In parallel, friends of ours gave us the Rough Guide to NZ as a present. This was the first time we used RG outside Europe, and to our amazement the RG was VASTLY better than the LP. Better written, offering interesting perspectives, useful contexts etc. We liked it a lot better.


A great book - if you need it.   January 15, 2002
 2 out of 5 found this review helpful

It's great - typical lonely planet style, but NZ has really well established backpacker trails and if you're planning on jumping on a bus along one of the routes then the bus' have all of the information that you need on them - and you can almost guarantee that someone else on the bus will have the book on the off-chance that you do need it.

If you want to make your own way around NZ then buy one - undoubtedly a good investment.


A really informative guide.   July 30, 2000
 11 out of 12 found this review helpful

I recently spent just over two months backpacking throughout new Zealand, and this book was always close to hand. All of the other backpackers had this guide in varying degrees of tattyness, or older editions tucked in their rucksacks. Of all the travel guides i have seen, in the many countries i have backpacked through, the lonely planet books are continually informative, and are the only series where you believe that the author has visited the place you are staying in!


Brilliant guide to New Zealand   April 26, 2000
 8 out of 9 found this review helpful

I spent over 3 months in New Zealand, and this guide was the one everyone I met had ended up buying. Luckily, I bought it before I went! It's comprehensive, helpful and as close to exhaustive as is humanly possible in such books. If there is any criticism, is that it doesn't reiterate enough how much the weather can interfere with your schedule in South Island. Anyhow, if going to NZ treat this book as much an essential as your passport. Excellent