An outbreak of unicycling has hit Waihi Beach, causing lots of amused looks and potential converts to this singular pursuit.
"It is a really addictive thing ... everyone is pretty chilled," said Steffan Safey, one of the big group of unicyclists that has descended on the beach for the holidays.
But don't mention that it is clownish. "Most of us hate to be associated with clowns - not that we don't like clowns," he added quickly.
Hamilton is hometown for most of the group, where unicycling has grown organically by word-of-mouth and friends encouraging friends to mount up.
If they are not bobbing around the streets of the beachfront town, they can be found at the skatebowl performing an impressive repertoire of tricks for admiring onlookers.
