Our Readers

Many thanks to the travellers who used the last edition and wrote to us with helpful hints, useful advice and interesting ­anecdotes:

Amanda Howard, Anke Zylmann, Annamaria Armijo, Annamarie Critchard, Assi Paula, Belen Oton, Cat Mongeon, Catherine Waters, Cerina Triglavcanin, Craig Grant, Dan Simpson, Daniel James Romero, David Lacy, Erin Crampton, Eva Havas, George Ekel, Greg Rogos, Harvey Singer, Helen Bonser, Jaap Voogd, Julia Münchbach, Karen Warren, Kath Gardiner, Katherine Shea, Kathleen Robbins, Michael Hume, Mick Garton, Miriam Smith, Nico Bryant-Stevens, Nina Wensing, Penelope Clute, Peter Ellis, Rod Leschasin, Rosana Zeni, Sally Moyes, Sandra Scott-Harrison, Stefan Wehmeier, Tony Burkitt, Wiremu Fitzgerald, Xavier Alcober, Yann Meyer, Zach Johnston

Author Thanks

Charles Rawlings-Way

Thanks to the many generous, knowledgeable and quietly self-assured Kiwis I met on the road, especially the staff at the Palmerston North, Hastings and New Plymouth i-SITEs who flew through my questions with the greatest of ease. Huge thanks to Errol Hunt for signing me up (again), and the in-house Lonely Planet staff who schmoozed this book through production. Humongous gratitude to my tireless, witty and professional co-authors − Sarah, Peter, Brett and Lee − who infused this book with humour and local low-down. Most of all, thank you Meg, Ione and Remy for holding the fort while I was away.

Brett Atkinson

Thanks to all of the i-SITE, DOC and information centre staff who patiently answered all my questions. Cheers to the clever craft brewers of New Zealand for sustenance on the road, and to Carol for support on occasional forays to offshore islands. Thanks to my fellow authors, the most professional and wittiest bunch one could aspire to work with, and huge thanks and friendship to the mighty Errol Hunt.

Sarah Bennett & Lee Slater

Thanks to everyone who helped us on the road, including RTO and visitor information centre staff, tourism operators and travellers. Special thanks to DOC staff, especially Penny McIntosh and Katrina Henderson. Big ups to everyone in-house at Lonely Planet, and to our fellow authors – Brett, Charles and Peter. Thanks also to Sarah Ewing. To all who provided a park for our camper, a fridge for the flagon, and even a feed of kaimoana on occasion: arohanui, e hoa ma .

Peter Dragicevich

I owe a great debt of thanks to Hamish Blennerhassett, Harry and Ngaio Tyler, and all the Tyler cousins for their help and companionship during the research of this book. But above all, I’d like to thank Errol Hunt – editor extraordinaire, all-round great guy, origin­ator of the ‘four more years’ chant at the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, and the person most responsible for making this one of Lonely Planet’s most successful titles over many successive editions.

Acknowledgments

Climate Map Data (CRMS and Discover titles) Climate map data adapted from Peel MC, Finlayson BL & McMahon TA (2007) ‘Updated World Map of the Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification’, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 11, 1633–44.

Cover photograph: Hot-air balloon near Methven, David Wall/Getty