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    Insight Guides Explore New Zealand (Travel Guide eBook)
    Insight Guides Explore New Zealand (Travel Guide eBook)
    Insight Guides Explore New Zealand (Travel Guide eBook)
    Ebook532 pages2 hours

    Insight Guides Explore New Zealand (Travel Guide eBook)

    By Insight Guides

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    About this ebook

    Insight Explore Guides: pocket-sized books to inspire your on-foot exploration of top international destinations. Now with free eBook.
    Practical, pocket-sized and packed with inspirational insider information, this will make the ideal on-the-move companion to your trip to New Zealand
    Enjoy 18 irresistible Best Routes to walk, from Auckland, Wellington and around Rotorua to route across the South Island
    Features concise insider information about landscape, history, food and drink, and entertainment options
    Invaluable maps: each Best Route is accompanied by a detailed full-colour map, while the large pull-out map provides an essential overview of the area
    Discover your destination's must-see sights and hand-picked hidden gems
    Directory section provides invaluable insight into top accommodation, restaurant and nightlife options by area, along with an overview of language, books and films
    Includes an innovative extra that's unique in the market - all Insight Explore Guides come with a free eBook
    Inspirational colour photography throughout

    About Insight Guides: Insight Guides has over 40 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture together create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherInsight Guides
    Release dateFeb 1, 2018
    ISBN9781786712967
    Insight Guides Explore New Zealand (Travel Guide eBook)
    Author

    Insight Guides

    Pictorial travel guide to Arizona & the Grand Canyon with a free eBook provides all you need for every step of your journey. With in-depth features on culture and history, stunning colour photography and handy maps, it’s perfect for inspiration and finding out when to go to Arizona & the Grand Canyon and what to see in Arizona & the Grand Canyon. 

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    Reviews for Insight Guides Explore New Zealand (Travel Guide eBook)

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    • 5/5
      I bought this, not knowing when I’d be going to Tokyo, but found out I would be going there sooner than I thought. Less that a year after buying this book I found myself in Tokyo for a 4 hour layover. I hadn’t bookmarked anything in this book, and had barely read it, but I had broughtit along with me so when I landed in Japan, I’d know what to do. Thanks to this book I was able to go through the very difficult task of taking all the trains into the city from Narita Airport and rushing to Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku. It was stressful and confusing, but I managed it, and am so happy I did. It totally worth the effort (not to mention money). If this book can guide me in a rush through Japan, then I’m sure it can do its job wonderfully if you actually read the whole book! And the maps Insight Guide includes with numbers, matching with sites being described is so helpful. It also includes a small fold out map (not entirely helpful) with a bunch of restaurants pinpointed on it. Defiantly a necessity for all planning on going to Tokyo.

    Book preview

    Insight Guides Explore New Zealand (Travel Guide eBook) - Insight Guides

    How To Use This E-Book

    This Explore Guide has been produced by the editors of Insight Guides, whose books have set the standard for visual travel guides since 1970. With ­top-­quality photography and authoritative recommendations, these guidebooks bring you the very best routes and itineraries in the world’s most exciting destinations.

    Best Routes

    The routes in this book provide something to suit all budgets, tastes and trip lengths. As well as covering the destination’s many classic attractions, the itineraries track lesser-known sights, and there are also ex­cursions for those who want to extend their visit outside the city. The routes embrace a range of interests, so whether you are an art fan, a gourmet, a history buff or have kids to entertain, you will find an option to suit.

    We recommend reading the whole of a route before setting out. This should help you to familiarise yourself with it and enable you to plan where to stop for refreshments – options are shown in the ‘Food and Drink’ box at the end of each tour.

    Introduction

    The routes are set in context by this introductory section, giving an overview of the destination to set the scene, plus background information on food and drink, shopping and more, while a succinct history timeline highlights the key events over the centuries.

    Directory

    Also supporting the routes is a Directory chapter, with a clearly organised A–Z of practical information, our pick of where to stay while you are there and select restaurant listings; these eateries complement the more low-key cafés and restaurants that feature within the routes and are intended to offer a wider choice for evening dining. Also included here are some nightlife listings, and our recommendations for books and films about the destination.

    Getting around the e-book

    In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.

    Maps

    All key attractions and sights mentioned in the text are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map] just tap this to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.

    Images

    You’ll find hundreds of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of the destination. Simply double-tap on an image to see it full-screen.

    © 2018 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd

    Table of Contents

    Recommended Routes For...

