I'm getting so much great information from this site, but I also want to pick up a New Zealand Guide book. Is there one out there that just blows everything else away?
I looked on Amazon and saw that Lonely Planet's was rated pretty high, but it looks like the most current edition is 2004. Any ideas?
Thanks!

Me again.

Lonely Planet is the hands down winner IMO.

You can't go wrong with the LP - possible competition would be the Rought Guide. If you local bookshop is browser-friendly you could maybe check out whether they have brought out something more recent than 2004.

Having said that, the main attractions won't have moved, and 2004 isn't that long also. I've never found a ;ve ne; . I never found ;

I oredered the LP NZ from Amazon (last pub date is 2004) then I borrowed the 2005 Rough Guide from the library and I personally thought it had more info. Also ordered the Rough Guide map to get a better idea of routes etc.
Lin

So it appears that LP and RG are the two to check out! I will hop on Amazon and get going.
Did you mostly get NZ maps in advance? I heard they have some great maps at their visitors center once you're there.
Thanks again!

I much preferred the Rough Guide to the Lonely Planet for NZ. It was excellent.

Regarding maps - you can pick one up when you get to NZ. Personally, I like my Wises "travel master map".

www.wises.co.nz/

Hey Mel,
What do you suggest I pack for my trip in regards to clothing? Late July/early August is definitley winter!

We checked out as many travel guides from the library as we could before we left. I liked Lonely Planet, but we ultimately ended up with a Frommer's guide for its detailed reviews and prices for a variety of things.

Mr. Pickle thought the Rough Guide was a little too opinionated for his tastes.

Lee Ann

Travelbug -

Regarding clothing -

We've always gotten by with a fleece jacket and a waterproof/windproof layer that fits over the fleece. We can wear either separately or together. Caveat: We're cold weather people - we like the cold. If you or your traveling partner run cold, you might need more, but I'd suggest leaving the bulky items at home and layering instead. The weather in NZ can change in the blink of an eye.

I cannot emphasize enough the need for the waterproof layer - don't leave home without it!

We like to hike, so in addition to our hiking boots, we also take a winter hat and a pair of gloves. A more recent addition to our off season NZ/OZ packing list is a pair of silk long underwear and a pair of rain pants. Worn together, these two items really came in handy on some rather wet tramps in Tasmania this past April.

We've seldom needed the hats and gloves, but they don't take up much space and they easily fit into the backpack.

.We used several guide books but, mostly, used Fodors and Fromers. For lodging, there is another book we would highly recommend; Boutique Lodgings. It is published in NZ, by Kiwis. We stayed in some thirteen B&Bs/Inns and found their evaluations to be reliable.

Rough Guide -- the competition is not even in the ballpark.

Awesome. My friend loaned me Lonely Planet and I ordered the Rough Guide through Amazon. Should be set!
Thanks again.

"Driving Scenic New Zealand" by Dave Chowdhury, Craig Potton Publishing.

We stayed and travelled over north and south island last September for a month. It was a great time; but way too much driving...roads are NOT good and so much mountain driving. The best books for us were Fodors and frommers for general layout but when we arrived in Christchurch we went to the auto club. They provided the most detailed maps and books you could ever hope for; similar to the Auto Club here in the states. The locals are wonderful folks and can't help you enough. If driving in NZ, you DO NOT need your car in Christchurch nor Auckland until you are leaving those cities. Public transportation was better than anywhere we've travelled and it's missing the crowds like most cities. Well, maybe not Auckland - that is an overcrowded city. We'd skip it next time. Go for Fodors and Frommers. We booked every night of the whole trip in advance. Internet was wonderful and this website the best!

We used Lonely Planet and liked it - but we had done a air bit of research before we went!

Before we left Sydney I bought a Hema New Zealand Road Atlas, which was bloody brilliant. I saw it in newsagents in NZ. The detail was amazing. It has city maps too - but we suppleemented these with maps from the tourist agencies in Auckland and Bay of Islands.

The Rough Guide...good social commentary as well.
Craig Pottons Drivng Scenic NZ. We found that driving times was more important than distance.