Worth a Detour North Island

This fully revised and updated version of Peter Janssen’s hugely popular book has added new attractions all around the country and deleted attractions that have closed. All the information has been updated.

New Zealand’s North Island is known for dramatic and unique tourist attractions. In Worth A Detour North Island, respected and award winning New Zealand travel writer Peter Janssen uncovers some of the North Island’s unknown treasures that most New Zealanders didn’t even know existed!

“I have travelled just about every road and visited every town in the North Island. But, I’m drawn to the quirky places bypassed by travellers and the eccentric characters that have great stories to tell. This book is a varied collection of places in the North Island that I think are worth a detour,” says Peter.

Did you know Te Awamutu had a space centre? Or that we have a Riff Raff Statue in tribute to The Rocky Horror Picture Show? Or how about a visit to Carlucci Land that feels like you’ve stepped onto a set of a Mad Max movie?

Worth a Detour North Island features New Zealand’s oldest prison where there are regular ghost sightings. There is a delightful landfill in Awapuni named Mt Cleese, after the famous UK actor John Cleese was rude about Palmerston North. For the foodies you must sample Coromandel seafood or try Duck Creek Ice Cream with weird and wonderful flavours. These include banana, lemongrass and coconut, cinnamon smoked apple pie and there is even curry ice cream! Dive into newly discovered swimming holes. Walk pristine white sand beaches and immerse yourself in the culture and history of the North Island.

This guide is divided into geographic areas of the North Island. Each entry includes descriptions, history, directions, addresses and contact phone numbers where relevant. Colour sections of photographs bring the text to life and location maps help plan your itinerary.