Deepen Your World View: New Travel Books

Up to the peaks of mountains and down under the ocean, following locals and adventurers alike, these new travel books will take you to all the corners of the world! You can discover some interesting hotels in Unusual Hotels or be inspired by adventurous women in Adventuress. Check out what you can discover in our new travel books:

Unusual hotels : world
“Discover the finest unusual hotels from around the world in this exceptional photographic guide. How about spending the night in a see-through capsule stuck on the edge of a cliff, in a secret contemporary work of art, in an old church, or in a house sitting atop a water tower? Would you like to treat yourself to a night in an igloo, in a circus, in a futuristic tree house, in an underwater bedroom or at an open-air suite? Sometimes, hotels can be destinations in their own right.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Adventuress : women exploring the wild / Amell, Carolina
“In turn inspirational and extraordinary, these profiles in female courage, determination, and adventure are illustrated with breathtaking photography from some of the most intriguing corners of the world. From the ocean’s deepest canyons to the earth’s highest peaks, these extraordinary women offer readers the inspiration and encouragement they need to pursue their dreams-whatever they are, wherever they may be.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Windswept : life, nature and deep time in the Scottish Highlands / Worsley, Annie
“Annie Worsley traded a busy life in academia to take on a small-holding or croft on the west coast of Scotland. Windswept explores what it means to live in this awe-inspiring place of unquenchable spirit and wild weather. Windswept evokes a place where nature reigns supreme and humans must learn to adapt. It is her paean to a beloved place, one richer with colour, sound and life than perhaps anywhere else in the UK.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

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Plan your 2024: New travel books

Three travel bookcovers on a background of a sky.

With the startling reality that 2024 is less than a month away, now is a great time to start prepping for next year’s travel plans. Whether you are embarking on a major trip overseas, or exploring a new part of Aotearoa, there are many books to motivate and assist you in your planning. Below are some of our new books to get you on your way.

Best in travel 2024 : the best destinations, journeys and experiences, for the year ahead
“This special edition sets the travel agenda for the year to come, with a comprehensive and inspirational list of 50 incredible destinations to experience over the forthcoming year. Expect a mix of emerging travel hotspots, underappreciated or criminally overlooked places and fresh-takes on well-known destinations.” (Catalogue)

The travel hack handbook : how to make the most of your trip for your budget / Bindloss, Joseph
“This practical and inspiring guide, the latest in our popular ‘Handbook’ series, provides travellers with tips and tricks to make their money go further. As the cost of living and travel increases, Lonely Planet’s experts reveal the best ways to bag a bargain, whether it’s booking transport, a hotel or finding experiences that won’t break the bank.” (Catalogue)

Best road trips New Zealand (Aotearoa) : escapes on the open road / Atkinson, Brett
“Discover the freedom of the open road with Lonely Planet’s New Zealand’s Best Road Trips. This trusted travel companion features 25 amazing drives, from 3-day escapes to 2-week adventures. Cruise Bay of Islands, meander to vineyard restaurants on Waiheke Island, and spot whales off Kaikoura Coast. Get to New Zealand, rent a car, and hit the road!” (Catalogue)

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Around the World in 8 Travel Books

Some days we don’t want to leave the house but still wish we can experience all that the world has to offer. Why not check out some of our new travel books to get away from Wellington and see the world from the comfort of your favourite couch? Or if you don’t want to leave the house at all (although the library should be the one exception) check out Libby and Borrowbox for ebooks, magazines and audiobooks. Let’s avoid the long-haul flights, the boring queues and save money by picking up a book!

