ADAM Hutchinson started his epic scooter journey at Cape Reinga, when the odometer of his brand new mount was at zero. Between setting off from New Zealand's northernmost point on Saturday and arriving in his home town of Wanganui on Thursday night he's spent $35 on petrol. The tank of his 50cc Yamaha only holds $8 worth.
The 23-year-old is on his way to Bluff, leaving again today, and said he expected to arrive there next weekend. After that he makes his way back to Lincoln University, where he's studying agribusiness and marketing.
He said his scooter journey was an idea that struck him about three weeks ago, in the midst of a holiday that included casual farm work at Hunterville and some work for the university.
He had the spare time and wanted a good look around on a novel means of transport, with adventures en route. He was also recording the journey and interviewing local people, with the intention of making a documentary.
"I've been overseas for four years, in Scandinavia, Greece, Austria, France? New Zealand is still the best country," he said.
He had footage of himself tackling a jump at a motocross track at Tokoroa, scooting up to Bilbo Baggins's door at "Hobbiton"' near Matamata and riding 20km of hard sand at Ninety Mile Beach.
The Desert Rd, with little traffic and waving tussock under an ominous grey sky, was memorable.
His scariest moments were passing through Auckland on the motorway with traffic whizzing past, and trying to keep left across multiple exits. He hoped to do a spot of pig hunting in the Parapara hills yesterday and carry on to Wellington or Picton today.
He was riding about four hours a day and covering around 200km at a top speed of 65kph. His trusty steed doesn't go any faster.
"It's off the clock at 60 (kph)."
Music was provided by a minidisk player, and he had found that New Zealand sounds fitted well with the scenery. His nights were spent with friends. And so far the trip was proving a top adventure.
"You're going slow enough to see the whole country.
"Sometimes, when you are riding on the highway and there's no cars and you can take up the whole road and you've got cool music going ? it's pristine."
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