Book excerpt: Berlitz Pocket Guide New Zealand combines informative text with vivid colour photography to uncover a country of spectacular natural beauty. It covers everything you need to know about the country's attractions, from the urban centres of Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown to the glowworm caves at Waitomo, the geothermal area of Rotorua, whale-watching at Kaikoura and glacier-trekking in the Southern Alps. Handy maps on the cover flaps help you navigate, and the book uses colour-coding to differentiate between sections. To inspire you, the book offers a rundown of the Top 10 Attractions in the country, followed by an itinerary for a Perfect Tour of New Zealand. The What To Do chapter is a snapshot of ways to spend your time, from watching a Maori concert to catching a rugby game, from adrenaline-pumping sky-diving and white-water rafting to the more sedate activities of hiking, kayaking and fishing. The book provides all the essential background information, including a brief history of New Zealand and an Eating Out chapter covering the varied cuisine and delicious wines. There are carefully chosen listings of the best hotels and restaurants, and an A-Z of all the practical information you'll need.