Editorial Review

Every time Bill Bryson walks out the door, memorable travel literature threatens to break out.His previous excursion along the Appalachian Trail resulted in the sublime national bestseller A Walk in the Woods.In A Sunburned Country is his report on what he found in an entirely different place:Australia, the country that doubles as a continent, and a place with the friendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, and the most peculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on the planet.The result is a deliciously funny, fact-filled, and adventurous performance by a writer who combines humor, wonder, and unflagging curiousity.

Despite the fact that Australia harbors more things that can kill you in extremely nasty ways than anywhere else, including sharks, crocodiles, snakes, even riptides and deserts, Bill Bryson adores the place, and he takes his readers on a rollicking ride far beyond that beaten tourist path.Wherever he goes he finds Australians who are cheerful, extroverted, and unfailingly obliging, and these beaming products of land with clean, safe cities, cold beer, and constant sunshine fill the pages of this wonderful book.Australia is an immense and fortunate land, and it has found in Bill Bryson its perfect guide. ... Read more

Reviews

Stereotype-free...fair dinkum, June 7, 2000
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Bill. As a proud Australian, it has been a never-ending source of irritation that Australia is forever portrayed as a land of beer-swilling "yobbos" who say "cobber" and "fair dinkum" rather a lot. For instance, 'The Simpsons' - usually such a witty, clever and insightful show - completely missed the point in their Australian episode. Finally, someone has managed to capture a bit of the character of this great country. He releases it from the shackles of the Paul Hogan stereotype.

This is a terrific read. Bryson has, mercifully, gone well and truly off the beaten track to explore many different parts of Australia - the cities, the outback, the tropics, and everything else in between. But as ever with a Bill Bryson book, more than the destination itself, the pleasure is in getting there. Laugh-out-loud moments abound, though perhaps more in the restrained way of "A Walk in the Woods", as opposed to the guffaw-fest that is "Neither Here Nor There".

You don't have to be at all familiar with Australia to appreciate and enjoy this book. I am, sadly, one of those Australians to which Bryson refers that has never seen Ayers Rock / Uluru myself. In fact, I have never been to the majority of places Bryson visits. It was a revelation for me, too.

Bryson once again recounts numerous historical and trivial anecdotes which, together with his unique view of the world, elevate this book well above the mere travel genre. This is insightful, this is informative, this is FUNNY.

Perversely, my only criticism is perhaps that he likes Australia a little too much. God knows, I'm so pleased that he does. However, he is, I believe, at his best when distressed. Dull and drab places, and stupid, mindless people bring out the devil in Bill Bryson, and have always proven to be useful comic fair. There are elements of that here - his body boarding experience, his views on Canberra, and his trials and tribulations with hotel receptionists in Darwin - but at the end of the day, opportunities to vent his sarcastic wit are somewhat limited.

Being an enthusiastic and devoted fan of the great Stephen Katz, I would also have loved to have seen him deal with the hardships of outback Australia. He would have absolutely LOATHED it.

Read this book. It is a treat.

Another Bryson winner, June 14, 2000
I am an unreserved Bryson fan. I love "Made In America" about the English language, and, as an Australian living in England for an extended time, thought he captured perfectly both the expat experience, and the endearing and irritating qualities of the Brits in "Notes from a small island" . This book is factually correct. That might sound inane, but there is nothing more irritating than reading about your own place and finding it tritely stereotypical or factually incorrect. Bill scores well on both counts.

Bill's take on the Australian Prime Minister of the day (a small, invisible and colourless entity) is a reasonably brave thing to say in a sense - an outsider commenting on a political identity invites derision, but he captures the essence of the man so well.

The other special moment for me is his discovery of cricket on the radio...when all other stations fade out to static, there is the mighty game. Somehow or other, despite writing nonsense words, he captures the rhythm and cadences of radio cricket commentary PERFECTLY. To me, cricket on the radio is as much about summer as cicadas, running under the sprinkler and crackling heat. Beautifully pulled off!

A good read, and for the first time since leaving school I actually engaged with some of the stories of explorers! A wry but never cynical tone makes for an entertaining read. I am glad he pays "homage" to that other good 'outsider's book' - "Sydney" by Jan Morris.

Bill Bryson covers much of the same terrain as the other great US travel writer, Paul Theroux, and seems to meet as many odd or intersting characters. Bill's disposition, however, makes him far more open to LIKING a place, and enormously less self-absorbed.

Recommended.

Very informative and quite funny, July 24, 2000
Bill Bryson has an excellent way with words, especially with his descriptive writing. For a travel writer, I suppose this is a must. He's also a humorist, and I laughed out loud on at least a half a dozen occasions while enjoying his adventures down under. Particularly amusing were his descriptions of a Cricket match, of a particularly bad hotel in Darwin and and of a drunken night in the Outback. He also gives a fine overall view of Austrailia, of which he covered much, but alas not nearly as much as he wanted. Though some might gripe that he spends too much time ruminating over the poisonous wildlife and looking for a cold beer, overall this is an exceptionally fun book to read. He includes many historical facts about Australia and even devotes some space to the unfortunate condition of the Aborigines. But not too much to spoil the fun. Bryson's travel writings remind me of an apolitical P.J. O'Rourke, and for that he's worth a read.

Very informative, telling you many things no ordinary travel book does, August 19, 2006
Bill Bryson is best known for writing very humorous travel books, and "In a Sunburned Country" is indeed a funny account of his travels in Australia. Those who love Bill Bryson's books for their humor won't be disappointed.

But unlike most people, I like Bill Bryson best when he's NOT trying to be funny, and my appreciation of this book is mostly due to the great amount of very interesting information presented.

Bill Bryson amazes you with loads of information about the geology, the animal life, the plants and insects, the history, the statistics, the folklore, etc., etc. The many dangers: poisonous snakes, poisonous insects, poisonous jellyfish, crocodiles, sharks, and rip currents - they're all out to get you. The inhospitable deserts, the beautiful beaches, the huge distances; Bill Bryson gives you a feeling of what it's all like.

The book goes into detail about many aspects of Australian life that are fairly unknown, including the discovery (and re-discovery) of Australia, the settlement by British prisoners, the early expeditions to explore the interior, the gold rushes, the outlaws, and the devastation caused by rabbits and other imported animals and plants. Bill Bryson talks about the many unusual animal species found only in Australia, including giant earthworms that grow up to 1 meter (and can be stretched to 4 meters) and the platypus, a cross between a reptile and a mammal. He talks about Australians and the Australian society, and the situation regarding the native people, the aboriginals.

Bill Bryson doesn't cover all of Australia from the geographical point of view, and the parts he does cover are somewhat random. But that doesn't matter because he captures the spirit of the whole country based on the parts he does visit and the general information he includes.

A very positive aspect is that Bill Bryson makes it clear that he loves Australia. The feeling is infectious, and it makes you want to pack your bags and head "down under" for a long leisurely trip so you can do your own exploring.

If I were to mention two things I was less happy about, it would be the occasional excessive attempts to be funny and the lack of contact with Australians. One of the best parts of the book is about his traveling together with an Australian couple for 3-4 days, but other than this passage Bill Bryson is mostly playing the typical tourist, with little or no contact with Australians. And despite a fairly long discussion about the aboriginal situation he does not ever get into contact with any aboriginals. Why not?

A final note regarding the unabridged audio version of the book, read by Bill Bryson himself: Most authors are poor readers, but Mr. Bryson does a very good job here, almost on a par with a professional reader. Recommended.

Rennie Petersen

PS. "In a Sunburned Country" has also been published under the title "Down Under". It is exactly the same book.

A Travel Writer for Smart People, September 19, 2001
Born and raised in Iowa, Bill Bryson spent 20 years in England before moving back to the United States to live in the perfect college town, Hanover, New Hampshire. A syndicated columnist, many of his columns about life in Hanover have been collected and published in "I'm a Stranger Here Myself," an enjoyable book, but because of the nature of its source material (syndicated columns) also a simple and highly sanitized one. At no point is the reader confronted by complex intellectual concepts or any obscenities.

"In a Sunburned Country" is a different matter. Written as an integrated book, it is a wonderful introduction to the more intellectually complex aspects of Australia, as well as the funnier ones, providing fascinating anthropological, botanical, geological, historical, political and sociological insights about our friends Down Under. Prior to reading it, I had dismissed Australia as being little more than a very dull version of America in the Fifties; Like Bryson, I now view it as the most fascinating place on earth. Similarly, I had viewed Mr. Bryson as being a male Erma Bombeck; I now view him as one of the more intelligent writers I have encountered.

The Australian Tourism Authority should consider licensing this book and either giving it away to prospective visitors or otherwise using it to promote the country. It is that good.

Mixed reviews from this reader, July 20, 2000
When Bill Bryson's newest book was published, I had been home from my 5 month semester abroad in Australia for almost as long. Still achingly missing a country I had come to love and feel at home in, I eagerly ran to the bookstore to buy Bryson's book.

Yes, the book is overall entertaining and pretty much witty; it's easy to read and a little hard to put down. But for the most part, i was disappointed. Occasionally, I would even find myself thinking, "I could have written this book and done Australia more justice!"

Australia is a spectacular, wonderful, welcoming, enchanting country. As if anyone could have any doubt about that after listening to Bryson effuse for 300 pages. Perhaps some will find the fact that he sings the Lucky Country's praises page after page grating; for me, I felt I had found someone with whom I could sympathize about missing the place!

However, for all his accolades, Bryson seems to only brush the surface of a country rich in history, landscape, and experiences waiting to be had. He spends only ONE DAY at one of Australia's most recognizable landmarks, Uluru, the giant monolith; he is too much of a sissy to even GO UNDER WATER at the Great Barrier Reef; he misses out on the beauty and home-i-ness of Adelaide (my home away from home!); he doesn't see an opera at the world famous Opera House; and he doesn't even VISIT Tasmania, a place almost too beautiful and wild to put into words.

Having lived in Australia for those 5 months, and having traveled extensively, I was looking for something to aleviate the sadness of having had to come "home" from a place I had become so attached to. I wanted something to evoke a vivid trip down memory lane. What I found did not live up to those expectations, and I suspect for those like me, the feeling will be the same. And for those of you who have yet to visit Australia, there's more out there than Bryson relays; it's better than the book.

It's a big country...*somebody* has to travel it, September 8, 2000
I have a great deal of affection for Bill Bryson's writings. I'm a long-time fan of travel essays, but I always cringe at those that take their subjects too seriously...reflecting solely on the majesty, history, culture, and tradition of a place. I want to shout at these writers: C'mon! You're looking for a clean public toilet too, just like the rest of us!

Bill Bryson isn't the only humorous travel writer, but he's one of the most effective at taking the p*ss out of travel as a holy grail. He's well informed and read on his subjects, but not afraid to say he's forgotten the name of Australia's Prime Minister (and reflect that that says a lot about the rest of the world's focus on Australia in the global stage). He's curious and willing to try new things like body surfing, but not too proud to let you know he's dead rotten at it. He'll seek out exotic wildlife, and then retreat quickly to safety if it's venomous. He loves to try out the local cuisine, but spends much of his time looking for a cold beer. In short, he's someone *I'd* like to travel with--informed, funny, and personable. He's less grumpy than usual (then again, these travels are less physical arduous than hiking the Appalachian Trail in "A Walk Through the Woods").

His anecdotes are entertaining and informative. I read this book the weekend before the airing of the PBS mega-series on Australia, and learned much more (and laughed a whole lot more too) from Bryson than from Robert Hughes. From the big cities to the Outback Bryson travels (sometimes in a good nature, sometimes in a humorous grumpiness), talking to the people we wish we'd meet on our travels, doing the things we'd like to do, and asking the questions only a man with the outspokenness of an American but the politeness of an Englishman could ask.

Which is not to say the whole book is a laugh riot. He's remarkably effective discussing the treatment of Australia's Aborigine tribes by modern culture, and the self-fulfilling prophecy of the country's educational failure in teaching the Aborigines' next generation. That's the mark of the best travel writer, in my view: he makes you laugh, he makes you think, he teaches you something, and best of all, he makes you long to visit and experience the country for yourself.

Who knew a travel book could be so fun?, September 29, 2005
Bryson combines a compelling case for a trip to Australia with a terrific sense of humor. Who else could make the driest, most remote, and deadliest country in the world a must for any traveler. I couldn't put this down.

Thanks Bill!, June 10, 2000
A new Bill Bryson book is always a treat of the highest magnitude. I preordered this book and counted down the days until its arrival. This book was as wonderful as his previous efforts, in fact, maybe even more so because it hit so close to home. As a former Sydney gal, I miss my homeland and Mr. Bryson reminded me of why. He takes the reader on a journey that most people (including most Aussies) would never go on; Australians tend to travel abroad before exploring their own country. I think anyone who reads this book will want to actually travel to this beautiful country and explore its riches. The reader will discover that there's more to Australia than Kangaroos and Foster's Beer (which no self-respecting Aussie would ever drink.) The author introduces us to the colorful locals and explains in painful, yet hilarious detail, how he gets from place to place. He has toned down the sarcasm for this book, and one almost gets the impression that he just likes the place too darn much. This book will not disappoint fans of his previous books. Thank you, Mr. Bryson, for writing a humorous, yet flattering book about the most under-appreciated country on the planet!

Another Bryson success, September 2, 2000
Bill Bryson, a travel-writer with a difference, in a league of his own. Bill Bryson could be you or me; an endearingly incompetent traveler who often gets lost, brings the wrong map, whose nerve sometimes fails when faced with steely service staff, who is not a great conversationalist (unless drunk), who likes good food and drink, and who, when hiring a car and bravely setting forth to some distant destination, more often than not spends half a day extricating himself from the suburbs.

I'm British and have read all Bryson's books, except "A Walk in the Woods". In this book, his 6th travel book, he visits Australia, which he imagines as a sort of cross between Britain and the US, "Baywatch with cricket"; however, the reality turns out to be much more fascinating and complex than that.

Bill Bryson is an honest man who gives his spontaneous, personal responses to what he encounters - Ayers Rock (now called Uluru) evokes from him a genuine awe, whereas some of the souvenir shops he sees are full of "overpriced shit".

A knowledgeable man (Bryson was a journalist in the UK for 10 years, and has written 2 books on the English language) who clearly does his homework both before and after his trips, as attested by frequent references to writers on Australia, the wealth of background information, and the 3 pages of bibliography. He comes prepared, and knows what to look for, and plans his route accordingly. However, he is interested in the wacky and weird as well as the conventional cultural icons, and is often ready with an interesting anecdote about the people involved. The opening page of this book contains "the startling fact that in 1967 the Prime Minister, Harold Holt, was strolling along a beach in Victoria when he plunged into the surf and vanished." A little further on he tells of Sir Eugene Goossens, head of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, whose goading led to the Sydney Opera House being built, but who failed to see his dream realized: "In 1956�che was found to be carrying a large and diversified collection of pornographic material, and he was invited to take his sordid continental habits elsewhere. Thus�che was unable to enjoy, as it were, his own finest erection." And then there is the Big Lobster - not a biological specimen, but made of wire and fiberglass, one of about 60 dotted around the country, which you can visit if, as Bryson puts it, "you have sufficient petrol money and nothing approaching a real life."

Bryson visits the main cities and famous spots, including the Great Barrier Reef (complete with a hilarious description of Bryson trying to skin-dive, and a more somber account of 2 young Americans stranded on the Reef and never seen again), the Gold Coast, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Alice Springs, and various deserts (often with a gruesome anecdote or two). There are also not so famous spots, such as Shark Bay with its prehistoric stromatolites, Tree Top Walk, Daly Waters with its famous tree, the aviation museum in Alice Springs with the wreck of a famous airplane, Red Bluff Beach where 2 Dutchmen were abandoned, nearly 150 years before Captain Cook, and so on, each with its own background story or anecdote, usually humorous or at least enlightening.

In the background to the travel is Bryson's potted history of Australia, including Captain Cook, "transportation" era, the gold rush, various expeditions to explore the country (still incomplete), the Aborigines, the rabbit invasion and myxamatosis, the "White Australia" policy, the republican issue, and horrific stories of crocodile attacks. This is what history and geography in school should be like! Full of humour, and human interest, as well as information.

This book told me a lot of things I didn't know, not only about Australia but also terrestrial evolution; it made me want to visit the place again, and, as Bryson's travel books always do, it sometimes made me laugh till I cried, tho, as others have noted, it is not trying so hard to be funny as his previous books.

(I read the UK version of this book, entitled "Down Under"). ... Read more

Editorial Review

Lonely Planet’s team of authors has island hopped the Bay of Islands, immersed themselves in Rotorua’s proud Maori culture, kayaked Abel Tasman’s pristine bays and cruised the magnificent Milford Sound – as well as exploring everything in between. With all that research and more, Lonely Planet New Zealand is your key to the best possible Kiwi experience.

Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honest advice, designed to give you the information you need to make the most of your trip.

In This Guide:

Full Coverage - hidden secrets plus all the don’t-miss attractions
Activities of every kind – from abseiling to zorbing
Unique Green Index to help make your travels ecofriendly
... Read more

Reviews

Don't travel to NZ without Lonely Planet as your guide!, October 6, 2004
If you're going to New Zealand - and want to enjoy the country to the fullest - DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT THE LONELY PLANET GUIDE! I embarked on a 6-week long trip with 'Lonely Planet New Zealand' and fate as my only guides. I was impressed to the max! The only other guide I needed was a road atlas I picked up at the airport in Auckland (and since I was touring some of the Lord of the Rings film locations, Ian Brodie's lovely 'Lord of the Rings: Location Guidebook'). I do recommend renting a vehicle - as someone under 25 years old, Budget was a good bet for rental. Just remember, "Left, left left." It's a cinch! With the US dollar exchange rate favorable, we cheaply rented a top notch 4WD SUV for the entire time based on the recommendation of this book. I love the Lonely Planet series for the sheer fact that it gives you pointers on fantastic locations that may be slightly off the beaten path while at the same time informing you of the best of the best in those tourist meccas. It's a lovely balance. My only regret is that 6-weeks is far too short a time to see everything there is to see in New Zealand!
The top 5 places you shouldn't miss on the North and South Islands:

North Island
1) Take the short ferry ride from Auckland to Rangitoto Island and hike to the summit - otherwordly!
2) Do a touristy bus tour to Cape Reinga out of Paihia - on the bus to Cape Reinga you'll get to: learn a lot about the Maori culture, hug a Kauri tree, stop and surf down sand dunes, wonder in awe at the northern most point of the North Island where untouched white beaches are visible as the Tasman and Pacific Ocean meet and clash (an amazing scene), and to top it all off you'll cruise down 90-mile beach as waves lap the wheels of the bus (yeah, the beach is actually a registered roadway).
3) Drive around the gorgeous Coromandel Peninsula - leave the Thames area just before sunrise and the landscape will just take your breath away! You will come to understand the meaning of Aotearoa/New Zealand: land of the long white cloud.
4) Wander the volcantic parks of Rotorua - Wai-ti-pau was a highlight! Don't forget to sign-up for a traditional Maori concert and haka at the Tamaki Maori Village for a cool cultural experience!
5) Cruise Cuba Street in Wellington for food and shops, and don't forget to visit Te Papa - the national museum of Wellington.

