Fodor's Essential New Zealand (Full-color Travel Guide)

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous when I first picked up this travel guide. I’m used to traveling with Rick Steves’ guides, and when I found out he didn’t have one for New Zealand, I wasn’t sure if I’d like this one as much. But after spending some time with it, I’m happy to say this guide has totally won me over!I’m heading to New Zealand in December, and after going through several sections of this book, I already feel MUCH more prepared. The amount of information in here is MASSIVE—there’s everything from detailed itineraries to suggestions on hidden gems that I might have missed otherwise. I’ll admit, at first, it was a little uh… overwhelming, but the layout of the book makes it really easy to use as a reference guide while I’m actually there. The sections are intuitive, so I can quickly flip to what I need, whether I’m looking for a restaurant suggestion or trying to figure out the best way to explore a specific region.One thing I really appreciate about this guide is how the pages pop. The glossy, full-color photos are stunning and really bring the content to life. It’s like getting a little preview of what I’ll see when I’m there, which makes the whole experience feel more real. Plus, there are these little-known facts sprinkled throughout the book that break up the straight information and keep things interesting. They’ve got everything from quirky cultural tidbits to historical insights, which adds some fun to the planning process.Anyway, I’m really glad I gave Fodor's a chance. It’s packed with all the info I need, and then some, but it’s laid out in a way that makes it easy to digest. If you’re planning your trip or looking for a guide to keep handy while you’re on the ground, this book has you covered. It’s not Rick Steves ;) , but it’s definitely made me excited about my trip, and that’s what really counts!

This book is great for planning a trip to New Zealand! It helped us plan our entire vacation!

Good travel guide but with all the social media you can probably find better local spots than what is in the book.

The book has good information on where to go and what to see in New Zealand.

I bought this book as hubby and me are traveling to New Zealand in February 2024. The book is chock full of things to do and see with great descriptions and itineraries. Restaurants, tours, zoos, geologic features and more. I can’t wait to get there and use the book to make our trip the best it can be given the cost to travel so far away and see so much. We want to explore as much as possible in the 15 days we’ll be there.

While I certainly spend time researching and planning trips online, there is just something satisfying about having a physical book with you and it also makes a fun memento on the bookshelf. I like Fodor’s guides in general because they are full of great info, but still reasonably sized as to not take up too much room in your suitcase.

We used it extensively during our recent visit. Good travel tips.

Looks good to me, for my return trip to New Zealand. I'm sure I will put it to god use.