Footprint New Zealand (Footprint New Zealand Handbook) [Paperback]

Donald Darroch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2003 | Series: Footprint New Zealand Handbook

Seen the "Lord of the Rings" - now go and explore the country with this edition of Footprint's New Zealand guide. Explore the country with this fully updated edition covering everything from where to stay, to trekking and sailing, not forgetting all the "Lord of the Rings" information and details. This handbook includes a special feature on natural history and wildlife, full coverage of adventure activities - sailing, trekking, white water rafting and bungee jumping - comprehensive region-by-region coverage of both the North and South islands, recommendations on what to eat and where to eat and recommendations for the traveller whose loves are food and wine. Accommodation listings focus on interesting, good value places including hotels, b&b's, farmstays and hostels

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A well researched, readable book that maintains Footprint's reputation for informative, easy-to-read, well-presented guides." Traveller

Product Details

• Paperback: 800 pages
• Publisher: Footprint Handbooks; 3rd edition (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903471745
• ISBN-13: 978-1903471746
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #466,461 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > Travel > Australia & South Pacific > New Zealand

More About the Author

I was born in Scotland in the sixties and the points on my life's compass were not so much chosen, as innate. To varying degrees, wildlife, photography, travel writing and art have always been my chosen destinations, my all-encompassing North, East, South and West.

It has been a mighty voyage and my boat is...well, let's just say far more the tall ship 'Endeavour' than the cruise liner 'Star Princess'.

Plying the oceans it has weighed anchor in paradise, survived financial doldrums and been cannonballed through some perfect publishing storms.

But regardless, with my eye firmly on those compass points, I have managed to keep her voyaging and for almost three decades have even made a living doing so - and for this creative, nature loving journeyman that is perhaps the greatest achievement.

After gaining a 4-year degree in Wildlife Illustration and Photography in Wales in 1986, I took up the position of assistant manager at a purpose-built wildlife rehabilitation centre in Fife, Scotland. This unusual work provided numerous unique art and photographic opportunities and also took me to some far-flung places, including Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War Eco-disaster in 1991 and eventually to New Zealand, where I emigrated in 1992.

In New Zealand I acted initially as an oiled wildlife response consultant to the government before altering course to pursue a long-held dream. That dream was realized in 1996 with the publication of my first book 'Creatures' -an account of my wildlife encounters, using the unusual combination of all three disciplines of writing, art and photography. It was published in New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

I became a New Zealand citizen in 1997, but the nagging desire to experience Australia's wonderful scenery and wildlife inevitably took me across the Tasman Sea and to Sydney in 1998.

Since 2000 I have worked as a freelance travel writer and photographer predominantly for Footprint Travel Guides (one of the top five international travel guide publishers), all of which has resulted in a highly unconventional and peripatetic lifestyle.

I am what you could call a 'veteran' Footprint author and photographer having been responsible for the New Zealand guide since its inception in 2001. I also maintain the East Coast Australia guide, wrote the Sydney Pocket Guide and co-authored the Australia Handbook.

In 2008 I wrote and illustrated the new Thomas Cook East Coast Australia and South East Australia including Tasmania. I also served as principal contributor for the AA Key Guide New Zealand, 2005.

In 2010 the Footprint 'New Zealand Colour Guide' including Best Photo Locations was added to the list.

To view Darroch's Australasian imagery and for travel photography tips log on to www.darrochdonald.com.

When asked where I live I can only offer a vague description of a thousand places, motor parks and campsites particularly in the wilderness regions of Australasia with a jalopy, plenty of porridge, a well-worn bag of well-worn camera gear and very little else. That said, at the present time, operations base is Daylesford, Victoria, Australia.

Oh, and my advice for budding travel writers, photographers and artists?...

Dare to be different, but never just for the sake of it. If you are amongst sheep, paint yourself black and depart the flock, being sure-metaphorically speaking- to escape the knackers yard and retain your testicals!
Vision, patience and passion; integrity, humour, good luck and determination are everything; the 'system', modern technology, and sales, are not. Also, before embarking on that journey, be aware (very aware), that a mortgage, the fast reliable car, the silk tie, prime sirloin steak, two kids and a dog named 'Boon' are probably not an option.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide to New Zealand, July 22, 2005

By 

tintintoo (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Footprint New Zealand (Footprint New Zealand Handbook) (Paperback)

I was not familiar with this British travelguide series until I used this edition for my recent trip to New Zealand. The book is very easy to use, with pleasing layouts, and up-to-date and reliable restaurant recommendations of sites to see, hotels, restaurants, etc. The writer really showed his familiarity with NZ, and the writing was crisp and energetic. I had researched several guides to NZ (Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, Rough Guide) before I left and found this one to be the best. I also looked into the Footprints guide to Australia and found it to be equally first-rate. I will definitely consider a Footprints guide again the next time I travel.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best guidebook I've ever used, November 18, 2010

By 

Mle Elisabeth Guegan - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Zealand, 4 (Footprint - Travel Guides) (Paperback)

I loved this guidebook!

I went travelling in New Zealand for two and a half months, which was enough time that I researched thoroughly beforehand which guide would be my companion. I really liked the contents of this guide book - it contains all you need to know for accommodation, restaurants and the like, but most importantly, on things to do, it has a fairly strong emphasis on the outdoors. I mean, it is New Zealand after all! Everytime I followed the guide's recommendation, I found myself appreciating it as it was described, and by the end the guidebook was like a good friend who likes to do the same things I like to do, so that I could trust a recommendation blindly. The author has a strong conservation background and it really shows in all the anecdotes and info - which I gobbled up as I am into it too!

It was also quite good at saying things as they are. For instance, if a hostel is a busy, loud place, it will say so - hey, it could be your thing if you're feeling social right. If a hostel is out of the way and fairly quiet, it will also say so, and it could also be what you're after (or truly not). That way, whatever it is you're after, you'll get an accurate picture.

And you know what the best part was? The vast majority of travellers have the lonely planet book. Which means any accommodation highly recommended on there will be crammed full. I met a fellow traveller who ended up going to any place he could find that would not be mentioned in his lonely planet guide, to avoid the crowds. I was pretty smug with my footprint :)

Now, any new place I go, the first thing I do is check whether footprint has a guidebook there - the unfortunate part of that being that they don't have quite as much coverage as the other guides...

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for everyone, August 25, 2009

By 

Birder Girl "traveler" (Walnut Creek, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New Zealand, 4 (Footprint - Travel Guides) (Paperback)

Despite the beautiful color photo on the cover, the inside of this book appears rather lifeless. It is extremely dense - lots of information displayed in very small type. I would check the publishing date as some info could be out of date. Two of the towns I am going to do not appear in the book. This is a very heavy book and not handy if you're arriving by air. Some of the discourse gets overly cheeky. For example, it advises women that the New Zealand male may be more like Roger Ramjet than Don Juan (which could be good to know, depending).