No comments about Waterproof New Zealand Map by ITMB.

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

5 comments about Wine Atlas of New Zealand.

1. At the Montana New Zealand Book Awards 2003, announced 22 July, Wine Atlas of New Zealand, by Michael Cooper, won the Montana Medal for the supreme work of non-fiction. The judges' commented that "the final decision on the winner of the Montana Medal was influenced by our collective view that the Wine Atlas of New Zealand could not possibly be improved upon - it is elegantly written, superbly designed and produced and its impact on the community has been considerable. Michael Cooper has written many superb books on wine in New Zealand - this is unquestionably his Magnum Opus."



2. There's not much more to say than that this is a fantastic treatment of its subject. The book is well laid out, fantastically researched, beautifully photographed and a joy to look at (let alone read!). It is little wonder this won the Montana Book Award - Cooper has meticously researched his subject.
   The book starts off with an introduction (as they tend to do) then explores the fascinating history of viticulture in New Zealand before tracing the impact of New Zeland wine on the world market. We also get to explore the most commonly grown grape varieties in New Zealand and how they are characterised in New Zealand wines.
   General information out of the way, Cooper then explores in detail the wine regions of New Zeland with fantastic maps, photographs and notes on individual wines and wineries.
   The book is also indespersed with profiles of key players in the New Zealand wine industry and history.
   To sum up - its a beautiful book and a must for anyone interested in the area. It is by far the most comprehenive treatment of New Zeland viticulture, and worthy of the accolades it receives.



3. Here's a region-by-region profile to over 280 wine companies accompanying in-depth profiles of 10 selected New Zealand winemakers and packed with maps and new photos. Analysis of climate, soils and wine styles accompany an illustrated history of the wine industry and a regional organization just perfect for the destination-oriented New Zealand wine fan. But you don't have to be traveling there to appreciate the extensive geography and wine grape facts packed into Michael Cooper's Wine Altas Of New Zealand: with John McDermott's color photos gracing nearly every page, armchair wine fans have a lot to enjoy, too.



4. Michael Cooper's WINE ATLAS OF NEW ZEALAND is the first wine atlas dedicated just to New Zealand - a nation becoming known world-wide for its high quality wines. Michael Cooper has over 25 years experience researching and writing on his subject and is the perfect professional choice for producing a guide which reviews the nation's climate, soils, ten wine-making regions, and nearly 300 wine companies. Add color photos of labels, countryside and productions throughout and you have an important basic reference.



5. Unfortunately I gave this gorgeous book away as a gift! It is visually beautiful, wonderfully written and leaves you wanting to book a ticket downunder

No comments about Going as Far as I Can: The Ultimate Travel Book.

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 A Personal Kiwi-Yankee Dictionary.

1. This is too much fun. To be able to learn a language for travelthat is only a slang slant to your own. Already the little guide hashelped to acclimate me to telephone and chat line conversation for the lands down under. The book is fun and informative and easy. To be informed makes the trip so much more fun for me from start to finish. And as usual I have found this guide nowhere else in the major local bookstores. But on line its here at my door to have read before I leave on my vacation. This book is quite entertaining just to read if you just want to be familiar with the culture of a very unique and friendly land. If I had not seen it for sale at Amazon . Com I would never have imagined such a special guide was available for purchase.



2. By defining English words and phrases unique to New Zealand, author Leland effectively describes at least a bit about New Zealanders and New Zealand culture also--and his affection for them, and for language, comes across well. Provides a look at the country and people through examination of their use of language. Humorous, good-natured, informative, and very enjoyable, I was given this book by a friend and just wish it were longer and updated to include any recent additions.



3. Although not required for understanding New Zealanders, this dictionary is great for getting acquainted the local slang. It is written in a way that talks to you. I found some of the definitions to be very funny!!



4. Even if you don't plan a trip to New Zealand in the near future, you can read this book and spice up your vocabulary. I've rated it four stars instead of five merely because it's now eleven years old.

   NZ slang evolves quite quickly, partly due to the prevalence of what's known as the Big OE--the big overseas experience, where young Kiwis take off for England and the Continent for a period of years, some never to return. This foreign immersion results in the inclusion of English slang expressions into the NZ idiom.

   As a 30-year expatriate Kiwi, I found myself enjoying again the colorful language I heard and used in my youth. A new edition would be greatly appreciated, and a must for every traveler planning on spending more than a couple of weeks in NZ.