South Island
1) Plan a kayaking trip out of Motueka: the Tonga Island wildlife option is cool - we saw wild Orca and New Zealand Fur Seals up close and personal and then lunched on a secluded beach reached only by kayak!
2) Take a helicopter ride up to Fox Glacier and do an afternoon hike - see where semi-tropical rainforest meets glacier meets the Tasman Sea.
3) Go white water rafting on the Shotover River in Queenstown (be sure you get an option with the Oxenbridge Tunnel)! Then go jet boating, then bungy jumping, you name, it they do it there! Don't miss Deer Park Heights either - say hello to the free roaming buffalo for me!
4) Head to the beautiful city of Kaikoura for whale watching and a dolphin swim.
5) If you love wildlife - head to Dunedin and take a tour out to the Otago Peninsula (you'll see albatross, fur seals, sea lions, yellow-eyed penguins and a variety of bird life up close and personal - by up close I mean walking on the beach less than 10 feet away from a Hooker Seal Lion twice your size). While in Dunedin, visit Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world, and don't miss the Cadbury Factory! It's well worth the admission price!

There is so much more to see and do that I haven't listed - and this guide helped me find it all and point me in the right direction every step of the way. The only thing the guide failed to mention was the abundance of rainbows in this enchanted country - I don't know about you, but where I come from rainbows are a special once in a great while occurance. In New Zealand you see them on a daily basis. I guarantee that with the help of this guide you will leave New Zealand with enough fantastic memories to last a lifetime. Kia ora.

Fairly good, but not the best, January 28, 2005
I have used over 50 Lonely Planet guidebooks since 1988, and I still usually take one with me wherever I travel. However, I found the New Zealand book (Sept, 2004 edition) to be a large step below Rough Guide New Zealand. LP has improved its graphics through the years, and the Highlights map and photo section are excellent. The city maps are also the best of any guidebook, and the layout is well-organized and easy to follow.

The major shortcoming is the brevity of descriptions in comparison to Rough Guide. During a 1500-mile road trip I was constantly referring to RG & LP as my wife drove, so in effect I was constantly comparing the two books' descriptions for the southern half of South Island. There was absolutely no question which guidebook did a better job....Rough Guide. We would have missed several places if we had relied on Lonely Planet alone, and I felt like we gained much more insight about places from RG.

Lonely Planet NZ is about 300 pages shorter than Rough Guide NZ, so it is a little easier to carry if you have only one guidebook. Personally, I think Rough Guide New Zealand and DK New Zealand are the best pair of guidebooks to travel with in NZ. Add Lonely Planet Tramping in New Zealand (a very impressive LP work) if you're keen on hiking.

Four star book, but a five star country, February 4, 2006
Rough Guide to NZ & Lonely Planet's Tramping NZ are also worth buying. LP is smaller if you are backpacking, but lacks some of the information in RG.

For such a small country (just a bit bigger than the UK), New Zealand has so much to see, so it's hard to get everything in one book.

It is the one place you must visit in your lifetime. But, I warn you, once you've been you'll want to go back and back like us. I found helpful, friendly people there, a great budget campervan & car rental company Thomlinson Rentals, and we now we always rent a campervan, allowing us to stay off the beaten track.

Visit the NZ Department of Conservation Website www.doc.gov.nz and the tramping website http://www.enzed.com/tramp.html

We would recommend Bay of Islands, taking a cruise around Waitemata (Auckland) Harbour, signing up for a day's free sailing as crew at one of the sailing/yacht clubs around Auckland - great fun on the Rum races. Must see is Rotorua, Huka Falls, Waitomo Caves, Milford Track and West Coast of South Island. Actually just about everywhere is breathtakingly beautiful and the people very friendly. There are also good tourist information centres in NZ.

Pieces of Advice:
Don't take any food other than candy into NZ. Meat, vegetable/fruit or dairy products will get you a huge fine. When you get off the airplane, sniffer dogs go all over your hand luggage as well as suitcases looking for food as well as drugs.

If you have been hiking/walking in other countries before NZ, make sure your boots/shoes and all equipment is thoroughly cleaned. NZ is an agricultural country,and relatively clear of pests and they want to keep it that way.

If you are on a budget in money and time, you can rent Campervans and cars at a low cost. You can start in Auckland and leave them in Christchurch.

Simply outdated for 2006 travel, May 22, 2006
I am near the end of my 1 month stay in NZ, and in the past month, I have encountered too many instances where I relied on LP's info but found it to be erroneous. Trains/ferries no longer running, activities/tours no longer in operation, and restaurants that have closed (in various regions). This book has proven to be a disappointment for 2006. (Thank god for the internet so I am able double-check everything.)

Get Lonely Planet and Nz Frenzy, October 18, 2009
We just got back from weeks in New Zealand! God it was great when the sun was shining, but the South was a bit wet. Anyhow, we bought a Lonely Planet, were given a Rough Guide, and when we got to Auckland we bought an Nz Frenzy. We liked Lonely planet more than Rough Guide, but they both cover almost exactly the same stuff, and neither gives enough details about trails and directions to beaches and waterfalls. The Nz Frenzy book was definitely our favorite to get us to cool spots on the North Island, but it only covers the North and there is no South one, so that was disappointing. Overall we agree that you should get a Lonely Planet for all the traveler essentials, but definitely get an Nz Frenzy if you have your own car/van on the North. Also you'll need a good map because it's just too hard to use all the little maps in Lonely Planet. Hope you find Kerosene creek and Tongaporutu on the North and Kaikoura's cute seals on the South. Cheers!!

Informative and nice layout, September 19, 2004
I really like the new layout for the Lonely planet series. I'm also glad that Lonely planet has been adding a little more opinion in its guides. The Lonely Planet New Zealand 12th edition is a great book. This book is an interesting and helpful read for anyone considering NZ. My only complaint is I was hoping the book would have the road atlas in the back that the LP Australia guide has.

Matter-of-Factual Guide, January 6, 2006
"Lonely Planet New Zealand" is a great companion to Lonely Planet's "Tramping New Zealand". I've spent 15 weeks (3 trips) in New Zealand both sight-seeing and backpacking. "Lonely Planet New Zealand" is matter-of-fact and reflects the realities of traveling around New Zealand accurately.
I have a bookshelf of books on New Zealand, but these two books are the best. Their compact size and easy-to-read formatting makes them handy to bring along on your trip.
Lonely Planet's "Tramping New Zealand" is a must-buy companion book for those that want to explore the great national parks of this beautiful country. NZ is like visiting seven continents of wilderness on two small islands! Changing weather conditions and seasonal changes are accurately described in this information-packed volume. Every trek is accurately outlined. Some advice: If you enjoy backpacking do the South Island: Routeburn, Milford, Abel Tasman, Kepler and Banks Penninsula are five of the best hikes (tramps) in the world. Enjoy!

Perfect for the budget traveller, January 9, 2007
This is the must have book for anyone doing NZ on the cheap, although NZ aint that cheap.

If you're doing a driving tour with your 78 year old Mum, you might want to look at something a little more middle of the road, but it worked for Mum & me.

Lot's of detail, but activities seems a bit more geared to the adrenaline junkie, then again, with 2 weeks to TRY and see both islands, I didn't have a lot of time to read the book.

Plan at least a month if you want to see both islands and not wipe yourself out.

Lonely Planet guides are my first choice. South America on a shoestring got me around the whole place, no worries...

Big and heavy. If you're backpacking with a friend, rip it in half and share the load. Just make sure you rip between chapters, not half way through!

Overall great asset when traveling, August 26, 2005
This guide includes a lot of detailed info related to excursions in different areas. Also included detailed maps that show you hotel accomodations in relation to eateries, and things to do and see. The guide also lists must see attractions at the beginning of each area chapter so you know what not to miss. Good organization, can find info fast.

Not very useful, July 22, 2005
I'm just back from a week on the North Island. Before I left, I compared the various guidebooks carefully, both in bookstores and by reading Amazon's online reviews. Once I was in NZ, I found the Lonely Planet guide to be difficult to use--the layout, small type, organization, etc. I would have liked a more user-friendly guide, with the highlights of each area or city clearly marked. For Wellington, Lonely Planet doesn't even list the amazing Te Papa museum as one of its must-sees! I found myself relying almost exclusively on the Footprints guide to New Zealand--excellent, highly recommended. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Perfect for both the seasoned traveller and the armchair dreamer, this book brings you the very best travel experiences - extraordinary landscapes, jaw-dropping architecture, white-knuckle adventures and tranquil hangouts. Want adventure? Try trekking to the source of the Ganges or exploring the lost island cities of Mozambique. Looking for an unusual place to stay? How about sleeping in a yurt in Inner Mongolia or an old prison in Latvia? For amazing wildlife, why not look for lemurs in Madagascar or spy dinosaur prints in Bolivia? And don't forget the world's most spectacular parties, including the Gnaoua festival in Morocco or Trinidad Carnival. Whether you want to ponder art in Melbourne or eat eels in the Neretva Delta, there's all manner of travel experiences to keep those feet itching. Make the Most of Your Time on Earth: the very best things to see or do, and not before you die, but now. ... Read more

Reviews

Fantastic Tome Ripe with Ideas, November 15, 2007
If you're looking for a reference book on travel ideas, look no further! This book is beyond excellent.

I am currently researching for an extended round-the-world backpacking trip with my son. I spend a lot of time in bookstores taking notes. This book, however, was so full of excellent info that I actually bought it, despite my strict budget. It is one of the best travel investments I have made so far.

It is arranged in chapters, each dealing with a specific region, such as the Iberian Peninsula, Southeast Asia and even the Polar Regions! For each region, there are plenty of fantastic and interesting things to do. There is a great variety: from walks on castle walls in Wales to walks on hot coals in Greece, from Christmas shopping in Kutch India to sampling wines in Liechtenstein, from turtle watching in Costa Rica to tracking rhino in Namibia. There are, literally, a thousand things to do. And they're of all varieties - relaxing, adrenaline-pumping, cultural, outdoorsy, athletic, lazy, cheap, pricey - there is truly something for everyone in here.

At the end of each chapter, there is a "Miscellany" section with little tidbits about each region, such as the best places to dance or dine, trivia, unusual hotels, best souvenirs, etc.

At the end of the book, the activities are listed alphabetically by country. Then they are all listed by number, after which there is vital info for each entry, such as a website or directions.

Each entry is well-written by its respective author, condensed but informative and interesting. The photographs are numerous and fabulous - they get you excited about the place. I suppose even armchair travelers will get their kicks from this book!

In short, this book is a bargain, a must-have for anyone who plans to travel anywhere. Or even for those who like to pretend! Hold me to it, you won't regret it.

P.S. Rough Guides has been cranking out some great books lately. I also highly recommend World Party, similar to this book, but with a focus on festivals and other celebrations both wild and tame. Awesome.

Much better than 1000 Places to Go Before You Die, June 30, 2008
We have both books, the 1000 Places to Go Before You Die and this book. This one is much better, because it focuses much more on experiences rather than shopping and staying at fancy hotels. The other book seems like half advertising. Sure, the experiences might not all be my cup of tea. I won't be doing any extreme sports, and I won't be partying now that I am a mom. However, there is something for everybody, the pictures are compelling and the descriptions are opinionated, evocative and short.

Dream on!, January 7, 2008
I buy a lot of books from Amazon, especially books on travel. This is hands down the best purchase I have made in that genre. The descriptions are great, there is lots of valuable information, and the photography is wonderful. I would say that this is a book that will give you many, many good ideas, but you will need to depend on other more specific guidebooks for the actual planning (Lonely Planet and Footprint are what I prefer).

As an aside, I also purchased the "World Party" book that too is published by Rough. There is some repetition, but on the whole I think that the two books compliment each other quite nicely. If I were choosing between them, I would probably select this volume. After all, there is more to life than parties...or so I've been told.

Been everywhere? Think again..., November 29, 2008
This book is amazingly gorgeous. The photos will have you salivating like a foodie looking at a gourmet cookbook. If you have even the tiniest travel bug in you, this book will inspire you to see more places and dream a little bigger.

Because it's organized by destinations, you simply can't resist going through it and saying to yourself, "Been there. Seen it. Done it. Oh, this looks interesting...I haven't been here."

Also, I looked at all of the places where I've lived to see how accurate the book was. Were these places really worthy of the moniker of ultimate travel experience? They were! Excellent choices by the editors.

I guarantee you won't make it through the first hundred pages of this book without feeling inspired to add another destination to your "must see" list.

UNLESS YOU ARE YOUNG, SUPER FIT AND FILTHY RICH, DONT BUY, July 10, 2010
Inordinate amount of description and praise for high priced food wine and clubs. Alas for us retirees who want to travel within a budget but still see beautiful sceneries, local events for the general public, this is a complete waste of time.

Packed with Ideas, February 27, 2009
This book is filled with 1000 places to travel to. It includes what you may eat, places you may stay, what type of activities you may encounter, and what wildlife you do not want to miss out on! In the back of the book, it lists websites that have been referenced though out the book or important information you need to know like park times or costs. Great overview on 1000 unique experiences worldwide!

Voluminous Text Sometimes Makes Global Trekking More Trying Than Enthralling, August 9, 2009
The book's title comes from the company motto for Rough Guides. Yet, compared to the alluring photos and graphics of the DK Eyewitness Travel Guides' Where To Go When and Lonely Planet's The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World, this response from the editors of the Rough Guides is somewhat lacking, even though it may be the best researched of the three entries into a field I like to call global travel enticement. The challenge comes from the way the methodology is presented - "1,000 ultimate travel experiences" gathered by their over the quarter century since the travel series first started with 1982's Rough Guide to Greece. It's daunting to pore through such a voluminous text simply because the regional breakdown doesn't really do much to help the reader traverse the four corners while exciting the senses.

Each travel experience is lightly described in a single paragraph with only a chosen few warranting an accompanying photo. While the regional breakdown may be logical enough, the lack of attention to the timing of such adventures can get frustrating. For example, the camel fair in Pushkar, India or the La Tomatina tomato fight in Bunol, Spain are treated in the same way as more permanent attractions when it would have been more helpful to present them in a calendar format. In addition, the quality of the writing varies quite a bit from adventure to adventure since these accounts are culled from at least a couple of generations of travel writers. However, there is no arguing the variety that the world presents if one is committed to exploring beyond defined comfort zones. In that regard, the editors of the Rough Guides have provided a reasonably entertaining inventory even if the result would challenge the patience of even a true wanderer.

Great reminder..., November 26, 2007
I simply bought this book to remind myself that there is so much to see around.......
The recommendations of the book are really good. I've been to several of them, and those are worth it.

To big to be practical. Too brief to be helpful., January 12, 2010
That pretty much sums this book up.

When dedicated shelf space for a book like this, it might be nice to keep it next to or near your atlas, but the synopsis' are really too brief to be helpful, since the user will almost immediately go to the web to search for additional information anyway.

Also, the sheer number of places listed here, is enough to set a person with ADD, head spinning. Since a lot of people, don't even venture more than a 50 mile radius from where they are born, I just think this is a overly ambitious to list all these places, in a single resource.

Very nice photos, and as I said, would be a nice compliment to an Atlas, or a cursory "day dream", but not a in-depth resource in narrowing down where you might want to travel.

Don't get me wrong, this is a nice book, but based on all the factors, price, content, and shelf space, I just think the web is a more practical research tool. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Experience The Best of Australia
Make the most of your trip abroad – Lonely Planet’s full color Discover guides highlight the best a country has to offer while still providing an authentic and memorable experience.

Full Color Throughout
Full of color images and maps – makes planning as inspiring as the journey itself
Color-coded navigation

Easy-To-Use Structure
Easy-to-use tools include: color-coded chapters, color thumb tabs, dynamic color spreads on major highlights and
Easy-to-read planning sections throughout

Highlights
Special front-of-book chapter on the top 25 can’t-miss experiences
Features the must-see attractions and unbeatable experiences
Focuses on key cities and regions

Itineraries
Country-wide itineraries take you step by step though the country – broken out by interest, theme and length of trip
Region-specific itineraries help you plan more deeply for the regions you are most interested in

Local Experts
Major attractions include insights from local experts on what not to miss
... Read more

Reviews

Wonderful in the armchair; not so wonderful on the ground, April 30, 2010

Good solid information for a first or brief outing to Australia, May 5, 2010

Make The Most Of Your Trip, May 3, 2010

Editorial Review

Frommer's Australia is packed with all the facts, tips, and descriptions you need to have perfect vacation:

• Completely updated every year, Frommer?s Australia features gorgeous full-color photos of the Outback vistas, curious wildlife, and white-sand beaches that await you.
• Our authors have lived in and written about Australia for years, so they?re able to provide valuable insights and advice. They?ll steer you away from the touristy and the inauthentic and show you the real heart of the land Down Under. Let them take you to exciting cities, Aboriginal homesteads, Barossa Valley vineyards, and natural wonders, from the Wet Tropics Rainforest to Uluru to the Great Barrier Reef. You?ll travel Australia like a pro using their candid advice and in-depth knowledge of the culture.
• Also included are accurate regional and town maps, up-to-date advice on finding the best package deals, a free color fold-out map, and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap!

Reviews

Helpful Australia Guide!, November 20, 2010
I am planning a three week trip to Australia for this January. I have two other guides published by other companies and have found this new Frommer's Guide to be the most useful. It has lots of information and useful tips - while the format makes it easy to find locations. This year, buy this guide!

