Lonely Planet Cycling New Zealand Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For a 'cycle New Zealand' book like this to be worthwhile it needs to stand alone (so you don't need to bring other books along - less space, less weight). Unfortunately this book is not comprehensive enough and falls well short of that mark.
The book does describe some of the best routes in NZ and provides descriptions of the scenery to motivate you to go in the first place. It also gives some basic lodging/dining options and descriptions of the cities and towns. There aren't, however, many alternative routing options and the lodging/dining options are too sparse and not easily found from the book as there aren't maps showing their location. The in-town descriptions are not thorough enough to be reliable as a stand alone guide and much of the text is just used to dress up very basic information
Much of the routing seems to be taken directly from Google Maps or a something similar. This cam create problems as many of the roads in New Zealand aren't clearly labeled, so trying to follow non-human directions just gets more confusing. I found some of the road descriptions inaccurate and the elevation profiles inaccurate as well. On some occasions it seemed as though the author hadn't truly ridden on some of the roads as descriptions were way off (take the road from Invercargill to Bluff as an example - no shoulder in some locations and significant truck traffic almost the whole way on a weekday morning.) Further, the suggestion of riding into Dunedin on highway 1 from the south is utter bunk. There isn't really any specific information I found regarding where one might store a bicycle, transport a bicycle, etc. beyond what was in the regular Lonely Planet - though locations of bicycle shops are provided.
I found the "Pedaller's Paradise" series (which are slightly thicker than pamphlet sized but packed with rock solid information) + a Lonely Planet or other guide book is the best bet. If you would like better maps, getting either the local topo or road maps along the way are useful - but I made it around the south island without them and never made a major wrong turn. If you can find internet access, using Google maps to route yourself before you go is a great tool. The Pedaller's Paradise authors have also put out a book based on flip-through road maps, but I haven't seen that.

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Lonely Planet knows New ZealandWith some of the world's most varied and dramatic landscapes, New Zealand is a cyclist's dream. From the lush semi-tropical bush and geothermal wonders of the North Island, to the glaciers and icy-blue rivers of the South, we've chosen rides for every interest and ability level. Whether you want pleasant rural riding on narrow winding lanes, great off-road routes, or strenuous rides through the most spectacular landscapes, this guide gives you the best of New Zealand on two wheels.In This Guide:Everything you need to know to get preparedBike maintenance tips to keep you on the roadComprehensive listings for sleeping, eating and facilities along the way

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