New Zealand’s love for a good summer adventure has seen domestic travel experts AA Traveller distribute more than three million maps and guides to keep up with growing demand.

“Almost 10,000 AA maps and free travel and accommodation guides head out the door of AA Centres, i-SITEs and tourism operators at peak seasons around the country every day,” says AA Tourism Publishing General Manager Moira Penman.

The addition of What’s On guides for Auckland, Rotorua and Queenstown acquired earlier this year tipped total distribution to more than three million. New titles including the New Zealand Cycle Trail Guide and a new Chinese language New Zealand travel guide are also in hot demand.

“Domestic travellers spent $18.1 million in the last financial year, more than international visitors. For accommodation providers and leisure activity operators, it’s vital Kiwis remain a target market for the industry.

“There is increasing demand for information from visitors of all types and AA Traveller has consistently helped people looking to explore New Zealand by giving them the best information out there,” says Ms Penman.

New Zealanders make more than 25 million domestic overnight trips per year, spending 68 million nights away from home according to the latest AA Traveller research on domestic travel patterns conducted in conjunction with tourism research specialists The Fresh Information Company.

“Summer and Christmas mean people will take longer trips between December and March. This is when we see demand for information increase as people have a chance to do more while on holiday,” says Ms Penman.

AA Traveller guides are freely available throughout New Zealand at a number of different locations including i-SITEs and AA Centres. Detailed AA retail Maps are free for AA Members and AA Smartfuel card holders through AA Centres.

“We want New Zealanders to be able to explore their own country because there is so much to see and do here,” says Ms Penman.

AA Traveller publishes What’s On guides for Auckland, Rotorua and Queenstown; North and South Island Touring Maps; North and South Island Accommodation Guides, a national Accommodation Guide, Regional Visitor Guides in Northland, Auckland, Coromandel/Bay of Plenty/Eastland, Central North Island, Lower North Island, Marlborough/Nelson, West Coast, Canterbury/Christchurch, Lower South Island; a Campervan Guide, Rental Car Guides for North and South Island; the New Zealand Cycle Trail Guide; and a guide for Chinese visitors.

About 300,000 copies of nearly 40 detailed city and town maps are also prepared, free for AA Members and AA Smartfuel cardholders available at AA Centres and online at aamaps.co.nz with AA Roadwatch.

AA Traveller has helped Kiwis see the best of New Zealand for more than 100 years assisting them in planning travel and to make bookings at more than 1800 properties on aatraveller.co.nz or at any AA Centre.