Amazon Australia rubbish, November 30, 2010
I put Amazon Australia on the web and now find that on book published in Astralia about Australia is being sent there from America and taking months to arrive. Absolutely stupid. Can't even cancel or return as it was a Xmas gift now arriving January, ... Read more

Editorial Review

At the age of twenty-six, Maarten Troost—who had been pushing the snooze button on the alarm clock of life by racking up useless graduate degrees and muddling through a series of temp jobs—decided to pack up his flip-flops and move to Tarawa, a remote South Pacific island in the Republic of Kiribati. He was restless and lacked direction, and the idea of dropping everything and moving to the ends of the Earth was irresistibly romantic. He should have known better.

The Sex Lives of Cannibals tells the hilarious story of what happens when Troost discovers that Tarawa is not the island paradise he dreamed of. Falling into one amusing misadventure after another, Troost struggles through relentless, stifling heat, a variety of deadly bacteria, polluted seas, toxic fish, and worst of all, no television or coffee. And that’s just the first day.

Sunburned, emaciated, and stinging with sea lice, Troost spends the next two years battling incompetent government officials, alarmingly large critters, erratic electricity, and a paucity of food options. He contends with a cast of bizarre local characters, including “Half-Dead Fred” and the self-proclaimed Poet Laureate of Tarawa (a British drunkard who’s never written a poem in his life), and eventually settlesinto the ebb and flow of island life, just before his return to the culture shock of civilization.

With the rollicking wit of Bill Bryson, the brilliant travel exposition of Paul Theroux, and a hipster edge that is entirely Troost’s own, The Sex Lives of Cannibals is the ultimate vicarious adventure. Readers may never long to set foot on Tarawa, but they’ll want to travel with Troost time and time again.

Reviews

Read this book!, February 27, 2005
You know how you feel when you've just finished a really good book and want to tell everyone you know about it? That is how I feel about THE SEX LIVES OF CANNIBALS. During the first few chapters I was laughing out loud so much and reading passages to my husband so often that he mentioned he wouldn't even have to read the book. However since he formerly lived in the Marshall Islands, this book hits home to him and he could hardly wait until I was done to grab it from my hands.

Maarten and Sylvia have no idea what they're getting themselves into when Sylvia agrees to a two-year contact to work on Tarawa, a remote island in the equatorial Pacific islands also known as Kiribas (The Gilbert Islands).

This was LOL funny in so many places! Maarten's turn of a phrase is so clever that he makes one laugh in the face of a nearly intolerable situation living on this remote island - part of which is so crowded it rivals Hong Kong in population density. The 20th century wasn't kind to these islanders. Their unique culture juxtaposed with the creations of the 20th century is very nearly ruining their culture. But Troost is able to find nearly everything funny (even though one wonders if he felt it was that funny at the moment) including the bowel habits of the natives. On the back of the book in Maarten's brief bio, it is revealed that he and is wife are living in California. One can only hope that he is becoming the writer for a sit-com. He makes other authors of humor/travel memoir seem dull in comparison. If I would compare him to anyone it would be Erma Bombeck-the way he is able to find hilarity in even the most mundane things.

This book deserves to be a bestseller and hopefully by word of mouth it will be.

One of the best in recent years! Give this book a chance!, September 1, 2005
Troost and his wife truly do go to the end of the world, to a tiny country in the equatorial Pacific, and live in an alternate reality. Troot's misadventures with the town's hygiene and sanitation, the toxic fish, a complete lack of vegetation, limited dry goods, cannibalistic dogs, a rundown airplane, high seas on a plywood boat, and the like are relayed to the reader with humor and wit. Beer is popular because it "tends to be parasite-free and calorie-laden, two very useful attributes on Tarawa." At first, Troost is an outsider, shocked by the island going-ons, but over the course of his two years there, he truly adopts the island lifestyle, so much that America is a complete culture shock for husband and wife when the part ways with Kiribati.

Troost makes some insightful comments on infrastructure--he took for granted in his previous life that water and electricity came to your house by magic. On Kiribati, he has hilariously eye-opening experiences ensuring a supply of both.

Throughout the book Troost recounts the history of Kiribati, its culture, and its relationship to the outside world. He actually does a real service to the island by recording the oral tradition and myth, and placing it in context with the slim amount of published literature on Kiribati. Over the course of his stay, he grows to be a real defender of the nation. When Kiribati sincerely accepts the offer of a British drunkard to become their Poet Laureate, the global media has quite a laugh at the nation's quaint nature. Troost is certain to set the truth straight about the lout who only lasted a few months in Kiribati.

A light entertaining account of an ex-pat's life in Kiribati, October 16, 2004
The author describes living for two years in Kiribati, an ex-British colony in the Pacific Ocean that is now independent. He thought he was moving to a tropical paradise, but instead found that even in the national capital, people would regularly defecate in the lagoon, the grocery stores couldn't keep basic staples in stock, and water and electric supplies were irregular at best. He speaks of the Kiribati people with enormous and sincere affection, but a reader can't avoid the conclusion that these islands would be better off if they were still a British colony.

Troost writes in a light, humourous tone, making this book a pleasure to read, although there are places where Troost is a little too cute for his own good. A few photos would have been a nice touch, and is it asking too much for the publisher to include a map? And by the way, the title is misleading - there is very little here about sex and nothing about cannibalism. A book this good does not need the cheap gimmick of a misleading title.

Heat and fish and cannibalism--and some superb writing, July 28, 2004
Author J. Maarten Troost and his girlfriend Sylvia moved in their mid-twenties, in the late 90s, to Tarawa, the capital of the Republic of Kiribati, a country in the equatorial Pacific that is composed of 33 atolls--comprising in toto a mere 300 square miles--spread across a patch of ocean as big as the continental United States. Sylvia had been hired as the new director of the Kiribati office of the Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific, succeeding in this position an ostensibly malevolent, angular woman who, as she herself explained--dyspeptically, ill-omenedly--just couldn't take it anymore. Troost, who had recently finished graduate school in Washington D.C. and was looking to avoid serious work, and who besides had a yen for travel in lesser-known locales, was in Kiribati as a hanger-on and adventurer. He would also, of course, serve as a chronicler of the exotica to be encountered.

Among the first things Troost found worthy of thus chronicling after his arrival in Kiribati was his first blissful swim in the Pacific--all palm trees and booming surf and brilliant sun--an idyllic atmosphere that was marred by what Troost found waiting for him in the shallows when he waded back to shore: there, directly between the author and dry land, was a large pair of defecating human buttocks, whose owner soon took to wiping himself with twigs and casting aloft these feces-laden utensils on the outgoing tide...outgoing, that is, in the direction of our in-wading author. Troost later discovered that at low tide the beaches of his atoll tended to be pockmarked by reeking piles of human and animal waste.

Apart from fecal matters, which seem to loom very large indeed on Tarawa, Troost discusses the surprising abundance of fabric softener on the atoll (surprising, that is, as the I-Kiribati do not own a single dryer among them), the difficulty of riding a bike in an equatorial climate on a road covered with pigs and chickens while holding a large, wet fish, and the unexpected allure of cannibalism: "I had no desire to eat anyone's arm, but once you've digested raw sea worms and boiled moray eels you begin to think a little more creatively about what precisely constitutes food." There are, besides, bits of good-humored, informative narrative thrown in. In a section on the ethnic origins of the I-Kiribati, for example, Troost writes of the possibility that the original population of the atoll had once been displaced--read "eaten"--by savage Polynesians from Samoa:

"The Polynesians worshipped the god Rongo, and what Rongo liked was human flesh. The sails of their war canoes were creatively decorated with the likeness of a human head, called te bou-uoua. There was another crest called tim-tim-te-rara. This translates as drip-drip-the-blood, a reference to the heads driven on stakes that Rongo liked to see scattered around like knickknacks. So, picture lolling about on the beach, idly scanning the horizon, when suddenly you see hundreds of warriors approach in canoes bedecked with the image of a severed head. It's not going to be a good day."

This sort of fish-out-of-water memoir--Troost calls it a "travel, adventure, humor, memoir kind of book"--depends for its success not so much on the otherness of the location under discussion: the mores and denizens of a local diner can probably seem interesting and alien enough to warrant a book given the proper write-up. Success depends rather on the personality and writerly wit of its author. And J. Maarten Troost is a very fine writer indeed. The Sex Lives of Cannibals is a funny and charming and even eye-opening little book, just the thing to take to the beach.... But do be on the lookout for any incoming severed-head-bedecked boats.

Reviewed by Debra Hamel, author of Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece

Mental Note: Don't Vacation On Tarawa., September 20, 2006
One would think that "The Sex Lives of Cannibals" was a psychological reference book about the libidinous habits of Hannibal Lector and friends. Actually, it refers to the historical beginnings of the peoples on a remote Pacific island called Tarawa. The ancesters of those native to the atoll apparently lost their men to invading cannibals who went on to procreate with their women through force, creating a non-descript race of islanders. Not exactly what immediately comes to mind upon reading the title of J. Maarten Troost's first novel, a true story about his two year adventure on a small piece of land in the middle of the an endless bowl of water.

It all begins with Troost's lethargic approach toward his job. He's fed up with it. When his girlfriend Silvia is given the opportunity to work in a program designed to benefit the health and environment of the Gilbert Islands, Troost joins the unemployed and goes with her. Thus begins their whirlwind island lifestyle amid searing heat, lackluster living conditions, consistent health problems and just overall doing without. Many of their trials are humiliating, frustrating, inhuman and sad.

Tarawa has no waste disposal system so people relieve themselves in the ocean. Refuse piles up along its narrow roads and beaches, ignored. The author's cement, vermin-infested dwelling place is considered prime living compared to the thatched homes of the natives. Other countries bully them, depleting their only revenue of tuna by greedily fishing in Tarawa's coveted waters. They have no working fire trucks, have to use sticks instead of toilet paper and four hours of electricity isn't only a rare gift, but a pleasant surprise. Dogs are disease-ridden predators that prowl in huge packs, eating their own in sheer desperation. The daily menu is fish, fish and more fish. Boil your water and you might just go a day without parasites polluting your insides. These are the things poor city-dwellers Maarten and Silvia dealt with on a daily basis from the moment they stepped off the rickety plane that had to abort its first landing because pigs were on the runway.

The best way to experience the hardships of others is to walk around in their shoes. Troost did this with reluctant gusto and there's a feeling of dread in every chapter that most of us can't identify with. The descriptions are harrowing, from Tarawa's ridiculous do-nothing government to the I-Kiribati's (pronounced Kee-ree-bas) unusual preoccupation with the song "Macarena." The people seem amicable enough, just dealing with the cards fate dealt them in that laid-back island way. Most of them don't know what it's like to have a vcr or to use a toilet or have air conditioning. They don't steal, preferring to rely on the "bubuti" system of just saying, "I bubuti you for your shirt," or "I bubuti you for bus fare." It sounds like an agreeable way of life at first, but it's also a good way to go broke. Luckily(?) most of the people don't have much anyway.

That's just one example of Troost's depiction of his own culture shock after settling in Tarawa. He goes on to show us much, much more. And he does it in a funny, clever prose that sometimes veers off into rambling or preaching. He benefits from his time away from the states, even when he complains of being harassed by drunken villagers. The only real drawback of the piece is the lack of personality or character in his wife-to-be, Silvia. Wasn't she the reason they were there in the first place? Troost mostly writes about the heinous living conditions and his interactions with the I-Kiribati. Silvia is often ignored and gives very little to the experience. But that can be overlooked - those people have experienced enough as it is.

Laugh out loud, January 9, 2007
I admit I was sucked in by the title of this book. I mistakenly purchased it, believing it was a piece of fiction. I quickly realized my error when I noticed the word "travelogue" on the spine. That word filled me with terror as I envisioned a boring read about a place I had no real interest in. I couldn't have been more wrong. This is an excellent book for anyone who has the slightest hint of a sense of humor. J. Maarten Troost is a fantastically funny author, whose willingness to self-deprecate is displayed at every turn. He is human and the majority of the experiences he shares in his novel about the South Pacific ring true. Whether he is describing battling the stormy sea in a small, rickety boat or meeting the locals and partaking of their traditions, he is honest. We learn as much about the author and his pseudo-wife, as we do about the islands he visits and the people he befriends. Each chapter is brilliantly introduced with clever summaries that will have you laughing out loud. Enjoy this book. It deserves nothing less.

Ah! Theres a bug on you!, July 12, 2004
I think the author used the title just to grab our attention. Duh! Of course there aren't any cannibals in the book--you can tell if you read the back cover. This is a humorous, fascinating look into an island who is responding---or not, to Americanization. Its a look into how a modern young, educated couple could survive in the Tropics, if they really could persevere. I don't know if I could've made it through all that the author and his beloved Sylvia could have. The trials and tribulations they go through are just----winsome. Its like an anthropology lesson and a comic book; the author has done his research and has also maintained a respect for his subject.
This book is "light" meaning that you can easily read it and enjoy it at the pool or at the beach. I recommend an outside setting when you read it. It adds to the ambiance that is set up.
I recommend this story---and look forward to more if the author feels duty bound to write another in say, 10 years or so. Its an unusual type of book, but its worth the read. I'm sharing it with my friends and family!

a very enjoyable book, January 5, 2007
I picked up this book as an impulse; the title was intriguing.

It's a very funny read; I laughed out loud numerous times which I rarely do when reading. With the humor there were some social/political issues that did get one thinking. I appreciated the fact that Troost never preached or got on some political band wagon. Regardless, there were issues explored that caused me to ponder man's existence on this planet.

It is a quick read; it's hard to put down.

Troost's writing style is somewhat academic; even he makes comments on his long sentences. However, once the reader gets used to his style, it's engaging.

I can not recommend this book any more highly.

Hilarious and smart, too, August 16, 2004
With the travel writer's classic self-deprecating, fish-out-of-water humor, Troost chronicles his two years on a remote Equatorial Pacific island with as much insight as hilarity. Drifting aimlessly at age 26, he jumps at the chance to join his girlfriend, Sylvia, on her aid-worker posting to Tarawa, in the island nation of Kiribati.

Of decidedly northern sensibilities, he packs jeans and a sweater along with his shorts and flip-flops and imagines an island paradise where he will write a literary masterpiece of a novel. The disillusionment process begins immediately.

His chapter heading (Troost employs witty 19th century-style chapter headings) for arrival: "In which the Author finally sets foot on Distant Tarawa, ... and, Conceding that it is indeed Very Hot on the Equator, he Bravely overcomes his Fear of Sharks and encounters something Much, Much Worse."

By which he means the casual parade of people defecating into the water where he is swimming. Along with no sanitary facilities and bad water, Tarawa has a slum where the population density is the highest on earth - he never explains why they don't spread out to the relatively idyllic northern end - presumably they are not wanted - and of course no one has fuel to boil the water.

Almost nothing grows on the island, which is, in addition, suffering from drought, and because of the pollution, the inshore fish are "guaranteed to induce gastric explosions." Ciguatera toxicity, caused by untreated sewage, and sometimes fatal, is common in larger fish (who concentrate it by eating smaller ones) and everyone everyday consumes fish. And then there's the trash, the most ubiquitous import, which, having no other place to go, litters the beaches.

After a while all this becomes normal and Troost begins to make friends and enemies, adopts a few feral dogs (the major form of wildlife), and goes native enough to discourage the prowling peeping toms who would never dare intrude on their own kind. He learns Kiribati mythology and absorbs some history and gradually begins to understand their customs as something more than inexplicable eccentricities.

Having arrived with rather American notions of safety in terms of food, means of travel, and daily preservation, he discards many of these prejudices, thereby inviting new experiences: he body surfs in shark infested waters, narrowly misses fishing on the high seas in a leaky open canoe, crosses 20-foot storm-tossed seas without getting seasick, and becomes marooned on an island with lobster. "The I-Kiribati do not have a taste for lobster. I believed this was because their taste buds died when the English arrived." Not so, he is told. They avoid lobster because it is a "disgusting reef cleaner." And we know by then, as well as Troost does, what that means on Tarawa.

The isolation of the place is captured perfectly in a chapter on the Clinton-Lewinsky mess: "In which the Author begins to hear rumors of Lurid Happenings in Washington and suddenly he Regrets his Situation, his Location, and Wishes only to have access to a tabloid newspaper, a television, an Internet connection, but he is Denied."

He is scathingly hilarious about the corrupt, inefficient government, the implausible schemes of the World Bank and other international organizations, and US nuclear history in the South Pacific.

But when the two years are up, he and Sylvia are ambivalent about leaving. Indeed, after a short stint back home, Sylvia accepts a position in Fiji, where their son is born. After this wildly funny, witty and informative debut, readers will hope he is planning a Fiji chronicle to follow soon.

A light, witty and original travelogue -- "must read" !, August 1, 2004
Troost's book is just plain funny. You gotta read it and pass it on. Actually there's nothing plain about it... it's original and very witty. The author can really keep you entertained from cover to cover. Having been to the equatorial Pacific and met some of its citizens, I know Troost has invoked poetic license to embellish some of their everyday lives, traits and circumstances (as he admits) and his challenges in getting adjusted to the island life and culture. The result is a successful attempt at light humor that is guaranteed to make this book a "must read." It's a quick antidote to any serious textbook... definitely makes for good book to bring on your next vacation! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Recognized the world over by frequent flyers and armchair travelers alike, Eyewitness Travel Guides are the most colorful and comprehensive guides on the market. With beautifully commissioned photographs and spectacular 3-D aerial views revealing the charm of each destination, these amazing travel guides show what others only tell. ... Read more

Reviews

Aussie thumbs up, May 18, 2000
As an Australian, I recommend this for its accuracy and good, straightforward coverage of the country. It is annoying to read inaccuracies and clangers about your own country, and it is pleasing to note that this guide avoids that.

I have written in very glowing terms also about the Sydney guide.

These are guidebooks I prefer to use in travelling my own country, which is a great recommendation.

Great Aussie Guide, December 12, 1999
In preparation for our trip to Australia, we checked 4 Australian travel books out of the library. After reading them, this is the one that we thought was worth owning (definitely). If you want lots of facts, brief history, maps and beautiful pictures, we recommend this guide.

An Absolute Must Have!, December 22, 1999
Pictures, references to specific historical and some lesser known places, explicit detail on mannerisms and etiquette--this book is everything that you would want out of a travel guide. DK has always done a wonderful job with their books, but this one has truly outdone all others!

