After two months and more than 2000km of ocean, an adventurer has finished the first-ever solo kayak voyage across the Tasman.
Scott Donaldson departed Coffs Harbour in NSW on May 2 and put his feet on New Zealand soil on Monday night.
Guided by lights and fireworks, and greeted by a cheering crowd of hundreds, the Kiwi expat paddled ashore at Ngamotu Beach in New Plymouth, on the North Island at about 8.30pm.
Wife Sarah and their eight-year-old son, Zac, ran out into the water for a hug before Donaldson was carried through the whistling spectators and past the occasional cry of "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie".
Scott Donaldson at sea. Source: AAP
"I've got no words at the moment. That was kind of epic ... Just seeing the land, the lights and being able to come here on target is just a perfect ending," he said after catching his breath.
I need a shower. Scott Donaldson
"I need a shower," he added.
During the trip, the 47-year-old had to contend with six-metre swells and fend off aggressive sharks going for his rudder.
He also waited out a storm for seven days at Lord Howe Island on the way.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tweeted: "There are some accomplishments that are difficult to fathom - like crossing the Tasman solo in a kayak. I'm pretty sure Scott Donaldson has stunned us all. Truly amazing".
Donaldson's arrival on soil makes him the first person to kayak from Australia to New Zealand and closes a nine-year campaign.
In 2014, he came eye-waveringly close, but had to be rescued just 80km from land after 84 days at sea.
The multi-sport athlete had planned the trip for five years, only to be left battered and bruised by a once-in-a-generation storm and afterwards ruled out another try.
He moved to Coffs Habour in 2014 in preparation for the attempt.
"This is nine years in the making and a lot of, you know, as you can imagine, emotional, financial investment into this," Sarah Donaldson told Radio New Zealand this week.
An asthma sufferer, Donaldson has used the journey as a way to raise money for asthma research.
