Rested now after the long journey from Auckland, and already missing the warm spring sunshine of New Zealand. Here in Seattle it's back to the reality of a wet, cold Pacific Northwest winter. This final of four hiking trips to New Zealand in the past five years showed me parts of the country I had not visited before, and left me longing for the warmth of the Marlborough district.

After finishing the 71 kilometer Queen Charlotte Track I spent one more night in Picton, and the next day visited some wineries and Peter Jackson's (director of Lord fo the Rings) museum of World War I airplanes before heading to the small airport at Blenheim; the combination made for a unique final day in New Zealand.

With hikes in four distinct districts--the Bay of Islands, and Cape Reinga, and Lake Waikermoana before the Queen Charlotte--this was a visit that reflected all the secret tips I had picked up on in the five years of coming here.

The fact is, there are so many beautiful places to see down here, traveling and hiking in New Zealand can keep you busy for a lifetime. But it's the personal connections I make with the people of this island country that keeps me coming back. When all is said and done, that's the best part of any trip to New Zealand.