A Good Supplemental Reference, November 25, 2006
The DK Eyewitness Travel book for Australia is a decent travel guide, which includes a lot of pictures to help the traveler see what the attraction is while doing their planning. This 2006 revised edition runs over 600 pages, and includes an introductory section as well as 8 sections on the various areas of Australia, including one for Sydney by itself. It also has a section for Travelers' needs, which include accommodations, restaurants, and shopping information, and a section titled "Survival Guide" which contains a lot of useful information for travelers.

While the pictures are quite striking, they do seem to come at a price of more information about each of the attractions as well as the general areas. For my trip, I found the section on Tasmania to be rather sparse. The section on Melbourne was significantly better, but even there it would have been nice to have more information. I also question the practice of grouping all the hotels and restaurants together in a single section for the entire country. It seems as if the traveler would be better served if information of that sort was included in each of the sections rather than all together. They do organize the items by region within those sections, but in a hurry one might not notice if they stray outside of their area.

This is a useful reference, but I think it works best as a supplemental reference along with other material. If one needs a single reference, you should look elsewhere.

Fascinating Visual Guide to Australia, November 2, 1998
Eyewitness continues to provide outstanding guides as seen in the recent guide to Australia. This book combines pictures, 3D Layouts of important buildings and museums, street maps of Sydney and Melbourne, plus a helpful section on accomodations and restaurants. For my money, eyewitness produces the best travel guides on the market.

Great guide, July 17, 2005
This is a well written and nicely laid out and easy to use guide for Australia. I've used many of the different name-brand travel guides out there over the years, and the DK guides are fairly new to me, but I've been impressed with the ones I've seen.

One nice thing they do is there's a "useability page" where the different features of the guide are described on a two- page spread. This makes it easy to learn the special features of the guide and also to use it. This is a good idea and more guide publishers should do it.

The DK guides are always beautifully designed, with great photos and good use of space, text, and graphics on the page. They don't seem to cram too much or too little information onto a page.

The different regions of Australia are covered in alphabetical order, with color coded tabs at the top of the page so you can skip to the next one if you want without having to look in the index.

I was looking especially for information on Hobart and Tasmania, which most people seem to miss on their first trip to Oz, but I am planning on going there, and the section on that was very helpful.

No one book on a country as big and diverse as Australia can cover everything, but this guide is a great place to at least start your research and learn about the most important places and sights you want to see and visit.

The guide concludes with accommodations, restaurant recommentions, and advice for the traveller sections, including safety considerations (Australia is very crime free but the environment can be harsh and unforgiving), medical care, banking, driving, etc. Overall this is another fine guide book from DK.

A must if you are traveling to Australia on your own, June 18, 2004
As a result of spending a summer in Australia, I own numerous travel guides about the country, and this one is one of the best. If you, like me, need color pictures in your travel guides, then you won't want to miss out on this guide. The photography is extensive and wonderful. The book is divided into multiple sections, each covering a specific region of Australia. There is a brief overview of each region, and then the book lists multiple attractions in that region, with a brief description of each one. At least half of the attractions listed have photographs, and buildings such as museums and government buildings usually have photographs of the interior and the artwork inside. Each attraction also lists the telephone number, opening and closing hours, and the rail/bus/subway stop that you will need to use. At the beginning of the book, there is a brief history of Australia, and information on traveling around the country, money, food, etc. is at the end.

The book does list some hotels and restaurants, but does not really cater to the budget traveler (buy Let's Go for this). The book also does not have extensive maps, so don't count on finding those in here either. I always buy multiple guides when I travel, so this was not a problem for me, but I can see how it would be for some people. Even though the price is a bit more than some other guides, I would not miss out on buying this book, or any other Eyewitness Guides. I consider them an absolute necessity for travel, and one of the best series out there.

just decent, August 22, 2005
I was letdown after all the good reviews this book received.The layout is good, it is easy to read and there is a lot of useful information in the book. The letdown for me was that all the restaurants and bars listed are expensive so this isn't very helpful for the budget conscious. BUT this book is way better that the Rough Guides or Lonely Planet. However I will be ordering Frommers to take with me when I go to Australia...

The best Guide to Australia that I've come across, June 29, 2004
I have been reading many books about Australia in General and Sydney in particular. This one is undoubtedly the best, with detailed photographs and sketches that make it easy to visualise the places. I do recommend that you buy a second guide to supplement this one - just to get another point of view. (or pick up the tourism depatrment guides at the airports)

Shiny, June 3, 2006
This is a good looking book but disappointed us, somehow there wasn't a lot of useful information in it compared to other guide books! We sold it when we got back. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Curse of Lono is to Hawaii what Fear and Loathing was to Las Vegas: the crazy tales of a journalist’s "coverage" of a news event that ends up being a wild ride to the dark side of Americana. ... Read more

Reviews

Thompson-Steadman harmony at its best, April 30, 1997
From the blue-armed freak, to the demonic fire-glowing night in The Land of Po, this is essential HST. Throw in the Honolulu Marathon, and the good doctor serves up a characteristic glimpse of his own weird Americana that calls for all other social critics to throw down their pens in reverence and futility. This book is Thompson-Steadman harmony unparalleled. Steadman's illustrations are hallucinogenic masterpieces that complement the fury of Thompson's writing. If you call yourself a devotee, don't leave a hole in your library where this book belongs. It is pure visceral madness. The final scene stakes its claim with any of his best works and is nothing short of what those of us who care have come to know as life-blood joy and the frenzied understanding of more than a few generations of enlightenment. Read it. Now

Best description of marathon madness I have ever read., June 22, 1998
Prior to reading this book, I had dismissed the author as someone who just got loaded and made up a bunch of stuff. However, the first few chapters of Lono represent the best description of marathon madness of those times that I have ever read (I finished 6th place at the 1983 Honolulu Marathon). His insightfulness into carbo-loading parties and the running divorce lead me to believe that he first did his research sober and then crawled off to finish the book.It has given me a lot of new respect for Gonzo Journalism.And Steadman's manic drawings of a perfect match.

The Curse, December 31, 2008
If your curious on why this book is so expensive, it's not because it's a rarity, it's because the thing is so giant. If I had to place a measurement I'd say its a good foot and a half long with another foot or so wide. It's so full of color and life on every page including letters from the man himself and tons of amazing drawings. Highly recommended for the HST followers.

An unknown classic, October 27, 2007
This books is probably the least well-known of HST's books. But it was a very pleasant surprise upon reading it. It is classic Thompson, self-destructive, paranoid, and hilarious. If you take his word for it, you might never visit Hawaii yourself!

Among His Best, April 18, 2005
I would be surprised if this book does not get reprinted. I had my first copy "stolen" when it disappeared into the loaned book abyss. I recently bought an out-of-print used copy from a local dealer, via Amazon, and two months later the author killed himself. Now, it's a little expensive.

If you can get your hands on a copy, I would rank the writing among his best work in the fictional/gonzo genre. He actually wrote this saga after two visits to Hawaii. The marathon coverage is brilliant. The characters, including his own wife, are bigger-than-life and funny as hell. The transition from a reporter covering a marathon to a man having a vacation with his wife and friends really has to be studied to be appreciated. The slow but inevitable decent from humour to insanity is captivating, witty and enormously funny. When Thompson was motivated to make himself laugh, he did a great job.

This was one of the books that he had friends reading aloud to him in his kitchen prior to his suicide. I do not rate Lono his best work, especially not when you know this author was capable of the kind of gritty realism that he lashed together in books like Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, but it is a true gem. You cannot appreciate Hunter Thompson's late-life writing style without it.

Fear & Loathing in Honolulu ^_^, August 16, 2005
As a major fan of Fear & Loathing Las Vegas, I thought no book could compare. Think of my shock when I heard about this book. A book set in Hawaii AND it's written in that same Fear & Loathing, Hunter-ish style!

It's true what they say about this "lost" book.

Flown down to write about The Honolulu Marathon, The Curse of Lono (which is in all honesty part fact & fiction) is his best: very funny, interesting writing - and very informative on Honolulu itself as well. True that last! He did not just come down here to Honolulu to drink and do drugs and write whatever was left floating in his brian. Hunter did SOME research on the culture and history of the Islands. Here, for ex., we learn that Lono is the Hawaiian god of fertility.

HST is the master of details. Seeing things that others may have missed. This is what makes him a great writer. A great observer. And along with the fictional The Rum Diary, he also has an awesome, imaginative eye.

This book will hold your attention and expand your imagination (which is very important to me), and your funny-bone.

A good book is an extension of a writer's persona. And just like Fear & Loathing, The Curse of Lono does that in spades.

Even BETTER in this book.

It's insane and surreal with its creative descriptions, and the art work is just amazing.

I hunger for more Lono...

ps: Be ready for the film version, produced by Sean Penn, coming soon!

Hawaii Will Never Be the Same, July 4, 2002
Hunter is the creator and king of gonzo journalism. Here is a quote from Thompson about what Gonzo journalism is:"My idea was to buy a fat notebook and record the whole thing as it happened, then send in the notebook for publication-- without editing. That way, I felt the eye and mind of the journalist would be functioning as a camera. The writing would be selective and necessarily interpretive - but once the image was written, the words would be final; in the same way that a Cartier-Bresson photograph is always (he says) the full-frame negative. No alterations in the darkroom, no cutting or cropping, no spotting . . . no editing.

This is a good book, full of funny moments and hard to believe stories. There is no slow build up or filler in the middle. The book grabs you from the beginning with the author's stories and keeps you laughing until the end.

This might not be a good first book to start with. Hunter's style and actions may be hard for some to read without getting offended. Sometimes Hunter will wander into side tangents before getting back on track with what is currently going on; this may annoy some people. I recommend starting with "Hells Angels" or "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" before paying the extra bucks for this out of print book.

Samoans, Claudes, and dope fiends, ye Gods!, November 27, 2005
In 1779, Capt. James Cook, a British Explorer, stopped by the Hawaiian Islands to repair his ship and gather a few supplies. He was promptly clubbed, slaughtered, and as legend has it, eaten by a vicious tribe of islanders. Nearly two hundred years later, a world famous drug crazed journalist attempts to make the same journey in between battling the forces of nature, blowing things up, and covering a running marathon. And then later things get ugly. Now consider that this story (shaggy dog though it may be) is mostly nonfiction, and the incentive for running your greasy mitts through its pages becomes clear, though be warned that it may fade as you dive deeper into this newly reprinted, strange and terrible adventure.

Since this is a sequel of sorts to previous Gonzo sagas, perhaps it is expected that family and friends are presented as characters in it. While this might sound appealing and like a good opportunity to push some character development in, it serves more as an anchor to reality that drives a rift between the myth and man of Hunter S. Thompson more than anything else. For example, Ralph Steadman, the surrealistic illustrator of many of Thompson's works may work well as the frumpy comic relief, but on occasion he would say something that struck me as a little too wild, or not typical of an admittedly boring individual. It's not so much that I can't believe a well mannered character wouldn't overact after a string of stressful scenarios, but when he does he does it using signature vulgarities I'm already familiar with having read them in past books by the same author. This presents a fascinating look into an author's writing process as I can now see how he gauges himself in adding his own words when quoting others, but it also pulls me out of the story. In any case, this will only be a problem to those who have read books or articles by Steadman; otherwise you'll have no reason to believe anyone is putting anything into his mouth.

Even if Ralph Steadman doesn't always work as a character, as an artist he does well enough. With many drawings, I had to seriously restrain myself from taking an axe to them and then impaling them onto my wall, while others I would hardly consider worthy to be scribbled on a soiled dinner napkin. Unlike most other Thompson/Steadman collaborations, the illustrations in Curse of Lono are colored, and beautifully so. There is a wonderful contrast in many of the drawings between simple ink designs, and then fantastic, vibrant, and multi-hued colors with the occasional undertones of violence. They are a great compliment to Thompson's writing.

And compliments it needed since this work was admittedly written just for the money, and the lack of inspiration was overbearing for the seasoned reader of The Good Doctor. In past novels and material I believed the craziness of the characters and the language they used with the utmost ease and decadence, but this time around it looks like the same colorfully apocalyptic dialogue has been rehashed and injected into characters that were probably meeker than the author would like you to think. There's no actual evidence to support my claim, just an overall gut feeling that the author was putting more than a few lines into his own words. But even so there are also the excerpts from history books about the Last Voyage of Capt. Cook. I enjoyed reading these, but the manner in which they were cut and paste from their source and into this book struck me as a lazy way to integrate some history into the main story. Hunter makes the relevance of these articles clear later, but I still think I would have enjoyed it better had I gotten a look into what made the story of an old sea captain interesting to him in the first place.

But none of this is to say I didn't enjoy the book, just that its flaws are going to be more memorable than the standard HST fare writing to the Gonzo Diehard. If you haven't read a Thompson book before, dive right in and enjoy the warm water...which is actually a mix of LSD and Wild Goose liquor. And don't worry about the thing brushing against your leg since; it's probably just a marine iguana. Hunter's writing is bizarre beyond description, and is so visceral you'll know if you like it within a few pages. The first time reader will no doubt embrace the entire psychedelic experience with joy and then puzzlement as to why some bathroom floor piss soaked douche box only gave it three out of five stars on Amazon. I will maintain that Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is probably a better starting place for anyone looking to try this writer out, I consider it the definitive HST book, but there is great fun, learning, and more than a couple audible laughs to be had here. Buy the ticket, take the ride...or at least flip through it in a Barnes and Noble. You cheap swine.

paradise reconsidered, October 24, 2008
This particular piece by Hunter S. Thompson is less appreciated or even overlooked in favor of his more popular works, particularly his adventure in Las Vegas. Lono is the perfect follow-up to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, as it reflects the recipe which catapulted Thompson's method of gonzo: travel to some exotic locale, cover some seemingly trivial yet ultimately bizarre sporting event, overstay your time exploring the local culture which will ultimately prove equally or even more entertaining than said sporting event, and finally hide in retreat after the blur of intoxication and savage alienation have been extolled upon friends, family, and locals. Not a bad formula, and not a bad writer.

I doubt that the similarity was deliberate to Fear and Loathing, but who really knows? Where Lono is unique is through the division of labor. Thompson's presence is requested in Hawai'i to cover both the brutal exertion and mindset associated with the Honolulu Marathon; he covers it well, but predictably, the real action begins afterward. Unpredictably, accompanying Thompson during his exploits is the illustrator Ralph Steadman, along with each of their families. Without going into too much detail, his companions slowly dwindle due to the harsh conditions on the Kona coast in winter as well as the mental fatigue precipitating it, thereby leaving Thompson to associate with the more seedy element of Hawai'i (within which he fits nicely). Needless to say, chaos ensues, and the reader is exposed to a Hawai'i not normally described in tourist books. Marathons, deathly pounding surf, flooded cottages, elusive marlin hunting, Samoan war axes, dreaded red fleas, and mass quantities of alcohol make for a paradise reconsidered.

Intertwining parts of pure gonzo narrative, the lush, colorful drawings of Ralph Steadman, Thompson's own correspondence, and excerpts of Hawaiian history and lore, The Curse of Lono is nearly as exhilarating as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas; it's an evident example of Hunter S. Thompson, in the twilight of his writing, creating yet another brilliant exposition that's humorous, informative and entertainingly bizarre. Weird. Terrifying. Fascinating. Pass the grapefruit.

A Hunter Classic, December 31, 2007
The Curse of Lono is classic Hunter S. Thompson. Steadman's illustrations bring the twisted story to life in this beautiful coffee table book. A must have for any diehard fan of Gonzo! ... Read more

Editorial Review

"The Rough Guide to New Zealand" is the essential guide to this spectacular country, with lively coverage of its coolest cafes, most vibrant nightlife, best sights and hotels and tastiest restaurants and bars. Everyone from the country rambler to the fearless adventurer, wine buffs to "Lord of the Rings" fanatics are catered for in this comprehensive guide; with colour sections providing a guide to New Zealand's highlights - whether exploring Maori culture, getting stuck into adventure sports or keying into the country's unique ecology. There's thorough coverage of New Zealand's magnificent scenery: craggy coastlines, sweeping beaches, primeval forests, snow-capped mountains and bubbling volcanic mud pools. You'll also find historical and cultural information - even teaching you how to do the world-famous haka. "The Rough Guide to New Zealand" is rounded off with detailed town maps to help you get around and stunning photography that brings this extraordinary country to life. Make the most of your time on earth with "The Rough Guide to New Zealand". ... Read more

Reviews

latest Kiwi guide is the best, June 7, 1998
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.

Personalized travel recommendations (spot-on) from a book, February 21, 2002
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.

Compare RG, LP, and NZ Frenzy, December 20, 2010
In prep for my 4-week trip to New Zealand I bought this Rough Guide and NZ Frenzy (South), and I was given a Lonely Planet South Island book. My opinion is that I can't tell the Rough Guide from the Lonely Planet---they seem identical, but each has some snippets and suggestions that the other doesn't have. So, I'm glad to have both, but they are a bit overwhelming since there is so much to read thru. On the other hand, the book that excites me the most is the NZ Frenzy book. The NZ Frenzy book actually got me excited, way more so than the RG and LP books. The RG tells you that there are "walks" or forest parks or such in an area, but the NZ Frenzy fills in the details about which walks are good, or lousy...and what to bring and when to go to maximize your fun.
My opinion is to get the Rough Guide, then definitely get the NZ Frenzy to go with it. Hope I see you there, I can't wait!!

tough to read, July 20, 2002
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. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Handy and useful guide, October 27, 2005
Frommer's guides don't get a lot of respect from a certain sector, it would seem. They do not invite you to be an edgy traveler, nor do they indulge the conceit shared by some US guide books that your trip must wholly original (never mind that many others will tread the same off-the-beaten path) in order to be fun and worthwhile.

This edition enables you to travel comfortably, adventurously, and happily - without spending a fortune. You will learn a lot and have a great time doing so.

It was a dependable resource for my husband and me as we drove (rental car), sailed (ferry) and flew (Dunedin to Wellington) for two weeks through the wonderful country of New Zealand. We wanted inexpensive ($65 a night, tops) motels that were clean, quiet, cheerful, and well-located, with an occasional splurge. We wanted to have fun but we did not want to surf, bungee-jump, hang-glide, or parasail, preferring cultural and historical sites, endless green meadows, the fine small towns, natural wonders (boiling mud, snow-capped mountains, steaming ponds and streams, glowworm caves and more) in addition to the exquisite and distinctive cities of this great country, and visits to friends.

