3 comments about Drive-about: A Road Trip Through New Zealand and Australia.

1. An amusing collage of adventures through New Zealand and Australia.



2. A very entertaining read about two young dare-devils. Interesting,informative and the author's dry wit is reminiscent of Bill Bryson



3. Drive-About is an attention engaging travelogue by Jeff Green of a road trip he took that introduced him to the sights, wonders, and cultures of New Zealand and Australia. From "crazy kiwis"; to lush rainforests; to meeting Aboriginals and sampling their "witchetty grub" (the larval stage of a large moth) as a snack, Drive-About is colorful, adventurous, exotic, which is especially recommended for armchair travelers -- and would well serve as a trip-planning template for anyone contemplating vacations in Australia or New Zealand.

1 comments about Wild at Heart: The South Island's West Coast.

1. I was looking for books on New Zealand because I very much want to go there when I found this one. The title grabbed me straight off. I liked it because it wasn't a touristy book, but it gave enough information and history to make me thirsty for more. The author hits the high spots and throws in his own humor that kept me reading. I recomend this book to anyone who wants a charming look at Coaster history and society, and what it has to offer a vacationer.

2 comments about This Is New Zealand.

1. I recently bought my first copy of this book in the Auckland airport. I ordered my second copy for a friend. In addition to being a beautiful "picture book" with photos the quality that I wish I had taken while there, this book provides extensive text with factual information on most aspects of life in New Zealand ranging from the land and its climate, its fauna and flora to its history and the quality of life there today. This is a great book for anyone planning a visit or wishing to recall the special beauties of this wonderful country after returning from a visit. Or you may "visit" this country through this book. It is a very up-to-date publication, we even recognized photos of some of the same Maori performers we saw in concert during our recent visit! This is a very comprehensive publication, I think that it is outstanding!



2. I've been searching for a book other than a tourist's guide to New Zealand to learn more about my husband's home country. This is the book! Filled with lots of relevant (and recent) information, including gorgeous photos, this book is amazing. I can't wait to visit this beautiful country with him and see it for myself!

3 comments about Culture Shock! New Zealand (Culture Shock! Guides).

1. We run an international recruitment company assisting migrants from the UK to settle in New Zealand and have been looking for suitable book(s) to give them as preparation for what to expect on arrival. We ourselves have lived in several different countries and my husband is a migrant to NZ so we knew what we were looking for in this regard. I was really disappointed to find that many books which were last 'updated' or 'revised' in 2003 or 2004 have actually only had minimal revisions and are quite out of date on most aspects including referring to legislation or government departments that changed in 2000-2001. Not so with this one - all information is up to date as at 2004, and I only noticed 3 minor factual errors or omissions in the whole book.
   
   Peter has written a good general introduction to life in NZ and shares from his own experiences as a migrant. The book highlights aspects of NZ lifestyle that immigrants from a variety of backgrounds could find new or unusual and he provides a fairly good list of information websites at the back of the book for people who are willing to do their own legwork to find out more. I was pleased to find that Culture Shock has added a New Zealand title to their list as I have found their books useful for other countries, and as a New Zealander I would have to agree with the information that Peter is presenting. It will be interesting to see how our new migrants find it! The only wish I would have is that it could cover even more ground, but of course authors have to set limits somewhere, and there is that handy list of websites to refer to...



2. this book is maybe more indepth than most travelers will need for a brief stay like mine will be - 2 weeks- but for someone looking to stay longer or to move there this is a terrific resource. I'm hoping to get off of the beaten path in my time there so I am paying close attention to this book. Right now I can't wait to get there. I hope I can remember my manners!



3. I really loved this book because it prepared me for everything. The only thing that would have made it 5 stars is if it was a longer book. It hits every topic I could think of.

No comments about Old New Zealand: A tale of the good old times: And a history of the war in the North against the chief Heke, in the year 1845, told by an old chief of the Ngapuhi tribe, Also Maori traditions.

5 comments about Lonely Planet Australia.

