Customer Reviews

NZ FRENZY (North Island New Zealand)

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I recently took a three-week tour of NZ with my friend and we were short on time, space and money--but we love adventure and wanted to soak in as much of the country as possible. If you can only bring one guide book with you, this should be it. Scott did an amazing job of packing in so much great information in a really laid-back manner that it was as entertaining as it was helpful. We experienced so many lovely, off-the-beaten-path locations and adventures...want to see thousands of glowworms in a cave by yourself for free? Want to relax on a mountain after a wicked good hike with a view of the ocean? How about tips on where to find hidden hot springs? No problem with this guide book! Scott provides some interesting info regarding the local history and ecology as well, which makes for a very rich and fulfilling experience. The best part about this book: its ability to really immerse you in the landscape and encourage your zest for exploring and experiencing rather than simply looking. Love it!!! Cannot wait for the South Island companion book.

My wife and I recently wrapped up a 5 month trip to NZ. I'd call it the trip of a lifetime except we're ready to do it again! When we arrived in NZ we had one of the usual guide books, but by a stroke of luck ended up with a copy of NZ Frenzy. It changed our trip. While our Footprint guide was helpful for some things, NZ Frenzy became our primary source of information. The North Island of NZ is often overlooked by travelers--a huge mistake in my opinion. NZ Frenzy will give you all of the details on must see spots throughout the island. These are places that will not show up in other books, or places that only locals know about, or places that you would never get close to if you relied on inaccurate and vague information from another book. The level of detail in NZ Frenzy is incredible and useful. If you are interested in getting off the beaten path, swimming in waterfalls, exploring caves, hiking along secluded beaches, etc. this is the one book that you need for a trip to the North Island.

My sister and I (both in our early 60s & not hard core campers)just returned from an amazing three weeks of camping in a van all over the North Island. Scott Cook and his book, NZ Frenzy, were our copilots and they never steered us wrong! 'Captain' Cook, as we sometimes referred to him, had so many options for us that we rarely looked at our other tour book. We wanted to really experience the Island, not just do a drive thru, and NZ Frenzy got us to some of the most amazing spots from the awe inspirng 3 Sisters Beach to the sacred Omahuta Forest Sanctary. We shared this book at every campsite and many Kiwis wrote down the title to explore these wild places in their own land. The great thing about the book is that there is so much detail that you can't find anywhere else, that you never run out of options. Scott's honest comments(we knew from his level of difficulty re hikes what these old legs could handle) and humor helped us make one good choice after another. It almost got to...'Oh, dear, not another beautiful, pristine beach to explore'! Thanks Scott for letting us read your personal 'journal', it's so much more than a 'tour book', for THE BEST vacation ever.

I spent 3 weeks touring the South Island in 2008 and went back in 2009 to spend another 3 weeks on the North Island. Most of my knowledge on what to see came from some pre-trip planning and talking to people in hostels along the way. About 2 weeks into my North Island tour I met Scott at the i-Site in Taupo. I was trying to get info on the Tongariro Crossing and looking at the maps on the wall. Scott and I began talking and he told me I could see most of the good stuff by just doing a one day climb of Mt. Ngauruhoe (Mt. Doom for all you Lord of the Rings fans), and not have to arrange or spend money on the one way bus trip back to the start. This sounded great to me. We talked for a while longer and I was really impressed with this guy's knowledge of things NZ. This was before he told me about "The Book." I flipped through it and thought this is what I want. Nothing fancy with nice paper and high gloss pictures, but rather what you buy a book like this for...THE CONTENT. Just black & white photos, short notes, and hand sketches. More of a journal by a well experienced traveler. Its not just that he tells you the things to see that most people don't know about, but he tells you how to see them to maximize your experience. I used NZ Frenzy for the sites around Taupo & Rotorua for several days until we had to head home. I was able to pack so many more really cool things into a limited time using his book. Of course, the bad thing was, going through the book and seeing the things I missed along the way the two previous weeks. NZ Frenzy is "The Book" to use for the North Island. Forget the rest, well... unless you have to see nice glossy color photos and maps in your guide. I'd rather see things through my own eyes.

This is the REAL New Zealand. This book was as valuable to me as my passport while traveling through the North Island. No one should visit the North Island without this book- you would be depriving yourself of its best treasures. I'm actually delaying my trip to the South Island until Scott comes out with his South Island book this November! Do not pass up this opportunity to read about and experience everything the North Island has to offer. Even my kiwi friends were surprised and completely elated with this book! Can't say enough about it. Just awesome. I would not let a good friend go to New Zealand without this book!!

Scott Cook's guide book is definitely not like other guide books. Some books will tell you about cultural activities, where to eat, where to sleep, etc. This book does not do those things. What this book does do is tell you where all the best beaches, waterfalls, tramps/walks, hot springs, caves, lighthouses, and view points are. If you are an outdoors adventurer than this book is a big MUST.

I bought 2 guide books and an atlas and Cook's was by far the most used on my 2 week trip to NZ. It's not a fancy guide book but what it lacks in presentation is made up for and more by content.

Highly recommend IF you like outdoor adventures.

I'm from the US and lived on the North Island of New Zealand for two months in 2008 -- travelling from Auckland to Wellington.