    Children

    Daredevils

    Food and wine

    Geothermal activity

    History hunters

    Pampering

    Sporty types

    Unbeatable views

    Explore New Zealand

    Getting around

    North Island

    Auckland and Northland

    Lake Taupo and Wellington

    South Island

    West coast

    East coast

    Geology

    Climate and seasons

    Clothing

    Activities

    Bungy-jumping and skydiving

    Fishing

    Swimming with dolphins and whale spotting

    Jetboating and rafting

    Snowsports

    Language

    Maori

    The ultimate linguistic test

    Government

    Green philosophy

    Food And Drink

    Traditional dining

    The hangi

    Seafood

    National specialities

    Food festivals

    Wine

    International standing

    Beer

    Where to eat

    Shopping for food

    Shopping

    Where to buy

    Auckland

    Rotorua

    Wellington

    Christchurch

    Queenstown

    Entertainment

    Theatre

    Dance

    Music

    Film

    Nightlife

    Festivals

    History: Key Dates

    Discovery

    19th century

    20th century

    21st century

    Auckland

    Viaduct Harbour

    Maritime Museum

    Visitor Centre and Ferry Building

    Queen Street

    Aotea Square

    Auckland Domain

    Auckland War Memorial Museum

    Parnell

    Back to the centre

    Albert Park and Auckland Art Gallery

    Sky Tower

    Around Auckland

    Along Tamaki Drive

    Kelly Tarlton’s

    Mission Bay

    Island tours

    Devonport and Rangitoto Island

    Waiheke Island

    Northland

    Towards Whangarei

    Waipu and Whangarei

    Bay of Islands

    Kawakawa

    Paihia

    Russell

    Haruru Falls

    Waitangi Treaty House

    Towards Cape Reinga

    Kerikeri

    Mangonui, Awanui and Paparore

    Cape Reinga

    The West Coast

    Ninety Mile Beach

    Back to Auckland

    Opononi

    Omapere and Waipoua Forest

    Kai Iwi Lakes and Baylys Beach

    Waiwera Thermal Resort

    Coromandel Peninsula

    Thames

    Mining Town

    Coromandel Township

    Whitianga

    Hahei

    Hot Water Beach

    Tairua and Pauanui

    Back to Auckland

    Tauranga District

    Towards Okere Falls

    Towards Te Puke

    Kiwifruit Country

    Mount Maunganui

    Tauranga

    Pools and spas

    Rotorua

    Gondola ride

    Rainbow Springs

    Around Lake Rotorua

    Ohinemutu

    Museum of Art and History

    Whakarewarewa

    Blue and Green Lakes

    Pink and White Terraces

    Lake Tarawera

    Taupo

    Thermal wonderland

    Waimangu Volcanic Valley

    Wai-o-Tapu

    Lake Ohakuri

    Wairakei Park

    Huka Falls

    Taupo

    Lake Taupo

    Bungy-jumping and hot springs

    Volcanic loop

    Turangi

    Tongariro National Park

    Ohakune

    Waiouru

    Wellington

    Museum of New Zealand

    City centre

    Lambton Quay

    Wellington Cable Car

    Botanic Garden

    The Beehive

    Old Government Buildings

    National Archives

    Queen’s Wharf Area

    Oriental Parade

    Courtenay Place

    The Wairarapa

    Featherston

    POW Memorial

    Greytown

    Martinborough

    Wine tours

    Towards Lake Ferry

    Putangirua Pinnacles and Ngawi

    Cape Palliser Lighthouse

    Ferry to The South Island

    Organised tours

    Picton and Blenheim

    Self-drives

    Picton and Blenheim

    Kaikoura

    Whale-watching

    Dolphin tours

    Dunedin And The Otago Peninsula

    The Octagon

    Dunedin Railway Station

    North Dunedin

    Otago Peninsula

    Otakou Marae

    Taiaroa Head

    Fort Taiaroa and Wildlife Attractions

    Back to Dunedin’s CBD

    Larnach Castle

    Akaroa

    Christchurch to Barry’s Bay

    Akaroa

    Akaroa Harbour

    Back to Christchurch

    Hanmer Springs

    Towards Waipara

    Cafés and wineries

    Waikari

    Hanmer Springs

    Hot springs

    Christchurch to Queenstown

    Christchurch

    Geraldine and Fairlie

    Lake Tekapo

    Aoraki/Mount Cook Village

    Aoraki Mount Cook

    On to Queenstown

    Arthur’s Pass And The West Coast

    Christchurch to Lake Lyndon

    Cave visit

    Arthur’s Pass Village

    Otira

    Shantytown

    Greymouth

