Teen sailor Laura Dekker is off around the world again, but this time by plane.
She is heading to New York on Sunday, but returning to Whangarei in mid-October. Meanwhile, Laura's red yacht Guppy remains docked in the town basin. She has updated her personal blog, telling her readers about the great reception she has had in her home town.
She has had plenty of visitors, including friends of her parents, which has made her "feel even more connected to this lovely part of the world".
The midwife who delivered her also stopped by the Town Basin last week to visit the young explorer. Laura has been busy getting a driver's licence and her crewmate, Bruno, has found work, according to her blog.
Laura writes: "So, yeah, we are slowly rolling back into normal life.
"It's definitely different from travelling and sailing all the time, but taking a bit of a break from big passages for awhile and doing some other things feels quite nice too."
Laura, who has dual Dutch and New Zealand citizenship, has plans to make New Zealand her home while she finishes her schooling.