New Zealand motels are great. They are mostly family-owned and their owners are on-site and try hard. Ours (all mentioned in this book) were consistently clean, comfortable, have mini-kitchens (microwave, electric kettle, small, quiet refrigerator, dishes and utensils and a work space plus coffee and tea) and you get your own little bottle of milk for your coffee or tea the next morning. Coffee is "plunger coffee," NZ for "French press." You make it with an electric kettle and ground coffee, included in the price.

The Pandora's box "mini-bar" has not completely infiltrated New Zealand. This was nice, too.

Several motels had unlimited hot water (in geothermal districts) and huge, fabulous, spotlessly clean two-person bathtubs as part of an inexpensive room.

We got terrific restaurant and other tips from the owners of these motels.

If you are in a hurry, Frommer's supplies you with especially useful "If you have only one day," "two days," etc. ideas. From these compact lists you can get a good idea of what is out there, and pick and choose as you wish. It's inevitable that you'll make your own discoveries along the way.

We tried more than a few of the restaurants, neighborhoods, motels, B and Bs, and historical and natural sights that this book recommended. No misses.

A curious tourist will find a lot that is helpful in this book. It was a handy and helpful resource, down-to-earth but not pedestrian, and I'd recommend it to any friend traveling to NZ.

Good insights from a native, February 17, 2007
I thought this book had good coverage of the major locations most Americans would visit in New Zealand. More importantly, the author is a native of NZ and as such, she seemed to have some good insights into the local viewpoint. I had no difficulty finding the information I needed about every location we wanted to visit and every major hotel or restaurant that interested us. This book is probably not well suited to those who want to backpack through NZ on the cheap. It's aimed at the middle-class traveler who wants to stay in an actual hotel and eat in restaurants.

Great vacation spot - Ho Hum Frommer, February 6, 2004
If you really like to vacation, the best way to do it is B&B's. When my wife and I vacationed in NZ, we stayed in B&B's for 80% of our trip.

Skip the big cities. Auckland is ok. But the pearls in this vacation are found when you travel by car. To the small cities. Across this geographic treasure. Here's better advice than Frommer can give: stay with the locals and learn the culture.

Kiwis love Americans. While staying on a ranch B&B, our hosts grilled fresh fish, created an incredible smorgasbord of fresh meats and served local brew. They invited their neighbors (about eight in a 10 mile radius) and asked my wife and I to "talk about the States." Price of the dinner for the two of us: $25 US.

At another small home, our hosts provided us with a five course meal, dessert and wine for about $20 each. While we ate our scrumptuous meal, we listened to our seasoned hosts as they recalled childhood stories of growing up "just over that hill." There was a large picture window overlooking their personal rose garden. About a mile away, a series of rolling green hills. Sheep grazing. The view was as pristine and peaceful as any I've seen in all my travels. When we were done with dinner, our hosts took us into their rose garden and proudly gave us a tour of their aromatic flowers.

Our hosts were 75 and 77 years old.

Frommer doesn't give much credit about the B&B's in NZ.

You'll need at least two weeks to enjoy the country. We stayed two weeks (one week on the north island and one week on the south island), then finished up with a flight to Australia to dive the Great Barrier Reef.

The south island is best. Aside from our bungee jumping (269 feet) near Queenstown, we took an exciting raft trip in Dunedin, saw the Yellow Eyed Penguins in Otago Peninsula, and were entertained by the flying Albatross at the Kaikoura Peninsula. Spectacular!

The New Zealand Bed & Breakfast Book by James Thomas offers more opportunities to enjoy this beautiful country. In the best possible accomodation - the New Zealand B&B.

Frommer's New Zealand, May 9, 2002
As a first time vistor to New Zealand, I found this book to be extremely helpful. It provided an informative overview of the country, and the various recommendations for accommodations and travel services were, for me, very reliable. I used it constantly both before and during the trip.

Disappointing return to Frommer's NZ, August 26, 2008
I took a 6 week trip to New Zealand 6 years ago and depended on two great books that helped me tremendously. One was Frommer's, and the other Lonely Planet. So when I ramped up for a 4-week return visit, the first book I ordered was Frommer's, even though the reviews were not terrific. Well. This book was such a disappointment, and proved virtually worthless in planning my trip, unlike the volume from 6 years ago.

First up, the accomodation section is sorely lacking for (truly) middle-class travelers. As another writer mentions, I was stunned by the abundance of listed lodging in the US$400 - $1000 (and up!) per night range. Yikes!! And I was dismayed by the paltry number of lodgings listed at a more reasonable range of US$150 - $300. I did check out a number of these latter on their websites, as well as the official NZ website, but still found better accomodation for the price through links and connections to elsewhere. I booked 28 nights of lodging in NZ using only 1 suggestion from this edition of Frommers. How disappointing. The other bookings are at some truly wonderful, visually beautiful, upscale places, for good prices at Bay of Islands, Whakatane, Gisborne, Nelson, Hokitika, Haast, Queenstown, Te Anau, and Akaroa, -but none listed in Frommers.

As well, some of the great suggestions for things to see away from the main tourist centers, which I found in Frommer's during my last trip, were absent in the present edition. So, from a lodging perspective and a "see the real NZ perspective," this book is just a complete disappointment.

For a helpful guide to traveling NZ, I suggest The Rough Guide to NZ, and the official NZ website.

Good, but not complete, November 6, 2006
I planned a trip to New Zealand in the fall of 2006 using this book and a few other New Zealand travel guides. In the past, I found Frommer's guides to be complete and packed with great recommendations for places to go, where to stay, etc. This book lacked in all of those respects.

The accomodation sections seemed to be a list of the most expensive accomodation for any given area, with no regard for the value of the stay for your money. That the author learned a lot about high-end hotels in researching this book isn't surprising since Frommer's allows their authors to accept complimentary accomodation. But as a reader I expect to get a lot more good recommendations for places in the 'moderate' and 'inexpensive' price ranges.

Aside from leaving out budget accomodation recommendations, some parts of the country aren't covered at all. At first this made planning my trip quite difficult, but fortunately other more complete guidebooks included extensive information about those areas.

If you're only going to get one book to plan your trip to New Zealand, don't get this one. If you're looking to augment your research this could be a great pick, particularly if you're interested in a comparison of well-appointed hotels. Don't expect a book comparable to the "Europe on $XX / day".

I Don't Need Hotel Recommndations at $1,000+ Per Night, June 29, 2006
I picked up the 2006 edition and since I always plan parts of my trips abroad by selecting nice accomodations in an area of interest, I turned to the pages at the beginning on "Best Boutique Hotels and Small Lodges," "Best B&Bs" and "Best Luxury Accomodations) on pp. 12-15. "Luxury" apparently is Bill Gates or Warren Buffet luxury to Frommer, with rates around US $1,500 per night and some up to $7,000. I had to check to find whether these might be weekly rates, but they are PER NIGHT. Many of the B&Bs were US $300-$500/night, and none under around $150. Most of the boutique hotles were US $500-$700/night.

We are fairly affluent travelers, but these prices were so discouraging we wondered whether we even ought to be considering a trip to New Zealand. We don't pay such prices in the USA. Fortunately, prices elsewhere are not nearly so high, I just wish Frommer's could define "best" in a way that is more like "best value"

Frommer's New Zealand, March 24, 2002
This guide is an excellent introduction to New Zealand for the first-time traveler. The organization is helpful and the area details are of great value in planning self-guided itineraries.

We were able to focus our two weeks in the country on areas of particular interest because of this guidance.

New Zealand is a wonderful country for tourists, January 12, 2002
I found the criticisms on Frommer's NZ mostly incorrect. At least, I did not have the same experience as the two critics. I consider this book reliable. Actually, certain information in the book closely assembles those on the leaflets found at the tourist information centers. Tourists can find many helpful facilities in NZ and anyone can have a pleasant trip in NZ without a guide book. However, the valuable parts of this book came from the writer. Adrienne is a New Zealander. I trusted the ratings, followed the recommendations, suggested itineraries ... and had a wonderful experience in NZ.

Best for New Zealand travel, April 26, 2008
A friend and I had 5 New Zealand travel books between us on our trip. This was the best book by far. We would look at the other books then would always go back to the Frommer's. We ended up using it exclusively by the end of the first week. The information was accurate and easy to follow. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This is the Operator's Manual for Australia.This book covers the basic and essential information the author and his family learned in order to survive their first few years living in Australia. It will help you avoid making the same embarrassing mistakes and asking the same dumb questions they did.Includes a 1,500 word Australian-American Dictionary. An essential tool for tourists, business travelers and migrants. ... Read more

Reviews

You say 'Jello', I say 'Jelly'. You say 'TeeVee', I say 'Telly'!, October 20, 2007
A Review of Americans' Survival Guide to Australia and Australian-American Dictionary (Paperback)
by Rusty Geller (Author)


Having been brought up in both the US and Australia, I bought this book out of curiosity for how one side saw the other and was surprised by it's breadth. Not only is it packed with the kind of information those who are visiting or emigrating from America (US/Canada) really need to know, Geller also weaves stories of his own experiences throughout which added reality and kept me reading.

Often guide books are presented too technically, but not so with this one. The style is easy and understandable all the way through. I have not read a book like this from cover to cover before, but this one taught me things I didn't know about Australia. There is also an extensive contents and index that pin point's particular issues quickly.

The first part of the book takes you on a journey that unveils the intricacies of all the issues you are likely to need to know about to successfully deal with a trip or move to Australia. The information is well sorted into issues and gives you the surrounding knowledge required to tackle each. For example: How do you get a car into Australia? Or use American electrical equipment? Order a beer, or migrate with your pet? Geller goes through processes like; language differences, entering the country, buying real estate and the education system, pulling the relevant information together and pointing out common pitfalls and misunderstandings you run up against when moving to a country that has so many sociological similarities. He also identifies the perplexing differences and links them comfortably back to the American vernacular. More than anything this guide gives you a gentle insight into the ways of Australia and Australians, so you are can feel out the culture and get on better, faster.

The second part is a very serviceable dictionary of Australian terms and phrases or `your cheat sheet', as Geller put it. The coverage of colloquial `Aussie lingo' is useful for any intending resident, business traveller or tourist and is an amusing read too. Have a "squiz" for yourself.

Whether you are going to spend time in Australia, or you are just thinking about it, the `Americans' Survival Guide to Australia' is worth having on your shelf and a good read to boot.

Reviewer Jack Seddon
20th October, 2007

TWO COUNTRIES SEPARATED BY A COMMON LANGUAGE..., October 20, 2007
Having travelled back & forth between the U.S. and Australia for 30 years, I thought I knew my way around Down Under pretty well. However, once we decided to move over permanently, I soon realized I might as well have come from another planet!! If only we had a survival guide like this to combat the daily head scratching and keep our sense of humor alive!

If you are making the trip for the first time, planning to stay awhile or just curious about the cultural differences, this little book will open your eyes to the subtle variances that are discovered only by interesting experiences. Highly recommended for keeping you safely to the left, in harmony with the Aussie attitude of 'no worries' and out of socially embarrasing moments when you might say the 'wrong' thing! Enjoy the book and the country!!

Packed With Information, May 15, 2008
This book is packed with valuable and interesting information. The Australian-American dictionary is also valuable and humorous. I ran many of the terms by a few Australian friends, and they confirmed they use the terms all the time (terms that most Americans would NOT understand). All in all, this is a terrific book and well worth the price for anyone that's traveling to or moving to Australia.

Great Book! Very informative., January 2, 2009
I purchased this book to help us prepare for our move to Australia. It is so insightful! I have learned so much about things that I hadn't even thought about. It has made me re-think decisions on what to take and what to leave here, and I know that once we actually get there, I will be using this book as a reference, over and over again. Thank you, Rusty Geller, for writing this book and helping me to be much more informed about the new experiences that await us!

The Best of the Lot, December 10, 2008
I have travelled Down Under ten times for business, and when we learned that we would go to live there for a couple of years, I figured that we would encounter things the traveller does not notice. Somehow we ended up with numerous (10+) books on Australia from many friends and family. Most were travel books and list the best hotels and points of interest. This book however, stands high above the rest for those who are going to live there. The author is well informed, and his writing style is excellent. He is able to convey understanding of culture and underlying perspective that few have tackled and none have achieved; yet his writing is light and humorous. 5 Stars.

Good for migrants, so-so for tourists/backpackpackers, June 14, 2010
I bought this book because I am an American who will be spending one year in Australia on a work-holiday visa. This book has some useful information, but I believe that it would be most useful to someone who is migrating to Australia...someone who intends to buy a house, raise a family, and settle in for good. For tourists, backpackers, or working-holiday makers, I think there are likely to be better sources out there that pertain more to their specific situations. For example, there are pages of information about the real estate market, even down to what roofs are made out of in a typical Aussie house, but only a short paragraph about finding an apartment or room to rent, and absolutely no info whatsoever on hotels, hostels, or any other type of accommodation that will be sought by tourists and short termers.

Another thing, if you have spent any decent length of time in Britain then you will likely find, as I did, that 95% of the information to be redundant. The info shared on language terms/slang, working, taxes, healthcare, driving, education, and other cultural things are very similar, if not identical to the way they are in Britain. However, if you have never spent any length of time outside America, particularly in a British or commonwealth country, I think you will find this book very helpful.

Some info in this book that I found to be very helpful:

1. A good description of the typical Aussie attitude towards life (which from the author's description seems different than Brits, and WAY different from the workaholic, perfectionist, self-righteous American attitude!)
2. Time differences: they are really confusing in Australia, with some cities being 1/2 hour difference from others, and daylight savings time only applying to certain areas.
3. Lots of info on Aussie cars and driving etiquette.

Some things that I would have liked to have seen in the book

1. more specific info on different types of visas you can get and what to expect at immigration (eg. what kind of questions will the officers ask you?)
2. Although there is a section about gun laws in Australia, I am interested in laws pertaining to other "weapons". For example, is it illegal to carry my Swiss Army knife (as it was in Britain)? What about pepper spray or stun guns?
3. Like a lot of first time Aussie travelers, I am a bit paranoid about all the dangerous creatures and was hoping to learn some specifics on how to identify some of the most common poisonous spiders, snakes, etc. as well as where they are commonly found and what to do if you encounter one. There is a brief section on dangerous wildlife, but the advice provided by this book is simply to "watch out for them".
4. I was hoping there would be more information on seeking work in Australia. Where is the best place to seek work (newspapers, internet, job boards, is there a government operated job seeking service)? Also, what is some of the unique work etiquette that one might encounter when working in Australia? What is the appropriate dress for an interview?
5. More info on taxes for casual workers. Where do you get a tax ID number? Who needs one? If you are only working casually and earning under $6,000 do you pay tax then get it back or is there a special box to tick so you earn tax free form the beginning?
6. What to expect as far as prices go for accommodation, food, clothes, etc. Do business owners try to rip off tourists as they do in many other countries?

Very helpful!, April 24, 2009
I received this as a gift before relocating to Australia, and it was very helpful. Even after living here for over 6 months, I still return to it for "translations."
Everyday subjects are discussed, such as the Post & how they only deliver, not pick up from your mailbox. How else would I have known this? And the phone numbers, that was helpful as well.
Great read, easy & quick.

Perfect Gift, January 18, 2009
This was a Christmas gift for a college girl, going "Down Under" as an exchange student. We all got a kick out of it!

Must Have Guide for Expats, January 27, 2009
We are moving to Australia from the U.S. and bought this book to help prepare. It's full of useful information- like how to use the phone, when to go shopping, etc. The dictionary is great! Even though they speak English there are ALOT of different words. This is a great book and I would highly recommend it to US expats planning to live in Australia.

Americans' Survival Guide to Australia and Australian-American Dictionary, September 11, 2008
A great guide for U.S. and Canadian citizens looking to relocate to the Southern Continent. Well written and full of information and fun facts. I now wish that I had purchased this guide book years ago. ... Read more

Editorial Review

No one knows Australia like Lonely Planet…remember, we live here! We know where Sydney's best surf beaches are, where to get the best coffee in Melbourne's cobbled lanes, and how to cross the great red plains in a van without getting scorched.

Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honest advice, designed to give you the information you need to make the most of your trip.

In This Guide:

Full Coverage. Bustling cities, outback trails and everything in between.
Road Atlas. 16-page color map section, to navigate the country's highways and byways
Unique Green Index to help make your travels as ecofriendly as you wish
... Read more

Reviews

Unless These Books Bring Back Destinations and Hostel Listings They'll Be Lonely on the Shelves Due to New Better Competitors, December 17, 2005
Since the late 90's Lonely Planet have been dwindling down the number of destinations and hostel listings in these guides and replacing that space with more five star hotels, fine dining and other useless information backpackers will never use. In this edition Lonely Planet lists the most expensive Hotel in Australia, Palazzo Versace in their Gold Coast accommodation listings. They are so out of touch with their target market now it is not funny.

Buy the Backpackers Ultimate Guide (BUG) Australia instead as it is what Lonely Planet and Lets Go used to be. A comprehensive coverage of all hostels in a destination, not just the one or two that pay to be listed and no weight increasing space taking up useless information that we backpackers do not want to lug around an entire continent.

If you can find an old copy from ten years ago buy it otherwise give Lonely Planet a miss!

It is really really really bad travel guide!!!, March 16, 2006
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 caf� 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!!!

Good for travelers on a budget, December 4, 2000
I just wrote a review of Australia Handbook and decided to have a look at the reviews for Lonely Planet's Australia guide. I bought both books as well as Frommer's and Fodor's guides for my trip to Australia. I have used many Lonely Planet guides through the years, but must agree with the comments of other posted reviews--it is oriented almostly solely to young people out looking for a a job picking fruit and wanting to know the latest nightclub hotspot. I did find the first sections of this book to be thorough on the country's history and what to expect, but as for myself and my wife (40 year olds staying in motels and with a rental car) it was useless once we got there. Lonely Planet is also way behind when it comes to listing websites.

These books may serve budget travelers well, but for my money, it's the Frommer's or Moon book.

A valueable asset, April 24, 2008
This book is a wealth of information all contained in one volume. The travel tips, itineraries and even restaurant information are well researched. My only complaint is I'd like to see more detailed maps of some of the more off the beaten path areas - such as Kirra Beach, were I am going. Other than that, this book is a great product and I'd highly recommend it for anyone going to Australia for their first time.

