Wednesday, September 03, 2008

WORTH A DETOUR
New Zealand’s Unusual Attractions & Hidden Places
Peter Janssen – Hodder Moa - $29.99
Publication 11 September.

Since retiring from a very active life in book publishing a few years back Peter Janssen has rapidly carved out a reputation as a writer of excellent travel books and guides. He already has to his credit 1001 Things to See and Do in New Zealand, Vineyard Visits, Excellent Short walks in the North, and Excellent Short Walks in the South. One wonders whether he is ever at home!

In this new book Janssen lets the reader in on those unusual things to do and places to see that do not appear in the regular travel guides.
As he says in his introduction “this book is a varied collection of the places throughout the country that I think are worth a small detour. There is something for everyone, from the collection of old Morris Minors and homemade baking, rural pubs to old time wineries through to empty beaches and hair-raising back country roads”.
As a born and bred Kiwi and one who has travelled pretty much everywhere in New Zealand, apart from the Chathams and Stewart Island, The Bookman was astonished at how few of these places he knew about.
A copy of this book should be in the glove box of every car and campervan in the country.
A comprehensive index too, most valuable.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The trees on the cover are very well known to me. On that basis alone it looks like a good book :-) Thanks for bringing it to my attention

Anonymous said...

Very wise, Graham, in your choice of parts of NZ not to visit. Places without bookshops or art galleries are best avoided. Unless you plan to open one, of course.