    Hokitika

    Journey to the glaciers

    Ross

    Pukekura

    Towards Whataroa

    Franz Josef Village and Glacier

    Fox Glacier village and glacier

    Paringa

    On to Queenstown

    Queenstown

    Skyline Gondola

    Caddyshack City and Kiwis

    Steamer Wharf

    Cavell Mall

    Earnslaw cruise

    Queenstown Gardens

    Arrowtown

    Queenstown to Coronet Peak

    Arrowtown

    Buckingham Street

    Panning for gold

    Arrowtown Chinese Camp

    Back to Queenstown

    Gibbston Valley Wines

    Milford Sound

    Towards the Sound

    Cruising the Sound

    Milford Track

    Accommodation

    Auckland

    Greater Auckland region

    Northland

    Coromandel Peninsula

    Rotorua

    Taupo

    Tongariro/Whakapapa Village

    Wellington

    The Wairarapa

    Picton and Blenheim

    Kaikoura

    Dunedin and Otago

    Christchurch

    Hanmer Springs

    Lake Tekapo

    Aoraki Mount Cook

    Arthur’s Pass

    Queenstown

    Arrowtown

    Hokitika

    Franz Josef Glacier

    Greymouth

    Fox Glacier

    Te Anau

    Milford Sound

    Restaurants

    Auckland

    Northland

    Coromandel

    Rotorua

    Taupo

    Wellington

    The Wairarapa

    Picton/Blenheim

    Dunedin and Otago

    Franz Josef Glacier

    Christchurch

    Arrowtown

    Lake Tekapo

    Queenstown

    Nightlife

    Auckland

    Rotorua

    Taupo

    Wellington

    Christchurch

    Queenstown

    A-Z

    A

    Age restrictions

    B

    Bicycle hire

    Business hours

    C

    Crime and safety

    Customs and entry requirements

    Visas and passports

    Banned substances

    Duty on imported goods

    E

    Electricity

    Embassies and consulates

    Emergencies

    Fire hazards

    G

    Gay and lesbian travellers

    Guides and tours

    H

    Health care

    Insects and venomous creatures

    Marine dangers

    Sunburn

    Pharmacies

    Drinking water

    Hot pool safety

    Volcanoes and earthquakes

    Holidays

    Extra holidays

    L

    Laundry/dry cleaning

    M

    Maps

    Media

    Newspapers and magazines

    Television

    Radio

    Money

    Currency

    Banking hours

    Credit cards

    Traveller’s cheques

    Goods and service tax

    P

    Police

    Population and multiculturalism

    Post offices

    R

    Religion

    S

    Smoking

    T

    Telephones

    Landlines and public (pay) phones

    Dialling codes

    Mobile (cell) phones

    Time

    Tipping

    Toilets

    Tourist information

    Within New Zealand

    Outside New Zealand

    Transport

    Getting to New Zealand

    Airports

    Domestic flights

    City buses/trains

    Coach services

    Trains

    Ferries

    Driving

    V

    Vaccinations

    Books and Film

    Film

    Books

    Recommended Routes For...

    Children

    Visit Kelly Tarlton’s aquarium (route 2), discover Kiwi wildlife at Rainbow Springs in Rotorua (route 6) and look out for seals in the Wairarapa region (route 9).

    Peter James Quinn/Apa Publications

    Daredevils

    Try rafting waterfalls around Rotorua (route 5), glacier hiking and ice-climbing on the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers (route 15) or bungy-jumping where the craze originated, near Queenstown (route 16 and route 17).

    iStock

    Food and wine

    Enjoy a vineyard tour at Martinborough, the heart of the Marlborough wine industry (route 9), in the Waipara Valley wine region (route 13) or in Gibbston Valley (route 17), near Queenstown.

    Peter James Quinn/Apa Publications

    Geothermal activity

    For spouting geysers, bubbling mud pools and natural hot springs, visit Rotorua (route 6) or Taupo (route 7).

    iStock

    History hunters

    Retrace the past at Auckland’s War Memorial Museum (route 1), at Waitangi, home to modern New Zealand’s founding document (route 3), and at the Museum of New Zealand in Wellington (route 8).

    NZ Tourism

    Pampering

    Luxuriate in your own freshly dug pool on Hot Water Beach (route 4), at Rotorua’s Polynesian Spa (route 6), in hot saltwater near Mount Maunganui (route 5) and at Hanmer Springs Thermal Resort and Spa (route 13).