Great Resource, January 16, 2009
I've traveled to a lot of countries with Lonely Planet guides, and they're always good, but they seem to particularly shine in countries with wide-open spaces, such as Australia. I've got the Mongolia guide, too, and as with Australia, that eye for detail in more remote settings makes a big difference. I've been to Australia several times, and have even written a book about Australia, but even with all I know, I can't keep up to date with new restaurants, changed hours, different owners, or lodging in remote towns, and Lonely Planet is perfect for that -- though it has also often guided me to good places in big cities. It's just a wonderfully detailed resource. I rarely go anywhere remote or exotic without picking up the Lonely Planet book for the destination, and I just got this most recent Australia guide (I have a couple of older ones). I do usually buy more than one guidebook for a destination, at least if I'm going on a longer trip, but if there's an LP guide, that will be one of the ones I get.

I'd say the only slight drawback for the Australia guide is that the type is a little small, especially in the history section and boxed features -- but I don't think they could use larger type unless they broke it into two books, as this volume is already over 1,000 pages. It's probably vastly more information than you need if you're only going for a couple of weeks. But if you've got a lot of time, this is almost as good a resource as having a friend in Australia.

best to take to Australia, June 13, 2000
I just recently came back from Australia. I found this book to be really useful! I used it for everything from accomidations and clubs in major cities to trekking through the outback. I would definitely reccomend this book hands down over lets go! They cover everything you need and the prices they quote are pretty accurate.

Thorough, Accurate, Invaluable!, October 2, 2008
I'd heard from friends that the Lonely Planets guides are spot-on for travel. I bought Australia before I went in Sept. 2008 and we used it at Uluru (formerly Ayres Rock), in Adelaide, and in Sydney. It was EXTREMELY helpful. The listings are informative and we agreed with most evaluations they made. When you go that far for a vacation, you certainly don't want to waste time finding your way around or waste money by going to bad venues. This book will help prevent both. The only negative is that the book is heavy and was a bit of a chore to haul along!

Outdated prices, December 23, 2001
As with most countries LP has the most comprehensive travelguide on Australia, but it is time to update this issue concerning prices. After introduction of the new taxsystem in Australia almost none of the prices mentioned are correct, which is quite irritating...

It is really really really bad travel guide!!!,, March 21, 2006
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 caf� 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!!!

Great book -- but not on Kindle, May 31, 2010
Lonely Planet guides are phenomenal, and I would recommend them -- but they are not yet ready for prime time on Kindle. The only way to read the book (on Kindle) is page by page. If the chapter you want to read is in the middle of the book, you can spend a couple of hours trying to get there. Each chapter has links in the beginning to major sections within the chapter, so that is helpful. And at the end of the sections and at the end of each chapter there is a link to return to the beginning of that chapter. What is not there -- and what is needed more than anything -- is a brief table of contents at the beginning of the book, with each one linked to the first page of that chapter. Also, at the end of the content listings for a chapter, and at the end of the chapter, there should be a link to return to the table of contents. These additions would make the book a huge asset on Kindle. Right now, don't bother. I tried the Lonely Planet Guide for New Zealand, too. Since it is a much smaller country, I did manage to use it but still had the same complaints. For now, stick to paperbacks! ... Read more

Editorial Review

With The Sex Lives of Cannibals, Maarten Troost established himself as one of the most engaging and original travel writers around. Getting Stoned with Savages again reveals his wry wit and infectious joy of discovery in a side-splittingly funny account of life in the farthest reaches of the world. After two grueling years on the island of Tarawa, battling feral dogs, machete-wielding neighbors, and a lack of beer on a daily basis, Maarten Troost was in no hurry to return to the South Pacific. But as time went on, he realized he felt remarkably out of place among the trappings of twenty-first-century America. When he found himself holding down a job—one that might possibly lead to a career—he knew it was time for him and his wife, Sylvia, to repack their bags and set off for parts unknown.

Getting Stoned with Savages tells the hilarious story of Troost’s time on Vanuatu—a rugged cluster of islands where the natives gorge themselves on kava and are still known to “eat the man.” Falling into one amusing misadventure after another, Troost struggles against typhoons, earthquakes, and giant centipedes and soon finds himself swept up in the laid-back, clothing-optional lifestyle of the islanders. When Sylvia gets pregnant, they decamp for slightly-more-civilized Fiji, a fallen paradise where the local chiefs can be found watching rugby in the house next door. And as they contend with new parenthood in a country rife with prostitutes and government coups, their son begins to take quite naturally to island living—in complete contrast to his dad. ... Read more

Reviews

Nowhere near as good as his 1st book which was great but not bad., July 2, 2006
I stumbled upon Troost's first book in Powell's due to a 'Staff Recommendation' and devoured it within a day: A truly funny and engaging read. The following day I ran out and purchased this expecting more of the same but it ain't. Well, not exactly anyway. Whereas I read his first book in a day, it has taken me over a week to get through this and I doubt I'll finish it actually. What's the difference? Well, to start with the premise is that Troost will write a 'Travel Book' in the vein of Evelyn Waugh, and Paul Theroux around A year that spent living in Fiji and Vanuatu. His previous book revolved around the two years he spent in Kiribati. This latter book was a masterpiece of humor, anecdote, gentle self-deprecation and just pure good will. It was fresh and engaging and a real pleasure to read because of the author's uncanny ability to turn small events into good story fodder and for his willigness and ability to mock himself within the adventures told of. The present book suffers by contrast because I believe the author has slipped from glib and insouciant bonhommie to rather smug and smarmy world weariness as he grinds out his tale of two situses. Whereas in the former book the author took delight in the tiny details which he really used well to make his point, we find in this book these exquisite little details have been replaced by A sort of slapdash broadbrush treatment of large themes such as 'trip to an island dance' or 'month in the city.' It isn't very fulfilling in any event and one feels as though the author may either have been allowing his lack of enthusiasm for the semi-colonial life typical of many expatriate experiences to color his judgment, or perhaps was caught up in writer fatigue as he was writing a very similar story about a very similar place under similar circumstances very close in time to each other.
Anyway, I don't want to shush you away from this book but I would like for you to consider buying the author's earlier effort first so that you can see what A truly fun travelogue reads like. For those of you who loved his first book I'm giving fair warning that this one pales in comparison.

engaging, but not up to sex lives of cannibals, June 17, 2006
Back to the South Pacific, but this time to Vanuatu and Fiji.
Curiously, cannibalism is much more relevant in this book than
in Sex Lives of Cannibals--maybe he should have saved the word
for here! Once again we escape from the structured life of
suits-and-ties and commuting to visit exotic places. You'll
read about visiting active volcanoes where tourists had been
killed a few weeks before, foot-long poisonous centipedes, the
joys of drinking kava, which is best if you don't think about
how it's made, and cannibalism, which last occurred in Vanuatu
within the author's lifetime.

Troost is a very engaging and humorous writer, frequently poking
fun at himself. And yet....and yet..there seemed to be
a difference between this book and Sex Lives--something that
gave his first book a full 5 stars, something that maybe wasn't
exactly missing here, but something that didn't quite captivate
you as his first book had done. It's been a year since I read
Sex Lives, and there are scenes that stand out in my mind from
that book--the lagoon where you would like to swim filled with
used disposable diapers, for example. Having thought things
over, I think that the problem is that in Sex Lives, there was
so much that seemed totally alien to most of our lives--such
as the lagoon with diapers. In Getting Stoned with Savages, a
lot of what we see is not as alien--you can get hurricanes and
transvestites in New Orleans or Florida, volcanoes in the
Caribbean and Central America, corrupt politicians everywhere.
The difference bewteen the idyllic view of the South Pacific
and reality in Kiribati is great, the difference in Vanuatu and
Fiji is substantial, but not as great. Still--a fine read!

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll come away with a new appreciation for the South Pacific, September 8, 2006
J. Maarten Troost's sophomore effort is another travel memoir about a suburbanite displaced to a remote, third-world culture. This time around, he's not merely following his wife's career in assisting impoverished countries. He's not moving around the world for lack of anything better to do; he's moving of his own free will and desire. Maarten and Sylvia, after returning temporarily to the hectic pace of Washington, D.C., make a conscious decision to return to the South Pacific and start a family. They research locations, look for employment, and consider the political unrest in various locales before deciding on their new homeland.

In his first memoir, Troost's reluctant adoption of his new culture is the core of the story. Heck, he wasn't even sure why he agreed to go there! His writing drew the reader into a foreign culture, bringing a higher level of appreciation for a dirty, poor, unconventional village that the average American wouldn't survive a day in. This time around, Troost has a goal of actively exploring his settings and writing a second book. The premise doesn't succeed quite as well as his fish-out-of-water basis for the first memoir.

Troost spends days bonding with natives over the psychedlic high providing by kava, but in the end, he appears to be just another man trying to escape with alcohol or drugs, only now it is conveniently packaged as a cultural experience. He is on a quest for a message and a purpose for his book, running around trying to find cannibals and other interesting characters to interview. The action seems forced. He's lost the innocence and reluctance that made the first memoir so wonderful. Is this still a great travel book? Absolutely! It is leagues above most anything else on the market. Unfortunately, Troost just set the bar really high with his first success.

I especially enjoyed the story of the Troosts' search for proper pre-natal and natal medical care for their first child. The end up moving within the region to begin their family, providing even more humorous material for our author (ever imagine paying for deluxe cable only to get three channels--the national station, a Bollywood station, and a sport channel which focuses on "Korean ping-pong and Malaysian high school basketball?").

Troot is a talented humorist who will open your eyes to an amazing world on the other side of the planet. Again and again, his tales serve to remind Americans how much danger and disease they are protected from every day. This will remain my second favorite of his efforts to date, but I welcome his third travel memoir!

Not quite as good as the first, but still very good, October 26, 2006
In his best-selling travel memoir The Sex Lives of Cannibals, J. Maarten Troost chronicled the two years he spent living in Kiribati in the equatorial Pacific with his girlfriend Sylvia. After the period covered by the book Troost spent another two years in Washington D.C. working as, of all things, a "hoity-toity consultant to the World Bank," a change in lifestyle akin to, say, giving up a job on Gilligan's Island to work for Donald Trump. Fortunately the suit and tie and dependable paycheck of buttoned-down life didn't capture Troost, and he and Sylvia left civilization behind again, lured by warmer climes and the laid-back tropical mentality: "Stuff happens, but tomorrow the sun will rise again."

This time the couple moved to Vanuatu--formerly the New Hebrides--a country about the size of Connecticut that's composed of some 80 islands and lies directly on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is to say that it's geologically interesting: Vanuatu has nine active volcanoes and experiences frequent, even daily, earthquakes. But more alarming than the tremors and the lava and the frequent cyclones, more alarming even than the shark-infested waters that put a damper on life in paradise, are the foot-long, poisonous, carnivorous, child-killing centipedes that live in Vanuatu. That's right, killer centipedes. And if you should get up the nerve to take an axe to one of them and, say, chop it into five pieces, it doesn't mean you've done away with it: it means you've now got five killer centipedes running around loose. Paradise has its price.

In addition to recounting his harrowing adventures with the island wildlife, Troost writes about Vanuatu's history and culture and living conditions. He spends a good deal of time describing the experience of drinking kava, a muddy liquid--"to the uninitiated...the most wretchedly foul-tasting beverage ever concocted by Man"--that became Troost's drug of choice on the island. And, happily, Troost put considerable effort into researching the country's long--and relatively recent--history of cannibalism:

"The last officially recorded incident of cannibalism in Vanuatu was in 1969 on the island of Malekula. I was born in 1969, and while I am willing to concede that 1969 is rapidly receding into the dim mists of time, it wasn't that long ago. Humor me. It seemed to me that if people were still officially gnawing at human limbs in 1969, it was more than possible that, since then, there had been some off-the-books cannibalism going on in Vanuatu."

About two-thirds of the way into the book, Sylvia having become pregnant, the couple decided to move to Fiji, where delivery promised to be less nightmarish. Fiji, it turned out, was full of prostitutes, both male and female, and Troost recounts his adventures on that front with his usual good humor.

The Sex Lives of Cannibals, Troost's first book, was a laugh-out-loud funny, you-must-go-buy-it-now kind of read. (Really, go buy it now.) Getting Stoned with Savages is not quite as good a book. It drags a bit when Troost is talking about Vanuatu's government, for example. But it suffers in comparison only because the author set the bar so very, very high with his first book. Getting Stoned with Savages is a funny book, and Troost's a likeable, self-deprecating, witty guide through the cultures and countries of Vanuatu and Fiji. Since I'll never be going to either country, I'm glad Troost is around to write about them for us. And I hope he winds up writing a great many more books.

Debra Hamel -- author of Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece (Yale University Press, 2003)

An inspired romp through the islands..., March 21, 2007
Getting Stoned with Savages: Tripping Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu is the second offering from travel writer, J. Maarten Troost. I read and adored his first book, The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific, a few years ago and fell instantly in love with Troost's humor and candor. So, as you might imagine, when I heard about Getting Stoned with Savages, I quickly and single-mindedly stalked it on BookMooch.com until I had a pristine copy in my talons.

Maarten and his wife, Sylvia, after returning from a harrowing few years on the South Pacific atoll of Tarawa, resume a somewhat normal life in Washington, D.C. Maarten, with an eye on earning a living, takes a job as a consultant for the World Bank but soon finds that he is inching dangerously closer to what seems a full-blown career. With that horrifying fact in mind, he promptly gets fired and the Troosts set off for a life in Vanuatu, a small, rugged cluster of islands. Sylvia works for an international aid organization and earns a Western living that comes in handy on Vanuatu, and the arrangement leaves Maarten the time and opportunity to write. When Sylvia becomes pregnant the family relocates to the slightly more "civilized" Fiji where they round out their latest round of island adventures.

While both of Troost's travel memoirs have undoubtedly catchy titles, this second offering has much more to do with its respective title than Troost's first book. On the islands of Fiji and Vanuatu a most popular social activity is the consumption of a hallucinogenic drink called kava. Traditionally produced by the chewing of a root by male adolescents and then mixing with water, the kava is then served in bars (shacks more like) called nakamals. Shortly after arriving in Vanuatu, Maarten and Sylvia have the pleasure of consuming a few "shells" of kava. Troost writes:

Clearly this was different than drinking wine. With kava, one didn't admire its lush hue, or revel in its aromatic bouquet, or note the complex interplay of oak and black currant. This was more like heroin. Its consumption was something that was to be endured. The effect was everything. What concerned me, however, was not the taste but the possibility that this bowl of swirling brown liquid may have had as one of its essential ingredients the spit of unseen boys, which, frankly, I found a little off-putting.

Much to Maarten's relief, a friend informs him that while the chewing of the kava is generally the preferred method because it produces a supremely potent product, the kava they ingest is simply ground and strained through a sock. Better? Perhaps.

The kava story is just one of many instances that are enlivened by Troost's humor. But beyond the blatant out-loud laughing that I did while reading the book, there's also a real humanity and wonder in Troost's writing. The overall theme of the work is aptly expressed when he writes, "Paradise was a place that could be seen only from a distance, but it pleased me knowing that we lived so close to it."

Quite literally there is a dark side to island life. The islands harbor a history of cannibalism, there is overwhelming poverty, rampant prostitution, and political instability. On the side of the positive, however, the majority of the people are friendly and welcoming and willing to help the foreigners along in their new surroundings. In a more philosophical way, Maarten begins to see that while chasing paradise has been a good experience for his family, and they quite often find it in even the most outrageous of circumstances, at some point it becomes important to pursue a type of paradise near family and friends, even if it means rejoining the Western world with all of its bustle and baggage.

I think what I admire most about Troost's writing is his supreme respect for the cultures in which he lives. While he is quick to make jokes about his feelings and reactions to new cultural experiences, he is also more than willing to devote time to evaluation of the culture's economy, hardships, priorities, and the well-being of native peoples. What sets the Troost family apart from the tourists they often encounter on the islands is a seemingly honest willingness to engage with the culture, observe it, and try to avoid infringing too much on the world in which they live, even if some parts of their character and situation will always make them outsiders. It is this attitude of curiosity and respect which really makes me a fan of J. Maarten Troost and his adventures.

Not as good as the first, August 6, 2006
It is not a bad book but after reading the "Sex lives of Cannibals", I had major expectations about this one. The section on Vanuatu was a little dull and it took some concentration to get through. The part on Fiji was not too bad.

Watch Out - author fatigue, July 24, 2006
Really, all the other reviewers have said it already but to reiterate their opinion that this book seems a lot more judgemental and "ooh, look at the odd foreigners" than his previous effort. He needs a new subject.

But I also wanted to mention that having spent some time in Vanuatu, one of the things that either he didn't say or I missed is that kava (besides tasting horrible) can make you very, very sick. One of my mates spent two days in bed feeling very ill indeed, so if you're on holiday there for a week, just be careful....

Mildly interesting, not as good as the first, September 4, 2006
I REALLY wanted to love this book because the author's first book, SEX LIVES OF CANNIBALS, was so hilarious. This one is mildly amusing, but mostly rather tedious and forced. Some chapters, especially the early ones, where he is trying to fit in to a suited Washington DC lifestyle after living like a beach bum in Kirabati, are the best. Didn't his editor tell him it's not that interesting to read chapter after chapter of him getting stoned and, like man, watching the sunset? I just felt sorry for his wife. Unlike the first book, here I didn't get any sense of what the people of Vanuatu are like. What would have been much more interesting would have been a few chapters on the development work his wife was trying to do, and the obstacles she encountered. We got none of that.
I gave this book 2 stars because I do like the author and his writing style is engaging... but it really should get no stars for content. Give this one a miss. I hope his next is better, and that his editors are more scrupulous next time.

Four Stars: Not quite as good as his first but still great reading!, July 23, 2006
Admittedly I did laugh out loud a few times but his first book had me clinically addicted from start to finish. If you haven't, read Cannibals. If you don't like it, I agree that professional help is recommended. Just don't expect as much entertaining insanity out of Stoned w/Savages. You'll breeze through it, enjoying a handful of adventures and a good education along the way. I don't certainly don't regret buying it.

Addition: Note that a few weeks after reading it, I spent some time at our local kava "bar" and decided to read it again. The second reading was better than the first so now I recommend both the book and kava (yes it tastes like dirt - but, tasty dirt).

