Book Towns by Alex Johnson

$33.00 NZD

Category: Travel

The so-called "Book Towns" of the world are dedicated havens of literature, and the ultimate dream of book lovers everywhere. Book Towns takes readers on a richly illustrated tour of the 40 semi-officially recognized literary towns around the world and outlines the history and development of each commun ity, and offers practical travel advice. Many Book Towns have emerged in areas of marked attraction, such as Ure a in Spain or Fjaerland in Norway, where bookshops have been set up in buildings including former ferry waiting rooms and banks. While the UK has the best-known examples at Hay, Wigtown and Sedbergh, the book has a broad international appeal, featuring locations such as Jimbochu in Japan, College Street in Calcutta, and major unofficial "book cities" such as Buenos Aires. ...Show more

New York is... by Metropolitan Museum of Art

$33.00 NZD

Category: Travel

What is New York in the eyes of artists? This engaging book from the Metropolitan Museum of Art offers myriad answers to that question, pairing selected works in the museum's collection with simple, concise observations. The Flatiron Building is shape; the Empire State Building is line. Washington Squar e Park is joyous; Times Square is spectacle. Among the enduring images are paintings by Edward Hopper, Stuart Davis, Winslow Homer, Jacob Lawrence and Charles Demuth; photographs by Walker Evans, Berenice Abbott, Alfred Stieglitz, Garry Winogrand and Cindy Sherman and drawings, lithograph and posters. Some of the words and images speak to our experiences of the city while others relate to a point of view expressed by the artist. All are simple reflections that encourage readers to observe, to think and to develop their own definitions of this endlessly fascinating metropolis. ...Show more

Galapagos: Preserving Darwin's Legacy by Tui De Roy

$80.00 NZD

Category: Travel

2009 marks 50 years since the Galapagos National Park and the international Charles Darwin Foundation was created; a bold vision to preserve for future generations the very special international treasure that is the Galapagos Islands. This is a celebration of the islands that since Darwin's time have he ld the public's interest worldwide and which are for many a flagship of the conservation movement. The fascinating stories from a number of writers and researchers about the Galapagos, its habitats and wildlife are supported by spectacular photographs. Tui de Roy grew up on the Galapagos Islands, and it was there she hones her sklls in observation and photography. She has been based in Golden Bay, New Zealand for over 20 years. ...Show more

The New Zealand Cycle Trails Nga Haerenga by Jonatha Kennett

$50.00 NZD

Category: Travel

How to enjoy New Zealand's cycle trail network, by a writer who knows them like the back of his hand. Nga Haerenga - the New Zealand Cycle Trails - began as a vision to inspire people to experience New Zealand's great outdoors by bike. This book is stuffed full of useful information on the different t rails - how to get there, what you will see, level of difficulty, things to take, places to eat and places to stay. There is fascinating background information on each area - its history and the local flora and fauna - as well as on the ride itself. This new edition covers several new sections of the trails, and provides updates on any on-going construction work. There is also a highly practical section full of advice on choosing the right bike, gear to take, cell phone coverage in the different areas, weather and the best times of year for each trail, environmental care and useful websites. Written by New Zealand's top cycling writer, the book is aimed at family groups and first-time cyclists as well as more experienced groups. It's accompanied by colour photos, elevation profiles and maps of each trail. This new fully revised edition also provides an introduction to Tour Aotearoa which goes from Cape Reinga to Bluff. It's a 3000-km length of New Zealand ride, taking in many of the Great Rides, and connecting them together with the safest and most enjoyable roads and tracks available. The route is fully open to the public. It can be done in one highly adventurous hit, or divided up into shorter lengths and completed over a period of time. Don't put your bike on the bike rack without this book! ...Show more

New Zealand White Water: 180 Great Kayak Runs by Graham Charles

$35.00 NZD

Category: Travel

New Zealand is a whitewater paradise. Known the world over for its great variety of challenging adventure runs in pristine wilderness, it offers fantastic scope for beginners and experts alike. In this fully revised and expanded fifth edition of New Zealand Whitewater, Graham Charles presents informatio n on over 180 great kayaking runs, from easy float trips to full-on hairball unscoutable gorge waterfall runs. Information is provided for each run about what to expect on the river, including grades, flow information, gradients, times, access details and shuttle distances - without taking away that most important element: adventure! The river descriptions are spiced with dry humour, cautionary tips and tales, anecdotes and kayaking history along with a strong message on river conservation. New Zealand Whitewater is an essential part of any kayaker's kit and will open a door to the extraordinary range of kayaking and river recreation opportunities available in New Zealand. ...Show more

