We love to hear from travellers – your comments keep us on our toes and help make our books better. Our well-travelled team reads every word on what you loved or loathed about this book. Although we cannot reply individually to your submissions, we always guarantee that your feedback goes straight to the appropriate authors, in time for the next edition. Each person who sends us information is thanked in the next edition – the most useful submissions are rewarded with a selection of digital PDF chapters.
Visit lonelyplanet.com/contact to submit your updates and suggestions or to ask for help. Our award-winning website also features inspirational travel stories, news and discussions.
Note: We may edit, reproduce and incorporate your comments in Lonely Planet products such as guidebooks, websites and digital products, so let us know if you don’t want your comments reproduced or your name acknowledged. For a copy of our privacy policy visit lonelyplanet.com/privacy.
Many thanks to the travellers who used the last edition and wrote to us with helpful hints, useful advice and interesting anecdotes:
Amanda Wee, Beverley Homel, Bordiec Karine, Carol Henshaw, Dana Emanuel, Daniel Brown, Dermot Gatenby, Diana Draper, Dominique Hudson, Ewan Starkey, Gabriella Wortmann, Jean-Pierre Melon, Jenny Reeve, Jo Austin, Joshua Hoe, Julie Woods, Karen Cumming, Leanne Flynn, Lindsey Pointer, Lyndon Moore, Mateusz Kmiecinski, Melissa Bowles, Michael Batt, Ruth Emerson, Sarah Duff-Dobson, Scott Menzies, Shenali Kalawana, Stacey Marr, Steve Sherman, Susan Murray, Tadeo Hernandez Kelly, Wenneke van Weelden.
Thanks to all of the i-SITE, DOC and information centre staff who helped on the road, especially Glenn Ormsby and Mariet van Vierzen in Kaikoura. Cheers to the innovative chefs and inspired craft brewers of New Zealand for surprises and sustenance, and to Carol for support on occasional beach, island and city getaways. Thanks to my fellow authors and to Tasmin Waby at Lonely Planet for the opportunity to once again explore my Kiwi backyard.
Thanks primarily to Jason and Megan Hopper, who took me to the heights of the mountains and let me take them to the depths of Queenstown’s basement bars. Gracias to Robyn Columbus Pester for a host of information, and the myriad business operators who answered my many queries along the journey. To my greatest gifts – Kiri and Cooper – a big thanks for rolling with it as ever as I wandered in and out of NZ and our other life.
Hitting the road in my home country is always a special treat, especially as it provides the opportunity to spend time with family and friends. Special thanks are due to Christine Henderson for her hospitality in the Far North, Richard King in Wellington and the extended Erceg and Wilson clans in Whakatane, especially Manda and Les Wilson. Thanks too to my sister Joanne Cole for her expert appraisal of the standard of cappuccino in the Bay of Plenty.
Thank you to the many wonderful Kiwis I met throughout the South Island for giving so freely of your time, knowledge and kindness. Thanks to Karyn, my travelling companion in Central Otago, for the cake and companionship. And finally, huge thanks to the other Team NZ authors for their friendship and generosity, and to everyone at LP responsible for piecing this puzzle together, especially the lovely Tasmin Waby.
Huge thanks to Tasmin Waby for bringing me aboard Team NZ, and to my fellow writers for being wonderful to work with – especially the above-and-beyond input from Andrew Bain, Brett Atkinson and Peter Dragicevich. Thanks for helpful suggestions from Nathan Watson and the Mountain Safety Council, patient counsel from numerous i-SITEs, blunt input from Tamara Goodwin, and Jane Atkin’s great wisdom. Thank you Normal Matt, not for accidental acrobatics in Cardrona but for energetic driving, cruising and pub-hopping in Fiordland.
Thank you to my supportive and loving husband, who was left twiddling his thumbs just days after our wedding when I took off for this project; my dear friend Katherine Cameron for constantly checking in on me on the road, you are a fountain of encouragement; and to my two biggest fans – Mum and Dad.
Climate map data adapted from Peel MC, Finlayson BL & McMahon TA (2007) ‘Updated World Map of the Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification’, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 11, 163344.
Cover photograph: Te Puia, Rotorua, North Island, Ruth Black/Shutterstock ©
This 19th edition of Lonely Planet’s New Zealand guidebook was curated by Charles Rawlings-Way, and researched and written by Brett Atkinson, Andrew Bain, Peter Dragicevich, Samantha Forge, Anita Isalska and Sofia Levin. The previous three editions were written by Charles Rawlings-Way, Brett Atkinson, Sarah Bennett, Peter Dragicevich and Lee Slater. This guidebook was produced by the following:
Destination Editor Tasmin Waby
Product Editors Will Allen, Kate Chapman, Tracy Whitmey
Senior Cartographer Diana Von Holdt
Book Designer Michael Weldon
Assisting Editors Janet Austin, Michelle Bennett, Michelle Coxall, Andrea Dobbin, Victoria Harrison, Jennifer Hattam, Jodie Martire, Lou McGregor, Kristin Odijk, Monique Perrin, Simon Williamson
Assisting Cartographers Julie Dodkins, James Leversha
Cover Researcher Naomi Parker
Thanks to Jennifer Carey, Heather Champion, Daniel Corbett, Mazzy Du Plessis, Jane Grisman, Liz Heynes, Claire Naylor, Karyn Noble, Kathryn Rowan, Jessica Ryan, Victoria Smith, Maureen Wheeler, Sam Wheeler
eBook Thanks to Julie J. Dodkins, Craig Kilburn, Wayne Murphy, John Taufa and Juan Winata.