Joe Bennett hitchhikes across New Zealand, and lives to write about it.

Bennett, a transplanted Brit living and working in New Zealand since 1987 (the book was published in 2004) clearly loves his adopted country, even though the conceit of this book is that it's about a quest to determine whether he should stay on in NZ after his elderly dog passes on, or return to England.

Written in a breezy style this travelogue follows the acerbic, middle-aged author as he makes his way first around the South Island, then the North. While Bennett's wit can come across as sarcastic or negative, the strength of the book are the stories of the people he meets and the sense of place you get from them.

Not quite a Bill Bryson or Tim Cahill, but an enjoyable read, especially if, like me, you've had an opportunity to travel in New Zealand yourself and so can compare notes (so to speak). ( )

Bennett is an Englishman who moved to New Zealand in the mid-eighties and had taught in Christchurch for sixteen years at the time this book was written. Now 46 years old, he realizes that he's never explored his adopted country so decides to do what he had done all over the world as a young man- stick out his thumb and see where it takes him. He hitches along the perimeter of first the south island, which is less populated and largely working class, then does the same on the north island, sharing rides with both the very poor and the very rich and receiving all kinds of free advice with those lifts.
This is the second book I've read from Bennett ( Musn't Grumble ) but I think this may have been his first book. Anyway, I like him. Unlike so many travel memoirs, Bennett isn't a cheerful lad and is quite curmudgeonly at times. But he also sees himself objectively and tells the reader when he suspects he is the problem. I also like that he reacts to weirdos the way most of us do, telling them to go away, rather than trying to convince the reader that he finds their company enchanting.
You would think that reading about someone having this much time to think while waiting for a ride would be a little dull, but this guy is entertaining. ( )

Very disappointing. Just a boring ramble with no decent travelling insights apart from the lazy journalists habit of just criticising everybody and everything. Highly unimpressed with the endless accounts of him standing waiting for a lift, smoking cigarettes and then just chucking the butts on the ground. Hate to say this Mr Bennett, but if you really feel no affinity for New Zealand, then perhaps you should just go home to England. ( )

Joe Bennett is hitchhiking around New Zealand, and we’re along for the ride.

Bennett is funny, irreverent and his insights are perceptive - although on occasion, they are also edged with a finely honed cynicism.

In his travels, Bennett meets some real characters and hilarious anecdotes often ensue, along with some surprising trivia. Bennett, being English and at the time of writing having lived in New Zealand for about 15 years, manages to somehow be unsentimental yet nostalgic at the same time. His dry wit and sense of irony were features of this book.

Bennett doesn’t quite manage to cover all the main regions of New Zealand. The Nelson/Marlborough and East Coast/Gisborne regions aren’t included in A Land Of Two Halves, but then when working to time limits and trying to hitch along some rather remote roads, this is hardly surprising.

On occasion Bennett skips over some of the better points of New Zealand - that cynical streak creeps in especially where the scenery and tourist activities are concerned. But this is a thought provoking and highly entertaining read. ( )

Captures NZ and NZers perfectly. Great book. ( )