G
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you are fat and ugly |
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SWEETSTEPH
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http://www.newzealand.com/travel/northamerica/ |
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Smitha
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Frommers |
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