    NZ Tourism

    Sporty types

    Try yachting or watch the All Blacks in Auckland (route 1), join in the ‘Round the Bays’ run (route 2), hike up Flagstaff Hill in the Bay of Islands (route 3) or go surfing near Whangamata (route 4).

    Peter James Quinn/Apa Publications

    Unbeatable views

    New Zealand boasts many amazing vistas: highlights include the views around Aoraki/Mount Cook (route 14), the scenery around the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers (route 15) and the spectacle of Milford Sound (route 18).

    iStock

    Explore New Zealand

    New Zealand’s archipelago of around 700 islands offers a wealth of dramatic scenery, from the exquisite beauty of the Southern Alps and Milford Sound, to the solitude of Lake Waikaremoana and the bubbling surprises of the thermal regions.

    Rere Falls, near Gisborne, in the East Cape

    NZ Tourism

    New Zealand is situated in the South Pacific between latitudes 34° and 47° South. It’s a long, narrow country with two main islands – prosaically known as North Island and South Island – separated by the Cook Strait. The Pacific Ocean crashes into its east coast and the Tasman Sea laps against its western shore. At 269,057 sq km (103,883 sq miles), it’s slightly larger than the British Isles. Two-thirds of the country is mountainous and dissected by swift-flowing rivers, deep alpine lakes and subtropical forest. Its highest mountain is Aoraki/Mount Cook, located in the Southern Alps, which run like a spine down the South Island.

    New Zealand was once a remote end-of-the-world gem, loved by the adventurous few who got this far and were astounded at the riches they found packed into a small country. This abruptly changed in 2001, with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, directed by native son Peter Jackson. Cast in the role of Middle Earth, New Zealand’s spectacular landscapes became the southern hemisphere’s worst-kept secret.

    Getting around

    For the independent traveller, New Zealand’s geography can present challenges. The country’s length and rough-hewn nature, plus its division into two main islands, make travel time-consuming. The routes in this book focus on five main hubs – Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown – with a number of additional routes guiding you around the rest of the country ‘s attractions (the historic Bay of Islands, the beautiful beaches of Coromandel Peninsula, the adventure activities around Lake Taupo, the wineries of Wairarapa, the stunning glaciers of the South Island’s west coast, and the majesty of Milford Sound). If time allows, the routes can be linked together for an exploration of the whole country. If time is at a premium, use domestic flights to travel between the city hubs, then hire a car to access regional attractions.

    South Bay, Kaikoura

    Peter James Quinn/Apa Publications

    North Island

    Auckland and Northland

    In subtropical Northland, proud forests of majestic kauri trees, some thousands of years old, stand sentinel. Gnarled red-blossoming pohutukawa trees (known as New Zealand Christmas trees) cling to windswept cliffs over golden beaches, and green rolling hills of farmland span from coast to coast. Thermal activity abounds – there’s Auckland, built on extinct volcanoes; Rotorua, famous for its intense thermal activity in the form of geysers, hot springs and pools of boiling mud; and one of New Zealand’s most special experiences: digging your own warm spa in the sand at Coromandel’s Hot Water Beach (for more information, click here).

    Lake Taupo and Wellington

    At the heart of the North Island lies Lake Taupo (for more information, click here), New Zealand’s largest lake: a huge volcanic crater fed by the mountains of the Central Plateau. Hidden beneath hills beside a crater-formed harbour, the capital city of Wellington is the departure point to the magnificent South Island.

    Sunset over Auckland

    Peter James Quinn/Apa Publications

    South Island

    The South Island provides travellers with an awe-inspiring panorama of majestic snowy mountains, dripping rainforest, silent fiords, sensational sounds, ancient glaciers, wide-open plains and sparkling blue lakes and rivers. Home to only one quarter of the country’s population, this is a place of grandeur and solitude. The sensational Southern Alps, a range of jagged peaks running the length of the South Island, were formed by a collision of tectonic plates, which continue to force the mountains upwards by some 10mm per year. Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, dominates the range at 3,750 metres (12,303ft).

    West coast

    Home to dense forests of beech, deep fiords, the icy tongues of Franz Josef and Fox glaciers (for more information, click here), and the picturesque lakeside townships of Wanaka, Queenstown and Te Anau, all vibrant centres for outdoor adventure.

    East coast

    Christchurch has been gradually recovering from the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. The resilience and creativity of the city’s population is inspirational as they rebuild their home from the rubble left after the quake floored over 70 percent of the CBD’s buildings. It may not yet be as beautiful as it once was, but Christchurch has a vibrancy that makes it well worth a visit.

    Geology

    New Zealand’s separation from other

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