Before leaving the US, I browsed the selection of New Zealand travel guides and was very disappointed. They were all bulky (I didn't want to forfeit 50lbs of my allotted luggage to 5lbs of guidebooks), and most of the information listed was for generic, expensive tourist stops, lodging / dining, as well as the bulk of the book info on the South Island. I was looking for discovery and nature adventures off the beaten path on the North Island. Having no other choice at the time, I purchased a copy of Lonely Planet. I had lodging with locals and scarcely made use of this book as I found it to be completely tedious and useless with each adventure I tried to plan.

I'm now considering going back because the north island was so fantastic and just purchased NZ Frenzy on Amazon. I can immediately tell that NZ Frenzy GETS IT RIGHT! NZ Frenzy lists all the local "hidden" spots that you won't find in Lonely Planet -- the stuff that you'll only find if you actually live with a local in those areas, like I did.

For example, two of my favorite places in Taupo were the Spa park hot springs along the Waikato River and the Aratiatia rapids and the walk along the river that lead to the amazing, untouched cascade of hot springs that feed into natural rock formation pools and then directly into the cool, clear river. For the most part these places are completely overlooked by other books, but in NZ Frenzy they are highlighted with multiple pages and more importantly, PHOTOS with diagrams. You won't want to miss these free places when you're in Taupo, but the mainstream guidebooks hardly even give them a sentence.

Or take the areas around Rotorua. You'd never find the Waitangi hot springs on your own--only "locals" know about them...but here they are in NZ Frenzy. Or Waikite thermal resort south of Rotorua. These are by far my favorite hot pools--way better than the over-advertised, expensive, cheesy spots in downtown Rotorua, but you'd never know the difference from reading Lonely Planet, etc... NZ Frenzy tells it like it is--Waikite's pools are fabulous, nestled down in the hills, and the spring that feeds the pools is an amazing natural wonder that will totally impress you. Don't be worried about getting lost in what seems like a country road through pastureland on the drive there. NZ Frenzy will lead you straight to each spot.

I'm super psyched to go back and explore the North Island now that I know that NZ Frenzy will point out more super-cool free & low-cost spots along the way to everywhere. I won't be going to the I-sites spending my valuable vacation time looking over all the pamphlets for Zorbing and bus tours.

I'm writing this review to try to help other NZ travelers. The North Island can be a confusing place. The author of NZ Frenzy has taken the time to find the awesome, breathtaking free places that will make your trip an amazing adventure. It will save you tons of time asking questions to locals who may or may not know these spots and most importantly HOW TO GET THERE. This book will also save you gas since you won't waste time driving to places that aren't any good.

In addition, I found the roads in New Zealand confusing and lacking signage for many of the places in NZ Frenzy. The roads on the North Island are long, tedious, twisting, and sometimes scary. The majority of the highways around the whole North Island are two lane roads, occupied equally by commuters, farmers slogging down the road on tractors and semis barreling around the corners. When driving on the N. Island you may want to multiply `normal' US freeway driving time (60mph) by up to 2 or 3 times. You won't want to waste time taking the wrong turn.

Plus, if you're from the US, you will be disoriented from driving on the other side of the road! NZ Frenzy takes care of some of the unfamiliarity by giving you exact instructions on how to get there, and includes well marked photos with graphics, to boot!

I hope this review helps you--you're going to have a great time in New Zealand, and I'm pretty sure that NZ Frenzy will make your vacation WAY better. This book shows you the adventures you think of when you think of the wonder that is New Zealand. Grab a copy of NZ Frenzy and a detailed roadmap. That's all you'll need to navigate around!

If you are travelling in New Zealand on the North Island, this book is a must have. Scott walks you through each and every must see on every square mile of the North Island. My father and I used this book to plan our trip. The main great feature in my opinion is the pictures, arrows and details of where to go, what to see, great picture spots, hidden walkways, off the beaten tracks, unknown treasures and other helpful tips he has all over this book. I just wish we had 8 weeks instead of 8 days. We saw Cathedral Cove, Orakei Korako Thermal Park, The Hidden Village and snowboarding on Mount Ruapehu just to name a few. New Zealand is breathtaking and Scott's book helps you to make the most out of your time there.

Like a little adventure, solitude or even romance? If you're like us,you do, so don't leave for NZ without this guide. Lonely Planet and the other big guides will tell you all about time zones, currency, restaurants blah, blah and blah. Sure you should probably have one for reference but if you intend to have some FUN don't leave without this gem from Scott Cook. It will lead you to great spots off the beaten track where oftentimes you won't see another soul. Before going we highlighted places in this book that we rated "must-see" - we highlighted half the index! On our trip we made it to only a fraction of these spots but the ones we did make it to were fantastic! Want to maximize your hiking time? Want to be the only one in a cave full of glowworms? Want to skinny-dip with your honey under a hidden waterfall? Scott's guide can get you there and to a whole lot of other great spots on the N. island. I understand he's working on a guide to the S. island which we will definetly get for our next trip.

This book is a wealth of information. Lots of "off the beaten track", cool places. Scott definitely gives you all the LOCAL ins and out's of the North Island. I trecked with a camper van, but it was Not necessary to have a GREAT TIME and see some of the most BEAUTIFUL PLACES in the WORLD. This book has SO much that the OTHER BOOKS don't. Just do the right thing and BUY THE BOOK.