Cycling trip of a lifetime

Wouter Van Wezemael and Vanessa Mudarra, with daughter Ella, plan to cycle the length of New Zealand. Photo / Brett Phibbs

When Belgian-born Wouter Van Wezemael learned his partner was pregnant, he assumed his dream holiday was off.

The building manager had dreamed of cycling the length of New Zealand ever since he was a child, but he could not imagine doing it towing a toddler.

It took some persuasion by his Spanish love, Vanessa Mudarra, to convince him they could do the trip with Ella - now 14 months old.

They quit their jobs and set off on a 3000km journey from Cape Reinga on November 1 - Wouter pulling the luggage while Vanessa towed the buggy.

The pair decided to use their adventure to "give something back to New Zealand" and raise money for the Forest and Bird Society.

He said they planned to be in the country for five months.

They get back on the road on Saturday and plan to avoid the Auckland traffic by taking a ferry to Coromandel.

The pair are keen cyclists in their home country of Spain, but said Northland's highways presented some unexpected challenges.

They have decided to stay off the main roads after the riding began to get dangerous approaching Whangarei. "Some of the drivers here are absolutely insane," said Wouter.

On the web: cycle4nature.org