5. This book is dated (c.1975) sexist, racist and vulgar. Be warned if you are a woman, a person of color or have anything approaching a 21st century sensibility.
   Sample quote: "bum - is what you sit on. Les femmes in New Zealand appear to have an unusually high proportion of broad ones and sturdy legs to match. Pioneer heritage?"
   Not my idea of amusing.
   If you want to find out about New Zealand, there are many websites that will give you a clearer idea of the place and the people than this book.

5 comments about Culture Shock! Australia: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! Australia).

1. An American friend, five years in Australia, lent me her 1999 version of this book. I've been here two years, from England, so I found it interesting. I agree that it has been inconsistently updated, and the Australia of 1991 seems to have been different in many ways to the Australia of 2004. Also, life in Perth must be different to that in Brisbane, where I live, 2,700 miles away. For a start, they play Australian football (and soccer) whereas Rugby League is the main game here.

   It would be highly surprising if the author's views/perceptions and mine tallied 100%, but in fact they do quite a lot. I was interested, for example, in her correct perception of sport being a good conversation topic, not least at dinner parties. Coming from a somewhat bourgeois part of the south of England, I found that a most refreshing change.

   One problem the book has is that it sets out to be amusing (successfully) and serious: on tax for example. For the serious side, some of the drier books on living and working in Australia, or emigrating here, are better.

   Finally, I found myself liking the author and her style. She comes across as pleasant and with a light touch.




2. This book does contain some interesting information on Australian culture, and on what makes Aussies tick. But I found the writing style to be particularly annoying; even painful. The Australia book available within the "Culture Smart" series, while offering less detail than this book, is far easier on the eyes and mind.



3. "Culture Shock! Australia: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette" by Ilsa Sharp is a guidebook to living in Australia. This book is not a travel guide, but rather a guide to the people and culture of the country. The main audience for this would be someone who intends to spend a lot of time in Australia, but it can also help business travelers, and even tourists.
   
   I know someone who just moved to Australia from Asia, and from what I have been able to determine, this guide appears to be fairly accurate. I am looking forward to my visit there, which should also give me a better idea on just how accurate it is. Be sure to get the latest edition, as it was updated in 2005 and it is clear from my reading that there were substantial updates.
   
   The author, Ilsa Sharp, migrated to Western Australia, and that personal experience clearly was a big asset to her in putting this book together. I did sense a bit of a bias towards Western Australia in her examples. To be fair, I was more interested in Eastern Australia, and so the bias may have been in my reading as well. In either case, she certainly does try to cover most of the country, and if I were to pick the one area where there was the least amount of information it would be Tasmania.
   
   The book is broken down into 10 sections. These include a quick introduction, followed by basic information. Next is a discussion of the people, the society, and moving there. It then gets to some more specific areas such as food, entertainment, slang, and business. It then finishes with an A to Z section covering many basic facts about the country, some key figures both historical and modern, and it even has a short culture quiz.
   
   As someone from the United States, this book is probably not as useful to me as it would be to someone coming from a much different culture. Not to say that Australia is just like the United States, but clearly the two are much closer than people from other countries from Asia and the Middle East. Even so, I think the book was fairly useful in understanding some of the societal differences between the two countries. This is one book that is easy to recommend.



4. First off, it's difficult writing any book that generalizes about a country and culture so hats off to the author for trying. The info is probably more relevant to someone going to Western Australia 5-10yrs ago. I moved from Vancouver, Canada to Sydney, Australia to live and find the info mostly outdated. Some of the cultural conflicts such as misunderstanding what it means to be invited for tea are more applicable to the older generation. Sydney is a fast paced city of 4million. The younger generation, under 40, are very similar to people in Canada/US/UK. If you're coming from a Western english speaking nation, I don't believe this book is going to be your assimilation bible. If you're coming from a non-Western culture, I think you'll be better off reading Australian newspapers and watching Hollywood movies. You'll get along fine in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane - never been to Westcoast but I assume Perth or any other modern Australian city will be the same.



5. I have not recieved the book at all
   
   regards
   Bhaskar Poojary

No comments about Constructions of Colonialism: Perspectives on Eliza Fraser's Shipwreck.

