1 comments about Blue Guide Australia.

1. More than "just" a travel guide, this book offers thought-provoking insights into Australian culture through essays that provide an insider's look at the territory for the visitor (or would-be visitor).

   I found the section of colorful and quirky Australian dialect especially entertaining and illuminating.

   I've never been to Australia but after reading this book I am more anxious to travel there. This book is a comprehensive and useful travel guide PLUS.

3 comments about New Zealand Essential Guide (Aaa Essential New Zealand).

1. Whether or not I agree with its top ten list, I cross-checked it over and over in planning my upcoming trip. Compact, well-written and informative -- it may be the only guide I put in my suitcase.



2. This guide's major advantage is its size. The guide highlights all of the major New Zealand attractions with a terse, yet comprehensive, style. It may not have all of the information you need in New Zealand, but it will certainly help!



3. I bought this book expecting it to be quite useful on our recent trip. We've just returned from 4 weeks driving throughout New Zealand, and this book was worthless. I guess it might be worth buying if you're only going to be in New Zealand for a short week and don't expect to wander far from your hotel, but if you're spending any time there -- or if you're looking for a guide that will help you explore what New Zealand really has to offer -- don't waste your money buying this guide. The places shown as "must see" are very limited, with glaring omissions, and there are a lot of better (and much less expensive) hotels and restaurants than listed. Some of the information is just plain inaccurate, and even some of the maps have errors in them. We wound up trading this guide for a dog-eared Tony Hillerman novel in one of the places we stayed, and we got the better part of the deal. If you're looking for a good guide that will give you accurate information and lots of things to choose from, it's better to spend a little more and buy Frommer's or Fodor's. If you're looking for a good map, I highly recommend the AA New Zealand Road Atlas (paperback) -- it was our bible when it came to finding our way around the country.

No comments about Let's Go New Zealand 7th Edition (Let's Go New Zealand).

3 comments about New Zealand Bed & Breakfast Guide, 2006: New Zealand's Leading Guide To Accommodation With Character.

1. This book was very helpfull, especially with the pictures of the B&B's, in making our desicions where to stay. We have been to New Zealand before, but this was a great help. If one is going to travel NZ on their own, I would recomend this.



2. A good book with lots of information on B&B's throughout New Zealand.
   Also small enough to take with you.



3. The guide is organized geographically, even within a region, which is not especially helpful to those who don't know their way around. Properties are not listed alphabetically within a town. Alphabetically by town then name within a region would be more useful. The blurbs for each property are written by the owners so there's a wide range of value in the text. Addition of a set of ideograms to describe basic amenities would also be a great help in identifying a property meeting one's criteria.

No comments about New Zealand North Island Map by Hema.

No comments about Sydney: History of a Landscape.

3 comments about The Rough Guide to New Zealand 2 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. This first edition of the New Zealand Rough Guide has taken its place as the best overall travel book for the country. As with others in its series, this Rough Guide gives a thorough description of all the cultural and recreational aspects that a first time or a seasoned traveler "downunda" should know. For the basic information concerning accommodation or eating, the Rough Guide follows its practice of offering choices for every price level but it doesn't act as listing agent for each and every hostel, hotel, B & B or cafe. In that regard, the Rough Guides encourage the traveler to look for him or herself instead of following the standardized tourist formula.

   But it's heavy on the activities for specific woderful areas like Kaikoura, the Otago Peninsula, Wanaka and many, many more. The color photographs are an appealing addition, also.




2. Just returned from a 21-day journey to Kiwi-country, and used the Rough Guide extensively. From Dunedin to Auckland, the book spells out excursions, accommodations and lifestyle samples in various price ranges better than most other guide books.

   Format is simple to read, easy to find just what you need. We were turned on to some great motels and B&Bs, excellent eateries and a few adventure tours along the way. Maps of cities were quite helpful. Other books have prettier pictures, but this one does the best job of finding stuff to DO in NZ.

   This review refers to the 2000 2nd Ed.




3. With a copy of this guide at hand, I've tried several times to read the whole thing front to back in order to digest all of the information and be able to come up with a coherent plan to visit New Zealand, but I find the writing dense and unentertaining. Perhaps the subject matter is difficult-- as a primarily outdoor destination, New Zealand may not lend itself easily to a list of places to see and things to do. Nevertheless, in despair at wading through this long but boring tome, I have ordered the Lonely Planet guides in the hopes that they will be more readable.

3 comments about Periplus Travel Maps New Zealand, 2005/2006: Country Map (Periplus Travel Maps) (Australia Regional Maps).

1. This map is useless if you plan on driving the North and South Islands. You are better off picking up free maps when you get there.



2. I am using this map a lot- my friends say that I overthink things but I have 12 days on the ground to cram all that I can into- Not to mention covering LOTS of ground to cover. This map has been vital to planning my trip. I have not yet had the experience to tell you if it was accurate or not, but soon I will be able to tell you exactly how many miles are in an inch of this map.....and have photos of every one of them!



3. This map is an absolute waste of money. I didn't open it once
   during my 3 weeks in New Zealand. The country map has roads on
   it, but no markings indicating the road name or number - try
   finding your way around without that information sometime.
   You can get much better maps for free in New Zealand. If you
   rent a car, they'll likely give you a good map with the rental
   (at least Budget did). Jason's and AA (their version of AAA)
   also put out free maps that you can pick up at the airport,
   information centers, hotels, and various other places.

No comments about 31 Days in a Campervan: Trolling Around New Zealand.

No comments about The Rainbow Serpent.