Brothers put city on world tour bucket list

Round the world travellers Marko (left) and Alex Ayling with parents, Jill and Robert. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua is on the bucket list of the biggest, baddest and best cities in the world to see by two Californian brothers on a six-month world tour.

The siblings - Alex and Marko Ayling - won the all-expenses paid round-the-world trip in a competition organised by London-based internet travel company My Destination.com, called Biggest, Baddest Bucket List by submitting a three-minute video showcasing unique aspects of their favourite destinations.

The boys have family links to New Zealand through their father, Robert Ayling, a lawyer who was born in Napier and is currently the Honorary Consul to New Zealand in San Diego.

They plan to reunite with extended family - and "find their roots" - when they touch down in New Zealand in December.

They will visit Rotorua on December 22 for three days, following Queenstown, Wellington and Auckland, on the last leg of their trip.

Since leaving Los Angeles in July the brothers have travelled through Canada, Mexico, Barbados, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Brazil, Iceland and Kazakhstan and visited Edinburgh, London and Istanbul.

They will be paid $50,000 by the internet travel company when the adventure to 25 destinations is completed.

The 12-day New Zealand leg of the world tour will be showcased as a "must-visit" tourist destination using blogs, videos, articles, social media posts and interviews.

The chance to come to New Zealand to find their roots was an amazing opportunity, they said. Their great-great-great grandfather, Nathaniel Ayling, arrived in Invercargill in 1875 with eight children after a 144-day ship voyage from London, and losing his wife Mary Mann to sickness en route.

"We're just so excited to be coming to New Zealand, a country that we have a strong connection with," Alex said.

"We won the competition in London and just like our ancestors did, our journey from London will be complete when we reach New Zealand."

My Destination managing director Mike Watt said it was a privilege the brothers chose New Zealand as the final destination.

To follow the brothers' worldwide journey go to www.mydestination.com/bbb, www.youtube.com/watchbbbtv, or Twitter #MyBBB.