Queer footprints : a guide to uncovering London’s fierce history / Glass, Dan
“This groundbreaking guide will take you through the city streets to uncover the scandalous, hilarious and empowering events of London’s queerstory. Follow in the footsteps of veteran activisits, such as those who marched in London’s first Pride parade in 1972 or witnessed the 1999 bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho.” (Catalogue)

The joy of wild swimming
“Dive into 180 of the world’s most enticing wild swimming spots with this joyful book featuring fascinating insights from local voices, beautiful photography, maps and essential trip planning tips. Discover the humbling effects of a wild swim and explore enchanting places where you can connect with nature or simply relax and float downstream.” (Catalogue)

History of the world map by map
“A uniquely illustrated guide to the history of our world. Witness our incredible human story unfold exquisitely charted map by map. Come on a journey through global history, told in more than 130 specially made maps that each offer a window on a key event. This updated edition contains eight pages of brand new maps, and has been reviewed and updated for diversity and inclusion.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

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The Good, The Bad, The Thrilling: New Travel Books

The world is an incredibly diverse place where we can find the good, the bad and the thrilling wherever we go. From taking an epic bike ride, to learning from history, to connecting with your kids or even to get a thrilling fright, anything can inspire your next adventure.

If you want to stay in New Zealand or jump over the ditch to Australia, a great way to get off the beaten track is to grab a bike and follow in someone else’s tyre tracks from Epic Bike Rides of Australia & New Zealand. If you want to learn about a part of the world with a recent dark history, try High Caucasus, where journalist Tom Parfitt walks through the North Caucasus mountains as a way to deal with trauma from witnessing the Beslan school siege. If you get your thrills from being scared and are heading to London, have a read of Death Lines and create your own tour of the city’s horror film locations.

Walking with Sam : a father, a son, and five hundred miles across Spain / McCarthy, Andrew
“Looking to create a more meaningful connection with his son before he fled the nest, as well as recreate his own life-altering journey decades before, McCarthy decided the two of them should set out on a trek: 500 miles across Spain’s Camino de Santiagos. WALKING WITH SAM captures this intimate, candid and hopeful expedition as the father son duo travel across the country and towards one another.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Epic bike rides of Australia & New Zealand : explore Australia and New Zealand’s most exciting cycling routes
“Hit the road with this collection of 200 epic bike rides across Australia and New Zealand. Cycle along Tasmania’s Bay of Fires Trail or pedal through the South Island’s misty native forest on the Old Ghost Road. Featuring 50 first-person stories and a further 150 ideas for similar trips, you’ll find inspiration for a lifetime of biking adventures.” (Catalogue)

High Caucasus : a mountain quest in Russia’s haunted hinterland / Parfitt, Tom
“Working as a correspondent in the Caucasus region of southern Russia, Tom Parfitt witnessed the bloody climax of the Beslan school siege in which 314 hostages died. Having long been fascinated by the mountainous North Caucasus, Tom turned to his love of walking as a source of both recuperation and discovery. High Caucasus is a stunning memoir of confronting trauma through connection with history, people and place.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

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Life is a Journey, not a Destination

Are you planning your next holiday or just want to live vicariously through those traveling the world? This month’s new travel books will inspire us to think about not only the destination but the journey as well. Maybe catch a train, go on a pilgrimage or even follow in Paddington Bear’s footsteps. The journey can often be where we have some of the best experiences and encounter the unexpected!

The slow traveller : an intentional path to mindful adventures / Tinsley, Jo
“The Slow Traveller is a stunning guide to slow travel filled with evocative naturescapes, practical travelling tips and inspirational photography. Exploring different types of destinations and modes of travels, this ultimate aspirational travel guide encourages readers to allow themselves to be guided by curiosity and chance encounters, and find new ways to connect with others and with ourselves.”-Publisher’s description.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

All aboard : the complete North American train travel guide / Loomis, Jim
“It’s about the journey, not the destination. Written for both veteran train travelers and those considering their first rail journey, it will keep any trip on track with its insightful travel trips and information about how North American railroads operate. All Aboard is the ultimate guide to American train travel and its unique history and culture.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The movie lover’s guide to London / Booth, Charlotte
“London is a magical place which has intrigued people for more than 2,000 years, and never is this more apparent than in the past 130 years following the invention of the moving image. Do you want to follow in the footsteps of Paddington, James Bond and Dorian Gray? This book will have something for everyone and will show you London in a new, sparkling, glamourous light.”–Provided by publisher.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

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Planning a Holiday? Books for your future adventures

When you are on an overseas trip, is it easy to order food other than McDonalds? Would you like to know what to say in response to friendly local’s greeting? Here are some resources on language, culture and food, perfect to read while you plan your next flight to escape the winter and wind.

