Best New Zealand travel guide books
I have worked in the travel industry for years, as a content marketer and a travel writer. So I know a thing or two about good travel information.
A lot of travel websites are trying to make money from your visit, whether that is through displaying advertising (as I do on this website) or encouraging you to book through affiliate links, so they can get a cut of the profit.
Theoretically, there is nothing wrong with this — creators should be compensated for their time. But, what this means is that online information is bloated and long (to get more ads in front of you) or geared toward pushing you into booking the highest ticket items (so the affiliate commission is higher).
It’s all kind of biased.
So, travel guide books are actually a brilliant solution to this problem. You can get all the information you need packaged up neatly, and it’s nice to have something to browse over your coffee in the morning.
I used to travel exclusively with travel guide books, back in the day when I travelled without a phone or a laptop (yes, I really am that old!).
I have updated a travel guide book so I know a thing or two about that as well;
Writers aren’t paid enough to visit all the places in a guide book, so there’s a good chance there are places recommended that the most recent writer has never visited.
Because the fees are low, we rely on getting compensated stays (free tours and accommodation) to test the product. That leaves us in an awkward position where you feel obliged to say good things (although most travel writers will vehemently argue that this doesn’t bias them, I’ve seen the results of press trips and the coverage is pretty much always positive. It’s a broken industry.)
Relying on comped stays also means that places that don’t have the budget or know how to accommodate writers don’t really get a look in
So, with all of that said, travel guide goods also aren’t always the most reliable sources of information.
But. Some are better than others.
If you’re looking for the best New Zealand guide books, these are my top recommendations.
I recommend this Fodors guide book because I helped to update the 2025 edition — therefore it must be spectacular, clearly.
Just kidding,
But I do have first hand experience with this guide book and the editors behind it. Although the name isn’t as well known as some of the other big travel media names, Fodors has a focus on quality which I really liked.
It’s updated every couple of years.
Shawn Barnett
2. Frommers New Zealand, Jessica Wynne Lockhart
I have worked with Jessica as an editor (she is now an editor at Lonely Planet) and she’s fantastic — smart, knowledgeable, and just a nice person.
More New Zealand books to inspire your trip
More resources for planning travel around New Zealand
Travel guide books are handy, but there are other resources out there too.
My New Zealand travel guide covers everything I have written about New Zealand.
The best New Zealand travel blogs have different perspectives on travelling around New Zealand.
Thanks for reading this far! I hope this helped you choose a New Zealand travel guide book for your next adventure.
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