Hello, this is GreatOutdoors.com editor Peter Potterfield. It's Springtime in New Zealand, a good time to head down for some hiking just as the snow begins to fly in North America. I'll be flying from Seattle to Los Angeles, and from there down to Auckland. It's a long flight, about 14 hours, but well worth it when you step off the plane into a Kiwi spring.

I'll hang in Auckland for a short day getting the gear and equipment I couldn't fly with, and then head up to the Bay of Islands region, into a small airport called Kerikeri, on Thursday, Nov 8, New Zealand time. My goal is to hike out to the end of Cape Brett, overnight there, and hike back. We'll see how the weather goes. The funky and historic beach town of Russell is the logistical staging area, and with any luck I'll get in some kayaking as well. Stay tuned, I'll try to update the blog daily, newest reports on top, as internet access allows. From Bay of Islands, it's over to the Northland West Coast for 90-Mile Beach and the Herekino Forest Track, then down to Gisborne for the Lake Waikaremoana Track, then down to Blenheim on the South Island for the four day Queen Charlotte Sound Track.