  • Mango Languages is the free resources for learning key phrases to survive your next trip at many popular travel destinations such as Indonesia, France, Japan, and more.

Lonely Planet Fijian phrasebook & dictionary
“Dazzling sands, perfect palm trees and waters so blue they glow – Fiji’s beaches look airbrushed. While most Fiji locals can speak English, it’s not their mother tongue. Never be stuck for words with our extensive two-way dictionary; order the right meal with our menu decoder; refreshed look and improved navigation. Get more from your trip with easy-to-find phrases for every travel situation. Use our carefully selected words and phrases to get around with ease.” (Adapted from Amazon.com)

Japanese
“Rough Guide Japanese Phrasebook: a convenient, contemporary travel companion from Rough Guides’ trusted language experts. Compact, clear, and packed with key words and phrases to help conversation, this pocket-sized Japanese phrasebook is a trusty travel companion, and all you need to make yourself understood when you’re visiting Japan. With its emphasis on conversational usage, and pop language – this is the only phrase book you’ll need when exploring Japan.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

South Pacific phrasebook / Te ‘Atamira
“Your passport to the most relevant South Pacific phrases and vocabulary for all your travel needs. Chat over dinner with a local family in Fiji, understand the hula in Hawaii, and join a traditional umukai feast in Rarotonga. With language tools in your back pocket, you can truly get to the heart of wherever you go. Languages: Fijian, Hawaiian, Kanak languages, Maori, Niuean, Rapanui, Rarotongan Maori, Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, Fijian Hindi, Pacific French and Spanish”. (Adapted from Amazon.com)

Flavours of South Australia : favourite restaurants, wineries and producers with their signature recipes
“You’ve never seen South Australia like this before. From farm gates to cellar doors and hidden bars to extraordinary restaurants, prepare to immerse yourself in the best of South Australia’s culinary scene. Within these pages you can journey from the remarkable restaurants in Adelaide to the world-renowned wineries and producers of the Barossa.” (Catalogue)

Tokyo : a pocket guide to the city’s best cultural hangouts, shops, bars and eateries / Wide, Steve
“Tokyo is a city of contemporary metropolis where there are bright lights and neon, bars under railway bridges, Michelin ramen and sushi, tech, toys, coffee and vintage shopping. The crazy, the cute, the chic and the traditional are all flourishing in this city. All you need to know to shop, eat, drink and explore. Also nearby places like Nikko, Hakone, Mount Takao, and the cute ‘Eno-den’ train from Kamakura to Enoshima and Fujisawa.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Korean BBQ & Japanese grills / Cramby, Jonas
“In Korean BBQ & Japanese Grills Jonas Cramby explores recipes of Korean and Japanese barbecue and culture. He shares his favourite recipes such as yakitori, yakiniku and izakaya-style classics and Korean BBQ. He also outlines how to perfectly ferment kimchi, how to grill indoors without choking and how to chill a refreshing lager without it turning to ice.  Simple salt and fire with the right practice and the right technique can turn into something sublime ” (Adapted from the Catalogue)

Thai in 7 : delicious Thai recipes in 7 ingredients or fewer / Holmes, Sebby
“Thai recipes often has too many ingredients, so it becomes a cuisine we treat ourselves at a restaurant rather than cook at home. Author shows how to make deliciously fragrant and fiery Thai dishes with ingredients from supermarkets. From Drunken Noodles with Tiger Prawns and Sweet Basil to Yellow Curry with Mushrooms and Crispy Tofu with Soy & Sesame Glaze. Also pickles and desserts to make your taste buds tingle.” (Adapted from the Catalogue)