Here are some quick cycle touring guidebook book reviews:

New Zealand by Bike

by Bruce Ringer, 2nd edition published 1994 by Reed, printed in USA, ISBN 0 7900 0367 8, 318 pages, A5 size, perfect bound. With B&W photos. Also published as Cycle Touring in New Zealand since the mid 1980's.

Until recently this was the only touring guide available. It covers the 14 most common routes that you likely to take, plus extra info on the three main cities. Some users say it is a wee bit out of date in places and verbose (9 pages on how to get away from Auckland Airport). A fair bit of background info on New Zealand too, for American visitors.

This book is ideal for someone from overseas who has not done a lot of cycle touring overseas before. It has simple sketch maps but no elevation charts.

Available from book stores in New Zealand, and online.

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Pedallers' Paradise

by Nigel Rushton, published 1995 and printed(!) by the auther, ISBN 0 473 02934 0, comes in two volumes; North Island and South Island, each 70 pages, A5 size, staple bound.

These guidebooks follow a different style to the above - they cover a greater range of, often shorter, routes and is not as "tour" focused. It aims to provide all the information you'll need to create your own routes. Lot's of info describing available services, accommodation and road gradients. Includes simple sketch maps and elevation/profile charts.

Some users say it's a bit too densely packed.

Available from some bike shops and book stores.

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Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides

by Paul, Simon and Jonathan Kennett, 3rd ed. published 1996 by Kennett Bros, printed in New Zealand, ISBN 0 9583490 1 0, 352 pages, under A5 size, perfect bound.

Note: I'm one of the authors. This is the New Zealand mountain bike bible. The 3rd edition includes two "Fat Tyre Tours" chapters which all the multi-day mountain bike rides and some classic road tours. Some of the trips described follow public gravel roads, others are hard core off-road expeditions.

All trips have elevation/profile charts but not maps (we assume you already have maps). Desciptions are consise. The emphasis is on adventure.

You can buy it in New Zealand bike shops and book stores and online.

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