Rough spell in south nearly behind round NZ kayaker

It's been a tough few weeks for Tauranga kayaker Tim Taylor, but his nerves are not swaying as he nears the end of his circumnavigation of the South Island.
His journey is far from over, however, the 23-year-old is enjoying the challenge and making the most of the calm weather before expected bad weather arrives, his mother Lyn Taylor said.
Taylor spent two nights last week with a Department of Conservation ranger at Heaphy Track before making his way up the northern point of the South Island.
"He spent Sunday night and the majority of Monday in Little Wanganui Inlet, at the base of Farewell Spit, because the weather struck up a little bad - there was gale force winds predicted there," she said.
"He's just slowly plugging away but once he's around [Farewell Spit], the weather will generally be better going into Nelson."
Mrs Taylor said her son was "getting excited" to see the end of the South Island leg of the journey.
"We don't have any expectations to when he will finish, it's weather dependent, but he's definitely getting excited to be near the North Island."
Mrs Taylor said the past two weeks had been particularly hard for her son, who had overcome numerous mental and physical challenges.
Bad weather saw Taylor cooped up in Karamea on Friday and he was unreachable by satellite phone.
"We're not sure whether he's been stopped by bad weather or if he's taking a rest day, but he had a 12-hour day [on Thursday] so his body probably needs a break," she said.
"He had one of the toughest days last week coming out from Okarito Lagoon."
Since then, Taylor has been working hard to make the most of good weather.
He is expected to reach Nelson in the next few days before crossing Cook Strait next week.
Taylor is attempting to make history with the first complete solo circumnavigation of New Zealand by sea kayak. He is about five months into his 5500km journey around the country.