Lonely Planet releases South Island guide
20 Feb 2009
Lonely Planet will release its first dedicated guidebook to New Zealand’s adventure-packed South Island in April 2009.
The new guide - Lonely Planet New Zealand’s South Island - is aimed at travellers who limit their New Zealand holiday to the South Island, and is a little lighter to carry than the full-country guide.
"This is something that our readers have been crying out for, and we’re pretty excited to be finally bringing it to them,’’ said author Errol Hunt, who is also Australasian commissioning editor for Lonely Planet.
Direct flights
More than 320,000 Australians, 61,000 Britons and 43,000 Americans arrive in the South Island on direct flights each year.
Major South Island tourist destinations include Queenstown, Marlborough Sounds, Fiordland, Milford Sound, Aorangi Mount Cook, the Kaikoura coast, and the cities of Christchurch and Dunedin.
According to Lonely Planet’s new guide, the South Island offers "the best of the Kiwi adventure".
South Island highlights
Some highlights from Lonely Planet New Zealand’s South Island include:
- Tramping in Fiordland -"New Zealand’s rawest wilderness area, a jagged, mountainous, forested zone sliced by numerous deeply recessed sounds (which are technically fiords) reaching inland like crooked fingers from the Tasman Sea."
- Washing down oysters with wine in Marlborough - "The name of the genius who discovered that Marlborough’s cool, sunny climate is perfect for growing grapes has been lost to history, but the wine world is now toasting his (or her) legacy: sauvignon blanc from the Marlborough Wine Region is a world-class winner."
- Skiing the slopes around Queenstown - "With a cinematic background of mountains and lakes you actually have seen in the movies, and a ‘what can we think of next?’ array of adventure activities, it’s little wonder that the South Island’s premier tourist town tops many travellers’ Kiwi itineraries."
- Taking a city break in Christchurch - "Undoubtedly one of New Zealand’s most liveable cities, combining an easy-going provincial charm with the emerging energy and verve of a metropolis. Modern bars and restaurants complement Gothic architecture, and locals know how lucky they are to blend all the attractions of a city with the relaxed ambience of a small town."
First-hand experiences
Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who experience first hand the destinations they write about.
To help travellers make the most of their trip to the South Island, the guidebook includes 90 maps, national parks, farm-stays, wineries, galleries, outdoor activities, a green index for eco-friendly travels, and practical advice.
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