Anyone who lives in Hawaii will appreciate his books to no end. We have an appearance of being modernized here but so many things still ring true .. corrupt government, roofs that blow off in hurricanes, clean up "snow days", centipede bites one never forgets, sewage poured into the ocean, etc. It is comforting to be reminded that we are not alone in Pacific insanity and I am confident that if Martin and Sylvia moved here for a couple years, we would have another engaging and lively book. It's a great place to raise kids on the beach without fear of being eaten by sharks. HInt hint. I'd hate to think his travel writing days are over.

A good bit of light ethnotourism, May 28, 2007
If you're looking for a basic book on Vanuatu -- one which sticks to the strictly scholarly -- don't buy this book. But if you want an interesting and unusually emotionally candid firsthand account of one suburbanite's experience of flying halfway around the globe to find paradise only to discover that even paradise has its troubles and complexitiies, then this one's for you. It makes quick and easy reading, and would be especially valuable on a plane bound for Vanuatu or Fiji as it raises and deals forthrightly with the big issues: post-modern ennui, canabalism and the rich/poor and colonial/native divides, as well as showing the challenges a real middle class American couple faces in relocating to the islands longterm, rather than as tourists. The author is thoughtful and manages insight at times, though it's a bit uneven because of all his fairly predictable hangups and prejudices. But these actually make this book better than if he'd pretended to be an ivory tower academic, as does his undisguised foibles (read to find out). Finally, this may be the only book you'll find in which an American expat couple in the South Pacific deals with the arrival of a child, a choice they make for reasons explained quite well and tied in nicely with the overall themes of the whole book. Bottom line: Not an academic tome, but rather a thought-provoking layperson's travel experience. Enjoy! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Part adventure story, part philosophical essay, this extraordinary book takes Bruce Chatwin into the heart of Australia on a search for the source and meaning of man's restless nature. ... Read more

Reviews

do it, February 11, 2000
Dying of AIDS and with Salman Rushdie, Bruce Chatwin made a lightning visit to Australia. The Songlines is the fascinating result of this terminal search for meaning.

The good points are that Chatwin's considerable intellect and narrative capacities weave a story based on year's travel experience. The bad point is that he knew almost nothing about his subject and as such has written an Englishman's compassionate contemporary account of the colonies.

I live and work on a remote aboriginal community near the areas Chatwin visited. Traditional Aborignal law is an amazingly complex oral culture so rich in history and symbolism that I have profound doubts about any whitefella ever properly understanding it, let alone a visiting foreigner desperately looking for something.

This is a great book, but don't think by reading it you will get a terrifically accurate profile of what being an aborigine is, whatever that means. They are not, as Chatwin seems to deduce, another group of nomadic noble savages more fulfilled than the more sedentary post-agriculture communitites.

Amazing and important, January 7, 2003
This is a difficult book to describe: it masquerades as a Theroux style travelogue, but is anything but. I love Paul Theroux, but this totally transcends his travel writing. Chatwin starts out describing a trip to the Australian Outback. It starts out pretty conventional, in beautiful descriptive prose...but before too long you realize you are actually reading Chatwin's brilliant ruminations about the human race as a species, where we came from, and where we are going. The book is NOT really about the Aborigines, though they provide a number of terrific characters, and I suspect someone who really wanted to know more about the actual Songlines could be disappointed by this book. He very clearly sets up his own views against those of many important and popular thinkers. To sum it up, he makes a case that humans are not really an aggressive species at heart, and that evolution has not really programmed the human to fight for power but to defend the tribe. Not every will agree with this, but he makes a wonderful case and the book is beautiful and crystalline and should be read by everyone.

Much more than a travel book, March 26, 2000
William James said that to "learn the secrets of any science, we go to expert specialists, even though they may be eccentric persons, and not to commonplace pupils." It seems, Bruce Chatwin used the same method to shed light on what for him was the question of questions: the nature of human restlessness.

The Songlines consists of the stories of the eccentric experts in the science of restlessness Chatwin met in Western Australia, and notebook entries ranging from Blaise Pascal's philosophical reflections to a meeting with Konrad Lorenz in Austria. Chatwin had originally intended to use these notebook entries for a book on nomads. He gave up the project but the entries reveal the man and his quest.

In a way, The Songlines is Chatwin's own songline: a track which tells of what he found on his wanderings, and what he considered worth singing.

Anthropological "pensees" leave you wanting more story, March 27, 1999
This book starts out with a kind of nice, floating narrative about a meandering trip through Australia's outback. You get a candid look at Aborigines and their land rights movement in a way that's not at all preachy but rather funny. Unfortunately, just as I was starting to care about where the characters were going and what would happen to them, Chatwin treats us to page after page of "pensees," his own and others', on the subjects of nomadism and other topics in cultural and physical anthropology. I was an anthropology major, so I enjoyed many of his ideas, but found some of his main premises to be preposterous... For example, pastoral peoples are notoriously anything but pastoral, being extremely xenophobic and violent as a rule. Chatwin seems to be trying to convince us that the Aboriginals are peaceful and sweet because they roam around a lot... well, maybe. But I don't know that I needed fifteen pages of one-paragraph "thoughts" to state the point. Honestly, I couldn't help skipping pages to get back to the narrative. I understand where Chatwin was coming from with his "pensees" format, but Pascal he is not. Still, if you want a little food for thought, you might enjoy it. If you're looking for a narrative, forget it. Unlike the aborigines, whose travels have purpose and wonderful stories, Chatwin's narrative just kind of ambles around in the dust.

A desperate last shot at meaning by a fellow who cared, February 7, 2001
To really understand this book, of course, you have to understand that Chatwin knew he was dying of AIDS when he wrote it. Hence, (I think) the notes (which have raised so many pros and cons and head-scratchings among reviewers) tacked on at the end. He, sadly, was sinking fast and needed something to round out the book. The book, then, is not so much about the aborigines (which, as one reviewer has noted, it would be better to check out an Anthropolgy text on) as it is about the ailing Chatwin.-But who was Chatwin? I think he was primarily a) an erudite hyper-aesthete (He started out working for museums); and b) an unflagging disciple of Heraclitus, the pre-Socratic philosopher whose most famous dictum was "Everything is fire." In other words, everything is in constant change. Everything is on the move. Everything is being consumed and reborn. Whether it looks that way or not. As the poet Delmore Schwartz put it, "Time is the school in which we learn, that Time is the fire in which we burn."-This is why,I think the aborigines grabbed hold of his imagination at the end of his life, "Aboriginals,in general, had the idea that all "goods" were potentialy malign and would work against their possessors unless they were forever in motion." And, like Heraclitus, he inveighs against the members of his own race, "The whites were forever changing the world to fit their doubtful vision of the future."-But what was Chatwin's vision of the future? What did he expect to find out there in his dying days?-I think he gives the answer on page 293, the penultimate page of the book, where he writes, "...the mystics believe the ideal man shall walk himself to a 'right death.' He who has arrived 'goes back.' In Aboriginal Australia, there are specific rules for 'going back' or, rather, for singing your way to where you belong: to your 'conception site', to the place where your tjuringa is stored. Only then can you become-or re-become-the Ancestor. The concept is quite similar to Heraclitus's mysterious dictum,'Mortals and immortals, alive in their death, dead in each other's life."---I'm not at all sure exactly what this passage means. But the basic idea, I think, is that you keep moving down your songline or metaphysical groove or whatever until you die where you belong and thus rebegin a ghostly cycle of reincarnation. Chatwin's tone in quoting the Aboriginal beliefs and Heraclitus give us no clue as to how much of this he actually believed...But we do know from his life that he was always walking, always searching up to the very end.-Reading the book with this knowledge lends to it (despite the jumble it is that caused my four star review) an almost heroic quality.-So read it and be inspired!

Solvitur ambulando, July 30, 2005
Nominally a book recounting the time Chatwin spent with the Australian Aboriginal tribes of Alice Springs, The Songlines in reality weaves together travel writing, history, and literary quotations to become a larger project about nomadism and evolution. It is as though what he found in Australia startled him into crystalizing a lifetime worth of disparate thoughts. More than classic travel writing or essay form, The Songlines captures the struggle to put this overarching thesis into words.

The struggle of the Aborigines to preserve their traditional form of worship against disinterest, hostility and monied patronization is one of the central contemporary aspects of the book. Additionally, Chatwin draws from sources as disparate as Konrad Lorenz, religious myth, and Herman Melville to construct his arguments.

I found Songlines largely successful. As someone who once walked from Holland to Spain I have a soft spot for discourse about the philosophy of walking. I also greatly admire Chatwin as a writer, so did not have any expectations that this would be a "normal" travel book. I strongly suspect that the method he uses (journal fragments and quotations interspersed throughout) may not work for many readers and it ultimately might have been stronger had he found a more integrated narrative form.

In short, this should be a very strong read if you are interested in the ideas at the center of the work. If you have read this far in the review it probably goes without saying that this is not the book for a typical travel essay about life in the Australian bush. Look elsewhere if that is what you are trying to find. I find it an excellent addition to the Chatwin body of work-- a body of work that is far too small as a result of his untimely death in 1989.

English guy checks out native Australians, September 2, 2000
Bruce, an English guy, heads into the Australian outback to check out aborigines, as part of his life-long interest in nomadic cultures. Part of the book is travel writing - the wacko Australian situations and characters he meets are fully described - part the history/psychology/philosophy of nomadic living and human aggression, and part a poetic description of Aboriginal culture.

The link between a human sedentary existance and human aggression has long been described; Bruce presents sedentary living as an unnatural state, and the nomadic lifestyle as cleaner, more beautiful and better. It's very convincing while you're reading it, and certainly deeply interesting. It's certainly a refreshing counterpoint to thinking about all those land-related wars and situations (Israel, for example), to all the nastiness of European colonization in America, Africa, and Australia, and it has a certain intuitive appeal - land belongs to everyone!

I'm not certain how accurate Bruce's description of Aboriginal culture is, but I don't think it really matters. This is not a carefully constructed sociological or anthropological analysis, but rather a lyrical, and fairly romantic, description of nomadic life and a way of thinking. Most importantly, I think, the message is: the ways the Aboriginies think and relate to the land are powerful and beautiful and so different to what we're used to that it's very difficult for Westerners to appreciate them immediately.

I strongly recommend this book, because it outlines a way of thinking about the human condition that is nice, and that lingers in your mind for a long time.

A poetic primer on Australian aborigines, February 10, 2000
When I first migrated to Australia in 1983, I immediately started asking questions about the country's indigenous aborigines. For me, it was simple curiosity. New Zealand, where I'd come from, had imperfect race relations, but Maori dances, hakas, and creation stories were taught from primary level at every school. Like many "Pakeha" (white) New Zealanders, I had a part-Maori partner - whom I later married. In Perth, however, no-one I spoke to, including white journalists with whom I worked, could tell me what the "Dreamtime" spoken about in aboriginal culture meant. Their demeanour suggested the very questions displayed a lack of taste.

Strange then, that it should have been a Briton who gave me my first insights - to have the boldness both to outline and celebrate the unique richness of Aboriginal cosmology, and to put it in the context of the great nomadic traditions of human life. This is beautifully written, wry and teasing; it respects aboriginality, but shows a lightness of touch rare in this particularly fraught field.

Arguments have been made against this book on anthropological grounds, and on the grounds that no non-aboriginal person should presume to write about such matters. There may be merit in these points of view; I am simply grateful that Chatwin turned his brilliance to this subject. I find this book as illuminating and as life-affirming now, as when I first read it many years ago.

Other books I can recommend, although more prosaic in style, are Geoffrey Blainey's "The Triumph of the Nomads", Henry Reynolds' "Frontier" and "Why Weren't We Told" and the official reports into the so-called "Stolen Generation" and the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

There is still a way to go.

Swansong, January 5, 2004
'One man's impassioned song' is how the Sunday Telegraph describes this rare jewel of a book and a more apt description of it couldn't be found. It is truly one man's, one great artist's swansong to eternity and like all great works it has something to say to all of us.

Billed as a 'travel book,' Bruce Chatwin's 'Songlines' is that in name only. Following in the steps of other literateurs who were also originally pigeonholed as mere travel writers ie. Conrad, Greene, etc...Chatwin magically transforms a place, the Australian outback, and a people, the 'aboriginals,' into the characters of a majestic cosmic play. In truth, Songlines is really an accessible and persuasive treatise on the nature of man, hiding under the guise of a travel book.

Chatwin's thesis is simple: that human beings are migratory--'nomadic' is his catchy phrase--in their most natural (read here, best) state. To support this thesis, Chatwin follows the ancestral songlines of the Australian aboriginals who believe the world and all its creations were sung into existence by their semi-divine 'ancestors.' To reaffirm their identity, their place in this world and the 'world' itself, today's Aboriginals retrace the routes their ancestors walked across the continent, re-singing everything back into life. In mapping out this moving creation myth, Chatwin enlists the help of aboriginal 'expert,' Arkady, erudite son of Ukrainian exiles. With vibrant color, humor and sun-drenched clarity, Chatwin recounts their memorable encounters with the sometimes freakish, always original, denizens of the Australian outback.

To support his claim of man as migratory animal, Chatwin interrupts these gem-like anecdotes with a vast array of historical and anthropological aphorisms, facts and commentary. While their placement sometimes appears rather arbitrary, these tidbits spice up the whole and provide a pleasant balance to the stories that surround them.

Songlines is hard to put down as the effortless, pristine style carries the reader along on a voyage all its own. Nicholas Shakespeare wasn't far off the mark in crowning Chatwin as the 'greatest stylist writing in England today.' Even if you don't buy the idea the book is selling, the writing itself is enough to recommend it. Especially for writer wannabes. Every sentence is a cut and polished gem. Terse, tight and clean, all the fat has been cut off, leaving the choicest morsels. And what morsels! Not only does Chatwin say it exquisitely, he also has something to say. That's not just fine writing, that's art.

And if the writing isn't enough, the seeds of thought that Songlines plants are tough stuff and unlikely to blow away all that easily. Chatwin makes a strong case that when humans decided to 'settle' down---to civilize themselves---they actually caused more evil than good. Settling down meant holding onto things and marking out borders of possession. And because our natural restlessness became inihibited, we learned to covet more things and wider boundaries. Not only that, but by settling down we lost something profoundly important to our physical and spiritual makeup: our connection with the earth itself and with its other inhabitants, who, unlike us, seem content to take only what they need and then move on.

Songlines' greatest message is that life itself is a journey. Therefore, we should live it as one, constantly moving, constantly growing to the next level of existence, learning to let go of that which was never 'ours' to possess.

Those who are looking for such a journey into the human condition won't regret picking up Songlines!

Chatwin's Novel Blends Anthropology and Philosophy, May 20, 2005
Chatwin's Songlines investigates the essence of humanity's interactions and impulses in a accessible, storytelling prose. Chatwin has no difficulty in using the roots of the Aborigine culture as a stage to incorporate his far reaching notes and theories on the human species' instinctual needs. The concept that humans act with primordal instincts establishes the foundation for Chatwin's thesis that the interactions and social structures of nomadic or less civilized societies can indicate the needs people have for movement, defensive social agreements (companionship)for survival, and self recognition through knowledge of one's surroundings.
Chatwin builds upon his discriptions of the Aboriginal culture with memoirs from his other interactions with different cultures to develop a universal message about the human condition. He further punctuates his message with anecdotes and notes that can be a slight nuisance to read while attempting to finish the story, but add fascinating background information and perspective from many of Chatwin's most influential sources.
The Songlines is aproximately 300 pages, but is such a stimulating read it can be finished in only two or three sittings and easily within a week. ... Read more

Editorial Review

DK Eyewitness Travel's full-color guidebooks to hundreds of destinations around the world truly show you what others only tell you. They have become renowned for their visual excellence, which includes unparalleled photography, 3-D mapping, and specially commissioned cutaway illustrations.



DK Eyewitness Travel Guides are the only guides that work equally well for inspiration, as a planning tool, a practical resource while traveling, and a keepsake following any trip.



Each guide is packed with the up-to-date, reliable destination information every traveler needs, including extensive hotel and restaurant listings, themed itineraries, lush photography, and numerous maps. ... Read more

Reviews

ok but not great, August 31, 2010
This guide book received useful product reviews and I bought it but I really ended up not being fond of it as I used it both to plan travel and while in New Zealand. I was looking for a guide that would allow all members of our party to be able to participate in the events planned (so something focused on walking/hiking tours or camping wouldn't work as we had elderly people with mobility issues) and for that part of it, the guide book was good. It would tell you if certain places, or even certain more popular trails were handicap or wheelchair accessible. The pictures were also excellent. However, I found the actual guidebook frustrating. I was looking for a way to make "base stations" where we could stay for multiple days and then venture out to different places from these central (fairly popular or well known)locations. However, the locations and distances are given so they are related to each other and not necessarily to a central point. The book is laid out in color coded regions and includes driving tours of places to visit in certain orders. Perhaps if we were actually following a suggested driving tour it would have been useful but for how I wanted to use the book, I found it frustrating.

One example is if you look pps 236 to 237 at the South Island West Coast town of Greymouth, the largest town on the west coast. It is one end of the Trans Alpine Railroad, which leaves daily from Christ Church and a good base point for visiting a variety of parks in the area including the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. However, in the book you don't actually read about the Glaciers except as a tiny blurb on the following page as part of a 2 page spread on Westland/Tai Poutini National Park. But nowhere does it list this is a 2 hour drive from Greymouth. However on the same page as Greymouth you read about Paparoa National Park. There is nothing which explicitly says these Greymouth and Paparoa are about 40 minutes drive apart. Then in the environs section of Greymouth, you can find mention of Shanty town (7 miles away) and Lake Brunner (roughly 37km away, or about 35 min drive). The next town listed on the same page is Hokitika (again, 38km, about 35 minutes drive) You might well think since Paparoa and Lake Brunner are both about 35 to 40 minutes drive you might see them in the same day or perhaps plan an overnight there to spend more time in the park areas. Or perhaps you wish to explore the town of Hokitika after spending the morning at Lake Brunner or Paparoa. However no where in the book does it say that Paparoa is North of Greymouth, Lake Brunner is East of Greymouth and Hokitika is South of Greymouth. In fact, it does not really even explicitly list these places as being in a ring around Greymouth so you could use it as a base,(something I realized as I looked to create our itinerary) the entries are just listed sequentially, Paparoa, Greymouth, Hokitika and on the next page a 2 page spead on Tai Poutini. The book does contain an area map, in this case 16 pages prior which would show you the general layout of the area, but it meant I had to constantly keep it marked to flip back to when I encountered something interesting. I don't always like using scale to plot out distances, and in truth it became easier to keep a computer window open to google maps and just plan from there. What made it additionally frustrating was if you found you had time on your hands while away and you flipped to the page in the book to look at what was in the area, there might be entries listed that peaked your interest but depending on where you where, determining the actual distance you were from the entry was not always easy, even using the area map. We ended up using our GPS similarly to how I had been using google maps at home, putting in a place from the guide book and then seeing if it was a do-able distance from where we actually were located.

