New Zealand

The Bone People, by Keri Hulme (1983). With characters Hulme pulls from real-life experiences and a dream she had when she was 18, this novel takes readers deep into the heart of New Zealand, a nation still plagued by colonialism. Hulme weaves Maori heritage and history into this gripping tale of love, death, and redemption.

Kiwi Tracks, by Andrew Stevenson (1999). New Zealand has enough sandy beaches, lush forests, and snow-capped mountains to send any outdoor enthusiast to nirvana. Stevenson trods the country's rich landscapes, gets stuck in a blizzard, stays in a Maori settlement, and encounters many colorful characters during his four-month "tramp" along New Zealand's famous trails.

Southern Exposure: A Solo Sea Kayaking Journey Around New Zealand's South Island, by Chris Duff (2003). Duff's 1,700-mile (2,736-kilometer) circumnavigation of New Zealand's South Island provides a fresh, kayak-level view of this natural wonderland. Though an experienced kayaker, Duff still capsizes a couple of times along the way, but these adventures add some suspense and humor to vivid descriptions of New Zealand's often unforgiving waters and Fiordland coast.

Straying from the Flock: Travels in New Zealand, by Alexander Elder (2005). On his second adventure to the southern edge of the Pacific, Dr. Elder treks everywhere between the Bluff and the Cape (the southernmost tip of the South Island to the northernmost tip of the North) in true Kiwi fashion—working on local farms and sleeping in homestays—during his two-month visit.