Tim Richards is a freelance travel writer whose work has appeared in publications around the world, including Lonely Planet's guidebooks. He fell into travel writing after living and teaching in Egypt and Poland, and is especially drawn to the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. He's a light-packing obsessive, and loves chasing down a story with a historical angle. He lives in Melbourne's lively central business district with his novelist wife, Narrelle M. Harris.

From his home in Auckland, Brett Atkinson has been exploring New Zealand and the world as a full-time travel, food and beer writer for almost two decades. He's researched and co-writtenLonely Planet guides to 15 different countries across five continents, and is a regular contributor to newspapers, magazines and online media in New Zealand and Australia. Internationally, Brett's been published by the BBC, National Geographic Traveller and AFAR. His earliest New Zealand road trip memories incorporate a 1970s caravan and the company of his mum, dad and brother Marc, but these days adventures with his wife Carol are more likely to include restaurants, vineyards, breweries and markets.