Ottoman Odyssey: Travels Through a Lost Empire by Alev Scott

$38.00 NZD

Category: Travel

The author's odyssey began when she looked beyond Turkey's borders for contemporary traces of the Ottoman Empire. Their 800 years of rule ended a century ago--and yet, travelling through twelve countries from Kosovo to Greece to Palestine, she uncovers a legacy that's vital and relevant; where medieval ethnic diversity meets twenty-first century nationalism--and displaced people seek new identities.It's a story of surprises. An acolyte of Erdogan in Christian-majority Serbia confirms the wide-reaching appeal of his authoritarian leadership. A Druze warlord explains the secretive religious faction in the heart of the Middle East. The palimpsest-like streets of Jerusalem's Old Town hint at the Ottoman co-existence of Muslims and Jews. And in Turkish Cyprus, Alev Scott rediscovers a childhood home. In every community, history is present as a dynamic force.Faced by questions of exile, diaspora and collective memory, Alev Scott searches for answers from the cafes of Beirut to the refugee camps of Lesbos. She uncovers in Erdogan's nouveau-Ottoman Turkey a version of the nostalgic utopias sold to disillusioned voters in Europe and America. And yet--as she relates with compassion, insight, and humor--diversity is the enduring, endangered heart of this fascinating region. ...Show more

Happiness Passport: A World Tour of Joyful Living in 50 Words by Philippa Wilkinson (Editor); Megan Hayes; Yelena Bryksenkova (Illustrator)

$28.00 NZD

Category: Travel

Exploring the global dictionary, from common languages to obscure dialects, The Happiness Passport takes the reader on a joyful journey around the world seeking out the secrets of wellbeing. The wonderfully evocative words in this collection resonate with universal emotions: the deep longing for home conjured up by the Welsh word hiraeth, or the transportive ability of good storytelling captured in the Urdu goya. Yet at the same time each is deeply ingrained in its place of origin: long, dark Danish days encourage the warmth and cosiness of hygge, while the satisfied chatter after a sun-soaked meal - sombremesa - resonates uniquely with Spanish hospitality. These words are simultaneously all-inclusive and peculiar to place; they are on the tip of our tongue and yet not in our vocabulary. The Happiness Passport delves into this treasure trove of delights, examining the cultural context of each and the lessons that we can apply in our own lives to achieve greater contentment. A must-read for all those seeking a more balanced life, this beautiful guide features original illustrations that conjure up each elusive expression. ...Show more

A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino Portugues

$48.00 NZD

Category: Travel

Tokyo by Michelle Mackintosh; Steve Wide

$40.00 NZD

Category: Travel

Visiting Tokyo, whether for the first, second or hundredth time, is a life-changing experience. As a city, it's dynamic, exciting and resolutely individual - a mesmerising and unrivalled parade of fashion, design, architecture, and high culture experiences and, of course, the best pop culture in the wor ld. It's also a city of fascinating contrasts; whether you're standing in the middle of the Shibuya scramble, a blur of pedestrians rushing by, or standing before a small shrine, quiet and contemplative, you will feel Tokyo's intensity. This stunning travel and cultural guide is a celebration of the roots and the marvels of contemporary Tokyo. It's a tightly curated list of must-see places and experiences and must-do walks as well as the authors' tried-and-tested favourites. It's for people who want to get an up close and personal look at the real Tokyo - the food, the crafts, the hidden finds, the architectural marvels, where to go to get into the thick of it and where to go to escape the madness. ...Show more

A Time of Gifts: On Foot to Constantinople - From the Hook of Holland to the Middle Danube by Patrick Leigh Fermor

$28.00 NZD

Category: Travel

'A Time of Gifts' sees Patrick Leigh Fermor setting out in 1933, at the age of 18, on his epic journey across Europe from the Hook of Holland to Constantinople. This first volume takes the reader as far as Hungary.

More Places to Stay - Hotels of the World by Shelley-Maree Cassidy

$50.00 NZD

Category: Travel

Travel with photographs and text through an eclectic collection of hotels; each with an X-factor and on every continent. Places to stay both classic,contemporary,and unusual, in off-the- beaten track locations, towns and cities. Choose from rural retreats like the Daintree Eco-Lodge deep in the rainfore st of Australia,the romantic Cavas Wine Lodge in Argentina, gracious Greenhill Lodge in New Zealand, stunning safari camps in Africa's Botswana, the historic National Hotel in Moscow's Red Square and more. A stunning resource for deciding where to go and where to stay next; for actual and armchair travellers alike. ...Show more

The 500 Hidden Secrets of London by Tom Greig

$40.00 NZD

Category: Travel | Series: 500 Hidden Secrets

Where are the 5 best places to find street food? Which are the 5 best restaurants to grab your lunch at in Soho? Which pubs have the most amazing interiors? Where are the best places to discover vintage vinyl? Which are the most innovative theatre companies? Where will you find the most unusual museums? The best places for an outdoor swim? The 500 Hidden Secrets of London reveals these good-to-know places and many more. Discover a diverse range of under-the-radar yet outstanding addresses that will allow you to explore the best of the city away from the crowds. An affectionate and informed guide to London, written by a true local. This is a book for visitors who want to avoid the usual tourist spots and for residents who are keen to track down the city's best-kept secrets. Photography by Sam Mellish. ...Show more