Moon New Zealand (First Edition)

From green forests to blackened basalt, from snowy mountains to golden beaches, adventure awaits around every bend on these dramatic islands. Dive into Middle Earth with Moon New Zealand. Inside you'll find:

• Strategic itineraries including a week on both the North and South Islands, designed for hikers, cyclers, adrenaline junkies, history and culture buffs, and Lord of the Rings fans
• The top spots for outdoor adventures, including surfing, bungy jumping, mountain biking, and trekking the Great Walks, as well as tips on how to do a New Zealand road trip
• The top sights and unique experiences: Cruise the hypnotic black waters of the Milford Sound, spot wild dolphins, kiwis, and blue penguins, and explore the sprawling Waitomo Caves lit by twinkling glowworms. Go bungy jumping, paragliding, or jet skiing in Queensland, or soak in refreshing thermal pools. Embark on a multi-day trek to rugged coasts, glacial valleys, volcanoes, and fjords. Sample local sauvignon blancs in Marlborough and craft beers in Wellington, or sip cider in the Shire. Learn about Polynesian culture and history, marvel at Maori carvings, and savor a traditional hangi
• How to experience New Zealand like an insider, support local and sustainable businesses, avoid crowds, and respectfully engage with the indigenous culture
• Expert insight from Auckland local Jamie Christian Desplaces on when to go, how to get around, and where to stay
• Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout, plus a full-color detachable map
• Reliable background information on the landscape, climate, wildlife, and history, as well as common customs and etiquette
• Travel tips for seniors, families with children, visitors with disabilities, and LGBTQ travelers

With Moon New Zealand's expert advice and local insight, you can plan your trip your way.

Having spent four years between Asia and Australia and with no inclination to return back home to the UK, Jamie Desplaces opted to give New Zealand a try. Six years later, he's still there.

Just a few weeks after arriving, he secured an assignment to write about the country's fracking industry, a two-month investigation that was hailed by environmental and political organizations, and won a feature of the year award. Jamie quickly discovered the sacred connection between Kiwis and their land, a connection that he now feels. Having explored all corners of New Zealand, the great outdoors has become his obsession. Few weekends pass without camping in the Coromandel, wandering the Waitakere Ranges, or biking the lush green lands of the Waikato.

It's also somewhat poetic that Jamie, having attended the same school as J.R.R. Tolkien, whose tomes of Middle-Earth tales inspired the movies that have so promoted the majesty of New Zealand, now also has the opportunity to share its legend with others.

Jamie's work has been published in Beats, Escape, Massive, and on USAToday.com. He has published a novel and is head writer at Verve magazine in Auckland, where he lives with his partner, Heather.