2012-09-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — Lonely Planet’s new edition New Zealand Travel Guide, released today, pays tribute to the strength of New Zealand’s people in the wake of a series of challenges.
“There’s no denying it,” the guidebook says, “New Zealand has had it tough over the last few years.” (p.638)
Reflecting on the past two years in which the country has endured the vagaries of the global economy, the Pike River coalmine explosion, the Rena oil spill, and two Christchurch earthquakes, the guide says “in the midst of all this … New Zealanders have soldiered on stoically, with the people of Christchurch proving remarkably resilient.” (p.639)
The new edition hails the energy and creativity on display in Christchurch, saying “nowhere in New Zealand is changing and developing as fast as post-earthquake Christchurch, and visiting the country’s second-largest city as it’s being rebuilt and reborn is both interesting and inspiring.” (p.480)
New Zealanders’ welcoming nature and eagerness for travellers to enjoy their visit is unchanged, and the guidebook says, “you might be surprised by the extent to which the average Kiwi will genuinely want you to have a really, really good time during your stay.” (p.639)
Five authors and more than 26 weeks of combined on-the-road research have contributed to this 16th edition of Lonely Planet New Zealand – the world’s bestselling guide to the country.
It contains the trademark honesty and opinion for which Lonely Planet is renowned. Auckland is “a much more vibrant city in the (Rugby World) Cup’s wake” (p.62), but its public transport system is still a “mess” and the Auckland Council’s new Hop smartcard is “probably not worth your while” (p.99) until it’s bedded down. Wellington is “a wonderful city” with “a cocktail-and-caffeine-fuelled hospitality” (p.366), while Hamilton is “surprisingly buzzy” (p.192), but “the road into town from Auckland is lined with dozens of unremarkable, traffic-noisy motels.” (p.198)
The authors have also singled out 12 of their favourite new NZ recommendations – the fresh, the transformed, the hot and the happening. These are: Mountain Biking in Queenstown; Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland’s Wallace Arts Centre, Christchurch’s Addington neighbourhood, the Don Stafford Wing of Rotorua Museum, Nelson’s Craft Beer Trail, the Hawke’s Bay Coastal Cycle Trail, Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter, Oamaru’s Steampunk HQ, NZ Rugby Museum, Franz Josef’s West Coast Wildlife Centre, and Whakatane’s Te Manuka Tutahi Marae.
New Zealand (16th edition) is the first of four new guidebooks to NZ that Lonely Planet is publishing in 2012. New Zealand’s North Island (2nd edition) and New Zealand’s South Island (3rd edition) will be available in October, with Discover New Zealand (2nd edition) following in November.
Lonely Planet New Zealand (16th Edition)
Released 24 September 2012
RRP: NZD $48
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Review copies of the 16th edition of Lonely Planet New Zealand are now available.
- Want to know what we say about a particular place or attraction? We can email you the relevant page(s).
ABOUT LONELY PLANET
Lonely Planet started in 1973 and is now the world’s most successful travel information provider. Lonely Planet’s authors are independent, dedicated travellers. They visit the places they write about, each and every edition, and never accept freebies. They take pride in getting all the details right, and telling it like it is.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Adam Bennett
Lonely Planet
adam.bennett@lonelyplanet.com.au
+613 8379 8324
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