Backpacker guide writer undeterred after breaking arm in fall

The authors of backpackerguide.nz, Laura Symonds and Robin Gayraud, had to trade bikes for hiking boots on the Twin Coast Cycle Trail after Mr Gayraud broke his arm. Photo / Peter de Graaf

In the past 11 months he's jumped out of countless planes, balanced on top of yacht masts to get the perfect shot and raced down mountain bike tracks without injury.

But when he finally made it to Northland to cap off 365 days of Kiwi backpacking adventure, he slipped on a step and broke his arm in two places.

The irony isn't lost on Frenchman Robin Gayraud and his English partner Laura Symonds, authors of the biggest online backpacker guide to New Zealand.

The pair are coming to the end of what they've dubbed New Zealand's Biggest Gap Year, a challenge to travel the country and do 365 activities in 365 days. So far they're ahead of target with about 380 activities under their belts.

The challenge almost came unstuck last week when Mr Gayraud took a tumble as they were walking down Mt Manaia at Whangarei Heads.

"I thought: 'Do I break my arm or save my camera?' The good thing is the camera is okay and we got it all on video."

The couple are continuing undeterred, with Mr Gayraud's arm put in a cast at Whangarei Hospital, but it has forced them to adapt their plans.

He's had to give up swimming with dolphins and a bike ride with Ray Clarke of Kaikohe-based Top Trail along the Twin Coast Cycle Trail last Tuesday turned into a walk instead.

Mr Gayraud said the idea behind New Zealand's Biggest Gap Year was to inspire backpackers to seek out activities off the beaten track. They saved Northland for last because the challenge finishes in winter.

"Plus we wanted somewhere epic to give it a last blast," he said.

His highlight so far had been following in the footsteps of his hero, the marine explorer Jacques Cousteau, by diving at Blue Maomao Arch in the Poor Knights. Later, while snorkelling nearby, "a couple of seals came along and slapped me a bit".

Ms Symonds said her Northland highlight was seeing native birds up close at Whangarei's Bird Recovery Centre, including a tui with a gift for mimicking voices.

In the coming days they are looking forward to The Rock overnight cruise from Paihia and a chance to see the Bay's glow-in-the-dark algae.

"As soon as I get a waterproof cast I'll be able to go nuts again," Mr Gayraud said.

Their website, www.backpackerguide.nz, has 2.5 million unique visitors a year, more than 1000 stories, the country's biggest backpacker jobs board, and advice on everything from how to buy a car to what to do in Kerikeri.

Their Northland route has so far taken them to Whangarei, Kerikeri and Paihia. Next they will head to Ahipara, Hokianga and Dargaville before wrapping up the challenge in Auckland.

Economic development agency Northland Inc has helped the couple organise the Northland leg of New Zealand's Biggest Gap Year by putting them in contact with tourism operators around the region.

Tourism manager Paul Davis said supporting visiting travel writers and bloggers was an effective way of getting a message to international markets. It was labour-intensive but involved little cost.

Northland Inc was hosting or organising 55 such visits this year with the aim of generating $17 million in equivalent advertising value. That target had been surpassed with three months of the financial year to go.

The agency hadn't planned to put any cash into the backpackerguide.nz visit until Mr Gayraud broke his arm. Northland Inc was now putting in a small sum to make sure they had somewhere comfortable to stay when they reached South Hokianga.