5 comments about The Rough Guide To New Zealand 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. We brought 3 guides for 6 weeks in New Zealand - Rough Guide, Lonely Planet and Eye Witness. Soon we were only consulting Rough Guide - for lodging, meals and places to visit. The others stayed in the trunk of the car. Particularly good were the author's distillations of what was most important to see. While at Orakei Korako to see an example of geothermal activity, we encountered a group of U.S. geologists who had chosen to tour only O.K. after a mining conference in Australia. It was great to have contact numbers for rafting companies or wildlife spots such as Royal Albatross Center or Penguin Place so we could easily schedule tours to those places well in advance of arriving in the vicinty. Staying in Arrowtown rather than Queenstown or spending several days in Wanaka would not have occurred to us except for the Rough Guide's Advice. Even 6 weeks in New Zealand isn't enough for that country - we hope to use a future Rough Guide for our next trip.



2. I was looking for a Rick Steves like guide to New Zealand - a book that concisely told where to go and where not to go. I had heard that other Rough Guides were like that, but this one is like most guide books - tells about everything with recommendations about what's best, hard to find. A good book to use as a reference but not quite what I was looking for.



3. Not only does this guide provide extensive recommendations for places to say, places to eat, and activities, it's also very well written. This book includes clear, detailed descriptions that really help you decide where to go, what to see, and what to skip. An indispensible travel guide for anyone headed to New Zealand, whatever your budget.



4. I went with my beautiful brunette wife to New Zealand on our honeymoon, and "The Rough Guide to New Zealand" was by far the best of available guide books. Not only is it light and portable, it is also extremely detailed. Plus, it "shoots from the hip" and mentions a lot of off-the-beaten-path things the other guides don't.
   
   I recommend that, as a supplement, you purchase a detailed New Zealand road map, as "The Rough Guide" can't help you too much in that category.
   
   Also, "The Rough Guide" doesn't have many photographs. You might want to choose your New Zealand itinerary using travel guides that are more photo-laden and colorful, and then leave those guides at home and bring "The Rough Guide" with you to New Zealand.



5. This is the first Rough Guide I ever used and it was so great, that I have bought one for each of the countries I visited. They might be large, but I only had to bring one book and it took care of all questions/confusion/curiousity/mysteries. It became our bible on our trip to New Zealand!

2 comments about Fodor's Exploring New Zealand, 3rd Edition (Exploring Guides).

1. I bought this book since it seemed a comfortable size for traveling as compared with Lonely Planet. I think it had very little info however, and found that the free guides given by New Zealand Tourism were equally if not more useful. Wouldn't recommend it.



2. Welcome to New Zealand!
   Fodor's has offered some good travel books however they aren't my favourite, but considering price vs information offered it's not too bad. The book is just under 300 pages so it fits easily into your bag though honestly it doesn't offer nearly as much information on things to see and do etc as other travel guides. I lived in New Zealand for some time and I bought this book before moving to Aotearoa (Maori word for New Zealand) to get some useful information about the country and things it offered. I thought the book was very informative about the various regions covering the North and South Islands as well as offering photos as a visual appeal. The info is all very accurate when it comes to historical information as well as sights that the average tourist or even kiwi shouldn't miss when traveling. The book is broken into regions like other books and offers some info on the major cities like Queenstown, Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington etc. and what they all have to offer. I would recommend this book as supplement to another travel book, though you can certainly get by with just this book, I did. It also helped that tourist/info centers are everywhere in the major cities and travel destinations and they offer maps info packets etc. Overall good book, affordable, gives useful info and can be used alone but I would recommend another travel guide of some kind. DK I found was very good and offered a bit more info, though honestly its better to just go and experience things and see what locals have to say because most of the time travel guides offer only so much and you'll find that you experience and enjoy a bit more of what the country has to offer when you do what the locals do and go off the beaten track so to speak. After living in Wellington I found that there was a lot of things I felt the book couldve covered or included but didnt. I suppose complaint would be that it has very limited amount of info which you could probably find in other books. Like I recommend going down to Courtney St. which is near Te Papa Museum and exploring the restaurants and clubs, it has a very good nightlife there, really when you travel you just have to find things out for yourself because the only people who really know where to go what to see and do are those living there, most travel books can't tell you all that because most weren't written by someone who lives there. The book does do a good job of giving a brief overview of Aotearoa or New Zealand's history, geography including flora and fauna, and culture of the Maori.