travelling in new zealand
2006-12-27 05:07:52 · 95 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Australia ➔ Other - Australia
just let your feet take you where you end up
2006-12-27 05:09:15 · answer #1 · answered by Unfrozen Caveman 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
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.
2006-12-27 21:34:00 · answer #2 · answered by JOHN B 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
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.
2006-12-27 14:52:54 · answer #3 · answered by Jennifer 1 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Lonely Planet. It's the best way to go. I backpacked new zealand in 2002 and used their guidebook. I wouldn't choose another. It details sights, how to get there, and is perfect for a traveller on a budget. Others, such as Frommers, are great too, but tend to ignore financial constraints (e.g. many of the food suggestions are pricey).
Let me recc a few places to hit up too:
SOUTH ISLAND:
Franz Joseph Glacier -- hike it (or its brother glacier nearby)
Te Anu (beutiful town, don't waster money seein gthe glow worms... very "tourist-y")
Christchurch -- and the town to the east on the pennisula -- I forget the name right now -- starts with an A... it gorgesous though
The North West of the South Island was my least favorite.
NORTH ISLAND
Aukland
Rotaturo (awesome plce)
2006-12-29 05:04:28 · answer #4 · answered by ael2112 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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!
2006-12-30 13:31:52 · answer #5 · answered by Unefemme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lonely Planet books are a great source of current and accurate information. I used them for my travels in New Zealand and managed to cover both North & South Island in just 11 days! (Wish I could have stayed longer though).
I suggest that you also get an intercity buspass that gives you travel time to any destination. You can purchase them according to the number of hours you need. After that, all you have to do is call up the Customer Service number on the card and you'll be booked into the schedule automatically. On the day of the travel, just show up at the bus-stop for your trip... no messy ticketing etc.
Happy Travelling!
2006-12-28 19:44:37 · answer #6 · answered by maverick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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.
2006-12-28 02:24:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
As has already been suggested, Lonely Planet would be your best bet. It's so well known and popular for a reason! :) Have fun in New Zealand, and be careful of mountains, snowstorms, deserts, sharks, and the general "wilderness" area -- I've been watching FAR too many of those survival shows on the Discovery channel, and now I'm paying the price. LOL But seriously, have funnnnnnnnnn!
2006-12-30 03:11:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seeing New Zealand; an illustrated travel guide
2006-12-28 05:08:03 · answer #9 · answered by dappel_11 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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
2006-12-28 00:35:35 · answer #10 · answered by Aussie 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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!
2006-12-27 23:44:28 · answer #11 · answered by Rose 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