Kayaker getting his land legs

RELIEF: Scott Donaldson and wife Sarah when they were reunited at Taranaki Base Hospital on Friday. STEPHEN PARKER 110714SP3

After living with nothing but a 360 degree ocean view, Rotorua's Scott Donaldson is now relearning how to live on solid ground and with more than a metre of space to move in.

Donaldson, 44, was reunited with his family on Friday after his solo transtasman kayak voyage was aborted when he was 90km off the Taranaki coastline.

He's recovering in New Plymouth, surrounded by family and friends sharing stories of his 84 days at sea.

Scott's journey on Google Earth. SUPPLIED/Helicopter Services (BOP) Litd

There are tales of dolphins on the Australian side of the Tasman, the sharks and fish trying to get a nibble of his feet as he would dangle them in the water each night, the claustrophobia of being in a very small cabin and the boredom that struck when the weather was too rough to paddle.

Where most people would suffer from equilibrium imbalances, he said he recovered almost instantly.

"I've had no after effects but I was told they might be delayed," he said.

"The body is just a bit beaten up but nothing you wouldn't expect. I was quite surprised.

"I'm happy with that physical effect but there's still a part of the brain that's out there. I spent that long without any stimulus that it's learning to re-function - watching TV is a bit of overload. Then I lie down in bed and I've got a lot more space than just a metre - I'm still appreciating the space."

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One more try

Donaldson admits he would like to give it another crack, but he would prefer to not have to repeat the five years of preparation that got him to the start in Coffs Harbour on April 19.

"It's not an insurmountable thing for me to do. It's an extension of what I have coached. Physically it's a big thing, but getting to the start was a hard road - a very long hard road.

"But that was the appeal. You can't prepare for it like you can an Ironman. You can't prepare your body but you can prepare your mind."

Reunion

Towards the end of the paddle he was able to communicate with his family a bit more than the weekly texts as he paddled as hard and long as he could from Australia.

His wife Sarah was able to go on a flyover and he spoke to their son Zac, 4, more often.

"The reunion was fantastic, although we had been talking a lot more in the last two weeks when I was stuck in the cabin. I felt a lot closer to them when I could see land.

"Zac has been a trooper and Sarah has coped amazingly. They are more than half the strength of this trip - they've done it hard too."

What next for the Donaldsons?

"We'll go back to Australia then who knows? We'll sit on a beach and figure it out."