Even a city like Christ Church received an 8 page spread but 2 of those 8 pages (1/4 of the info on the city) were taken up with information on the Botanical gardens, most of which consisted of a map of the gardens.

All in all, it had great pictures but, I felt, limited information and was more difficult to use for planning your own tours as opposed to following their suggested tours. I have had more luck with Insiders guides, Insight guides and Rough guides, even Fodors guides, than this Eyewitness travel guide. I would suggest it as a nice complement to another guide which gives more information but I would not use it as my only guide to planning a trip. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The highly successful "Globetrotter Travel Series", which includes "Travel Guides, Maps and Road Atlases", presently covers more than 80 destinations worldwide."The Globetrotter Travel Map of New Zealand" caters specifically for the needs of tourists who are new to a destination. Each map is attractively designed and features superb colour photographs. In addition to the main map of New Zealand, the following areas of special interest to visitors are shown in greater detail: Town Plans for - Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Invercargill, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Rotorua, and Wellington.The town plans of the major centres pinpoint key buildings and places of interest as well as where to stay. Distance and climate charts enable travellers to plan their visits, while stunning photographs evoke the atmosphere of New Zealand. ... Read more

Reviews

Comprehensive map of New Zealand, July 15, 2009
This map is a great overall map of the country but for driving, it could use more blow-up detail.

New Zealand Travel Map, February 12, 2009
My daughter and son-in-law are planning a trip to New Zealand. I gave him this map for Christmas and he was thrilled with the amount of information he could gain from using it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go--they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!

Our expert author has been covering these exotic islands for years, and he's personally checked out every hotel, every restaurant, every beach, and every activity he recommends. He gives you a feel for the islanders' way of life, and offers a wonderful introduction to the region's unique blend of cultures.

Tahiti is only the gateway to French Polynesia, there are many islands and hundreds of accommodations to choose from, so of Frommer's Tahiti & French Polynesia compares all the options, helping you find the tropical getaway that's right for you. Rely on us for in-depth, honest reviews of lavish honeymoon resorts, intimate inns, simple bungalows, family-friendly motels, and more, with selections in every price category.

We'll point you to the loveliest secluded beaches, and send you to the best places for snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, deep-sea fishing, and more. You'll also get the latest trip-planning information, including tips on finding the best airfare or package deal. ... Read more

Reviews

Great Place to Start, but Give Me More!, March 8, 2007
It appears this is the first edition of the Tahiti and French Polynesia guide, and the only version I could find on Amazon was the Portable version. Maybe a more full version will come out in the future, but for now I just picked up the portable. We're planning our honeymoon to Tahiti, and the book has been invaluable in doing so. You can kind of tell it's a first edition though -- there are even some typos I've come across! Also, there is definitely a lot less information than other guides I've used from Frommer's, but I'm guessing that is the point of the "Portable" line of guides to keep them more travel-sized. Some of the information is a little outdated (already!), but using it as a starting point allows you to take what you learn from there and do the rest of the research online. For example, the exchange rate between XPF & USD is already off by about 10% (not in the favor of the USD), and the Sofitel Moorea they speak of was closed through all of 2006 for renovations, making me think even though this is a first edition, the information was put together in 2005 at the latest because there is no mention of the renovation -- and the hotel would obviously need to be re-evaluated by Frommer's after re-opening.

All in all though, there are some great money saving tips, a lot of information about places to eat, foods to try and sights to see, all in one portable book that we will definitely be taking with us when we go in July. Can't wait! Thanks, Frommer's for helping us save money by planning this ourselves instead of enlisting the help of a travel agent.

Frommer's first try with Tahiti..., January 3, 2007
is suprisingly good! Probobly because it is based on the Tahiti section of the South Pacific guide (now in 10th edition) it doesn't contain most of the first edition problems - inacurate info, little info etc. It is really nicely researched and though it is quite a slim volume it is really helpful. One of the best guides to Tahiti & Her Islands.

Frommer's Tahiti & French Polynesia, May 31, 2008
Finding this book in Dallas at a major bookstore was next to impossible.Seems like there is little demand for books on the South Pacific. This may be due to expensive airfare to the area and lack of crusie ships traveling in those waters. The book contains the regular Frommer sections and much of it we have "tossed" since we are traveling on a cruise ship. Dining out, hotels, ect. won't be of much use. When I searched various web sites I did not find a lot of great information. This book at least puts the reader in touch with what's worth seeing in Tahati, Moorea and Bora Bora---these are stops our ship will make.The book has a copyright date of 2007 and the sites discussed throughout the book won't be changeing.We found the reading and recommedations to be good. Now we just have to see how accurate they are when we visit. If you are traveling to French Polynesia, this is the best book we have been able to locate. Hotel and dining prices are changeing so rapidly throughout the world I would personally not count of the book prices as being up to date. ... Read more

Editorial Review

National Geographic Australia 2011 explores the country's unparalleled beauty. Dramatic rock formations, pristine beaches and everything in between. Eco-friendly paper and inks. Sales support exploration and conservation programs. ... Read more

Editorial Review

An illuminating road trip through the history, life, and attractions of one of the most beautiful countries in the southern hemisphere
The beauty and grandeur of New Zealand has captured the imagination of movie-goers over the past couple of years, and the country is a dream destination for many around the world. Straying from the Flock is an intimate and personal account of one passionate traveler's visit to this incredible country, its mountains and beaches, fjords, rainforests, vineyards, and hidden eateries. Each of the fifty chapters describes one day in his travels-fishing, flying, cattle herding, befriending locals at every turn. Filled with colorful stories and memorable personalities, the book not only describes the trip of a lifetime, but captures a life-altering experience for its writer. From mountains and rainforests to cities and beaches, Straying from the Flock is both a moving memoir and personal travel guide to this amazing country. ... Read more

Reviews

A fascinating and rewarding stray!, August 2, 2005
I finished Elder's wonderful and rewarding New Zealand travelogue this morning over coffee in Fremantle and I enjoyed the account of his journey from Stewart Island in the far south to Cape Reinga in the far north thoroughly. This book is the best kind of travelogue because the writer presents a reasonable look into the country being visited-its foiables and its positives. This is not to say that the description is tedious and overly factual, after completing the book the reader is left satisfied with as reasonable an account of his journey as is possible given the two month time frame allowed for its completion.

I enjoyed Elder's observations about the nature of Australian life as opposed to Kiwi life: its origins, its developement and why, although geographically close, we are so different particularly when seen through the eyes of a visitor. From my perspective here in Australia I found his observations valuable if perhaps overdrawn.

I also found many of his thoughts about the huge differences between his native New York City and the life he found in New Zealand interesting. New Zealand's distaste for tipping and litigation is matched only by our own, however Elder's negative comments have fallen on my deaf ears. As a leftist I also found his conclusions on page 209 as to why New Zealand works so well also fitting our life in Australia: health is taken care of, as is education, old age and unemployment. Politically speaking, if a country as small as New Zealand can accomplish these civilities with its few natural resources then the question must be asked why can't other richer countries. Although coming from, as Elder points out, vastly different bckgrounds our two countries have adopted similar governmental parameters with similar positive results.

Elder's anecdotes about all the pieces of Kiwi culture that he encountered are wonderful reading: people running homestays, fishing guides, airplane pilots, adventure operators and guides-in short, a reasonable look at Kiwi society. We all realize that it is virtually impossible to encounter the totallity of a society on a holiday but Elder presents us with as complete a picture as armchair travellers will find and for this I reccommend the book very highly. You will have a most satisfying read.

A Great Book !, August 9, 2005
I have always wanted to go to New Zealand, after reading this book it almost feels like I went along on the trip with Alexander Elder. He did a great job of describing the country and it's people, the good and the bad. I also really liked how he included bits of historical facts about each location he visited. The photo's on his website that corresponded to each chapter where also a great bonus.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in knowing more about New Zealand.

Great Book, May 15, 2005
As a New Zealander who has gained a great deal of wisdom from Alexander Elders trading books I had to read this. I expected some combination of travel and trading like Jim Rogers books (`Investment Biker' and `Adventure Capitalist') which I didn't like that much.

But Elders book is much better, focussing on New Zealand, its people and history. `Straying From the Flock' compares favourably with Bill Bryson's Australian book `Down Under'.

It has to be said though that Bryson has a unique line in self deprecation and is content to accommodate the eccentricities of people he finds. It's these qualities which make his books often so funny. But as a trader Elder has well developed decision making abilities and often moves on before people's eccentricities (often just bad service) really begin to impact on his experience. Elder prefers to dwell on the positive and he obviously loves the country having made many trips here.

It's not to say that Elders book lacks a sense of humour. Both authors `suffer' from a heightened awareness of threats to their personal safety. For Bryson this typically is a morbid fear of exotic wildlife like snakes in Australia or bears in Appalachia. But as New Zealand lacks both, Elder substitutes a lack of guards rail on roads and walking tracks; it's just not as amusing.

Elder is also dismissive of bungee jumping, paragliding and other activities which he perceives have a lack of safety standards. Each to his own but the biggest threat to life here is tourists' occasional inability to adapt to driving on the other side of the road.

This book should appeal to tourists with time, money and a sense of adventure about meeting people, sharing food and wine. It's for people who travel to learn about themselves by exploring the differences in others. It is not a guide for those who want to experience extreme sports activities or for those content to view NZ from a bus eating McDonalds. Trust me, it does taste the same.

With photos this could have been a great coffee table book but in its current form it is well produced and cheap. Photos from Elders travels are accessible from his website which is a nice touch.

One last thought, Elder with a traders sense of timing made his trip to New Zealand when the exchange rate 40 US cents to the NZ Dollar. The exchange rate is currently 71 cents.

Good preparation for New Zealand, May 23, 2005
The "Book Description" under Editorial Reviews (above) accurately describes the book content with the exception of the included side trips to Australia and the Cook Islands. The Australian side trip caused Elder to provide comparisons between the development of Australia and New Zealand which were very interesting and informative. (I would definitely prioritize New Zealand over Australia based upon Elder's insights, although Australia sounds great also.)

Reading the book will prepare one for a trip to New Zealand or just provide a vicarious experience of adventurous travel. The book includes a map correlating the book chapters to the geographical location, so that one can quickly reference Elder's notes on the area and his experiences. Elder includes "The Practical Traveler" section at the end of the book, giving advice and tips on flying (booking upgrades and fares), avoiding jet lag, what to pack and wear, and a bibliography of additional reading.

Most enjoyable to me were Elder's insights into people and human situations. As a practicing psychiatrist, Dr. Elder looks deeply at the people he meets, and provides good insights into dealing with people and various situations. Upon purchasing a ticket for an uninteresting play or museum, Elder notes that he quickly leaves so as to cut his losses short. (He has already lost the money, why loose the personal time when he could be doing something more rewarding.) Such insights are just good common sense, and embroider the book from beginning to end.

A Poignant Portrait of a Tourist, a Country and its People, August 15, 2005
I have to admit; this book is not what I expected.

Dr. Alexander Elder contacted me earlier this month and asked if I might be interested in reading his newest book, the story of a two-month long trip to New Zealand.

Dr Elder, a professional trader, experienced technical analyst and practicing psychiatrist, penned two previous books, both best sellers which have achieved a measure of acclaim in trading circles.

Straying from the Flock, however, breaks new ground for the author. It weaves New Zealand's geography, history, business, culture and above all, its people into a readable, love story. Spend only a few minutes with this book and it will be apparent, Dr. Elder loves New Zealand; he discovered it in the mid-1990s. Tucked away on the other side of the world from his professional life, New Zealand is a country the size of England or Italy, yet it is populated by only three million unique souls and 6 million sheep.

Each chapter recounts another day in his two month visit. He eloquently describes the country's beaches, mountains, fjords and rainforests. He recounts colorful tales that cause many of the island's personable people to spring to life. Yet, also what emerges is a colorful portrait of a newly divorced, professionally secure, with grown children individual with a deep thirst to experience the world around him

Born in Russia, Dr. Elder has a superb command of the English language. All-too-often while reading this, I found myself wishing I had the eloquence with my native tongue that Dr. Elder has with his adopted language.

This is more than a guide book. Dr. Elder has penned a beautiful, intimate portrait of a unique land, its people and one of its favorite fans - Dr. Elder.

A very helpful book for New Zealand travellers, July 24, 2005
This is good. Elder is a perceptive, well travelled man,who has chosen EXACTLY the best way to research a book on best enjoying this beautiful country. Rather than booking an itinerary of hotels and motels, Elder decides he'll stay only in what NZers call "hosted accommodation." These are small lodges and B&Bs where the owners themselves look after the guests,

Its means Elder quickly gets much better travelling access -to new friends, to shared meals, and to the best information on what's best locally. He's told nobody he's writing a travel book, and when occasionally he's unhappy with what he finds, his criticism is scathing.

He has an easy narrative style which keeps the pages turning easily, as he travels the length of the country. There's much more here than in conventional "guide books" and its fun. Elder has considerately posted picture from his journey on a website for readers

New Zealand on my Mind, October 25, 2005
Throughout my life I have met a series of delightful New Zealanders, artists and authors, free thinkers and adventurers, sojourning in the US. I always enjoyed their insights, anecdotes and observations of life here in New York City. Their invitations to visit them back home sowed the seeds of fantasy about a trip to New Zealand. Now an American author has turned the tables for me and provided a wonderful series of vivid personal vignettes of a prowl through New Zealand, in the style I would have imagined for myself. I can't decide if Dr. Elder's excellent book brings me closer to actually GOING there or serves as my virtual adventure, an experience of scenes, flavors and chance encounters, with curiosity as the compass, in the mode of travel that I reveled in as a young, single traveler. There is a wealth of information about the history and culture of New Zealand, top to bottom, in this book, but it certainly exceeds the scope of a travel guide, or even a personal memoir. If you are a fan of the "on the road" genre, as I am, this book is for you. Whether you're planning a trip to New Zealand, planning to "stray from the flock" elsewhere, or looking for some armchair adventure, this book is well worth the read. Highly recommended.

Thankful to the One Who Strayed, October 4, 2009
I read Dr. Elder's book in preparation for my own upcoming golf trip to NZ. Before I read "Straying From The Flock" I thought I would rent a motor home and travel from golf course to golf course for the few months I will be there. But now, after enjoying an up-close-and-personal view of NZ through Elder's delightfully penned experiences, I have altered my game plan and will take advantage of homestays...much less isolating and much more fun to experience the human side of NZ.

Elder's book is the only one of its kind that I could find on New Zealand and it did not disappoint. Quite the opposite. From the chapter-matching map in the front of the book to the references at the end, "Straying" is wonderfully and creatively structured for practical usability. I found myself underlining whole paragraphs to be used later as reference. It wasn't until savoring the last chapter that I realized Elder had already done my work for me by including helpful resources like a list of homestays; favorite guides; web sites and guidebooks; and even a few recipes.

Unlike some other reviewers, I appreciated Elder's uncensored view of the places he visited and the people he met (including chapter 41). It's what made this book and this author real to me. I also enjoyed his references to wine and food which, after all, is one of the sensual aspects of travel that we all anticipate. I felt that I was sitting beside him sharing the experience. Isn't that what great writing is all about?

Enjoy this book; then pack your bag....he even helps you with that.

Kindle your Wanderlust!, May 14, 2008

This is a wonderful travel narrative: entertaining, informative, fun. As I eagerly turned pages, I felt I was taking a "virtual trip" to NZ (both North and South islands), and one that provided me a sense of familiarity when I made an actual trip there in March 2008. Dr. Elder shares his quirky observations about the people, "straying from the flock" alternative lodgings like homestays and farmstays, the country's history, the local food and wine, and some key destinations on both islands. His highlights of places to see -- like Auckland, Queenstown, Rotorua -- and activities unique to each guided me in planning my own itinerary. The only aspect of the book that proved somewhat "dated" was the reported cost of everything. Clearly, when Dr. Elder made his trip, the exchange rate was much more favorable to the US$ than it is has become in the last year or so. (For example, when he paid NZ$100 for something, it cost him less than US$50. That would translate into about US$80 in today's market.)
In summary, for anyone contemplating a trip to NZ, or just curious about this faraway land, I recommend this book as an essential part of your research and planning.

Guide Book to New Zealand, March 1, 2007
I really enjoyed reading this book daily. It was like spending an hour a day with Dr. Elder in New Zealand. His writing really brought his journey alive. I laughed out loud several times at his humor and wit. This book will take you with him as he travels from home stay to home stay in the wonderful Southern Pacific island nation of New Zealand during the mild winter. You will get to meet the owners of each homestay that open up their homes to travelers. This sounds much more enjoyable than the cookie cutter hotels. The traveller receives wonderful fresh from the farm juices, breads, fruits, and some times hours old fish caught from the ocean. This sounds wonderful when compared to fast food and hotels with continental breakfasts. Also I love Dr. Elder's three rules on vacation: No fast food, No T.V., and No hotels(if possible). I also found the historical background of New Zealand interesting, I learned a lot from this book about a country I new nothing about. It is a must see travel destination for me now.
In the back of the book Dr. Elder leaves you with the information yo you will need to plan your own successful vacation. You will receive the addresses and phone numbers of all the best country home stays that were visited. You will also receive information on all the best guides and tours. He lists web sites to visit to prepare, and what to pack. Also you will receive great advice on how to travel business class at better prices and how to lessen the effects of jet lag. I highly recommend.

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Editorial Review

Lonely Planet knows New Zealand like our own backyard, and this handy guide brings you the best of the country’s South Island in one easy package. Let us help you discover the South’s most breathtaking mountain roads, quietest off-the-beaten-track escapes and best city experiences.

Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honest advice, designed to give you the information you need to make the most of your trip.

In This Guide:

Comprehensive coverage of the highlights and hidden secrets
Itineraries to inspire great skiing, eating, wine-touring, driving or bushwalking experiences
Practical information on getting around by car, bus, plane or campervan
... Read more