"Everyone that does it really enjoys it. It is a social thing - a way to get to know people," Mr Safey said.
It takes an average of 10 hours of solid practice for most people to get to grips with a unicycle, although BMX riders can pick it up in half an hour.
The sporting side of unicycling can be a real motivation for devotees to travel overseas, with the world championships recently held in Italy.
Mr Safey said the unicycles had been a real magnet in the holiday atmosphere of Waihi Beach, with plenty of people coming over to chat.
The next stop on Mr Safey's itinerary was Kaikohe in the Far North and staying with unicycling's world champion.