Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Average Customer Rating:

Lonely Planet did not do their homework for this version

Customer Rating:

Just came back from a recent trip to New Zealand with the Lonely Planet in tow. My husband and I were very disappointed with the most recent version of the Lonely Planet. We found lots of errors - the LP recommended restaurants that no longer existed, recommended holiday parks that I wouldn't stick my big toe in, and were consistently wrong on pricing from the cable car in Wellington to ferry rides across the Cook Strait. I think you would be just as well off buying the old version. It seems to be the same. It seems the LP writers didn't do their homework this time around.

Highly recommended

Customer Rating:

I just went on a month-long trip from Auckland to Christchurch, and this book was very helpful. Apparently a new version is going to come out soon. Definitely get the new one as some of the information was starting to get old. You don't absolutely have to get a travel guide before going to NZ (especially if you're on a tour like Kiwi Experience), but if you are going to get a travel guide, I couldn't imagine a better one than the Lonely Planet.

Decent Info but Don't Rely on the Prices

Customer Rating:

I've found this guide to be decent. It has tidbits of information, but I find myself wanting to know more about places outside the cities that just aren't covered. I know a new one is coming out in a few months, so I would wait to get that one or get a different brand guidebook if you can't wait. The prices in the the 2006 book are WAY off. I use my BBH hostel guide almost exclusively for finding accommodation. I also found a lot of the restaurants and nightlife listed in the book to be inaccurate or no longer operating. Still using it, but definitely supplementing with internet, BBH accommodation guide, and visits to iSites.

Disappointed with this guidebook

Customer Rating:

For years I have relied on Lonely Planet guidebooks as one of my primary travel sources for information. After returning from a self-guided 2 week car trip through New Zealand's north and south islands, my wife and I were both in agreement that this guide was not up to par and disappointing compared to other LP guidebooks. Restaurant information in Christchurch and other towns was already outdated. Hotel information was not comprehensive and I found better information for planning our lodging on the internet before we left home. Things to see and do in towns besides nightlife and museums was sparse, and excursions to interesting places off highways was sketchy. We finally put the book away and stopped referring to it since we were better able to explore on our own. New Zealand has one of the world's best tourist information systems throughout the country which helps travelers find or plan lodging, activities, transportation, virtually anything that would be helpful to the tourist. Offices are located throughout the country under the "i" signs for information, even in the smallest towns. Maps are freely available everywhere, as are also helpful free booklets and brochures for each region you may visit. For general information, this guidebook will answer many of your basic questions, but I would suggest looking at several other books for planning your journey and guiding you along your way in New Zealand.

Lonely Planet New Zealand	Customer Rating:
Lots of good information. Will be bringing it on our trip. Print is very small. Needed my extra strong readers.