1. I'm planning to go to Australia and have found some useful information in this book. Of course, I haven't tested it out yet. The history and background included have set the stage for my other research. Some of the recommended lodgings seem a bit too cheap for me. I'm not a hosteler, I want a little comfort but I don't need to stay at the Ritz. Still, this book does have plenty of details on the sights to see and it serves as an overview of the country.



2. On my recent trip to Australia, I only visited the typical big American tourist spots: Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns (Great Barrier Reef). This book had great information about where to stay, what to do, and great places to eat.
   
   LP Australia provides lots of background and history for each city as well as information about what's been going on. It's almost like having your own personal tour guide. (Of course, when I was there this last December, they were having race riots at the beaches - so I avoided those.)
   
   The only draw back is I think that the maps could have been a bit more clear as sometimes it was difficult to see where a hotel, site or food establishment was.
   
   All on all, a great book. It came in very handy on my two week trip.



3. I started to use Lonely Planet 15 years ago. I can say that I am a witness of how much quality deteriorite it has been. I used to just buy it by default. It was a Bible for me. But, a BIG but, this Lonely Planet Australia set a new lowest standard for the series.
   
   First of all, it had so old information. The hostels listed in the book in Sydeny probably were closed more than 5 years ago. One hostel in bondi beach that I wanted to go that was listed in the book. When I showed up in the hotel address, there was a internet café and pub. No hostel at all.
   
   Second. The most unbelieveable of all, the book I have, which is 2004 version, has no mention at all about the Olympic Village in Sydeny. Oh my God! Sydney Olympic was in 2000. Can you believe that after 4 years, they still didn't update it? I was reading it again and again, before I throw this book away to trash can, I still didn't belive that they can omit all the information about Olympic, like the village, the boat to go there, like the stadium... they pretend that there is no such a thing!
   
   I know that Lonely Plante started many years ago in Australia, by some Australian backpackers. So it is a REAL shame that Lonely Planet Australia is so bad. If there is negative score, I will give that. As one star is minimum, I have to give that. But my true belief is that this book deserves negative 5 stars!!!



4. I started to use Lonely Planet 15 years ago. I can say that I am a witness of how much quality deteriorite it has been. I used to just buy it by default. It was a Bible for me. But, a BIG but, this Lonely Planet Australia set a new lowest standard for the series.
   
   First of all, it had so old information. The hostels listed in the book in Sydeny probably were closed more than 5 years ago. One hostel in bondi beach that I wanted to go that was listed in the book. When I showed up in the hotel address, there was a internet café and pub. No hostel at all.
   
   Second. The most unbelieveable of all, the book I have, which is 2004 version, has no mention at all about the Olympic Village in Sydeny. Oh my God! Sydney Olympic was in 2000. Can you believe that after 4 years, they still didn't update it? I was reading it again and again, before I throw this book away to trash can, I still didn't belive that they can omit all the information about Olympic, like the village, the boat to go there, like the stadium... they pretend that there is no such a thing!
   
   I know that Lonely Plante started many years ago in Australia, by some Australian backpackers. So it is a REAL shame that Lonely Planet Australia is so bad. If there is negative score, I will give that. As one star is minimum, I have to give that. But my true belief is that this book deserves negative 5 stars!!!



5. This was a gift and hoping it would arrive in time but no problems there.

1 comments about Gumboots, Lesson Plans And Hot Rugby Nights: New Beginnings in New Zealand.

1. Fantastic "Dear Diary" tale of the author's trip overseas to pursue a teaching assignment. Try to keep up, if you can, as she takes you through the streets, trails and beaches, local eateries, museums and sightseeing highpoints of many New Zealand cities.
   
   Planning a trip to New Zealand? Read this book first! Enjoy cooking? Try the wonderful recipes included, such as this one (pg.209); Sticky Date Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce. Yum!

No comments about Walking Auckland: 25 Walks of Discovery in and Around Auckland (Walking (Struik)).

No comments about MOBIL NEW ZEALAND TRAVEL GUIDE.

No comments about The Wild Green Yonder: Ten Seasons Volunteering on New Zealand's Organic Farms.