My holidays: Byron Coll

Byron Coll in Norway, with a cold glass of Aass. Photo / Supplied

What was your greatest holiday?

A trip to Norway last year. My girlfriend and I flew from London to Bergen to Bodo to Leknes in the Lofoten Islands inside the Arctic Circle. Here's what we did: hiked a fjord, bought a Norwegian fishing hat, got caught in a storm, pulled a man from a drowning car, thought, 'this is a perfect opportunity to wear my Norwegian fishing hat!', photographed the Aurora Borealis, and sat down at the end of it all with a beer called Aass ...

And the worst?

The first time travelling by myself at 18 I got hypnagogic. It's when your body is paralysed in sleep, but your brain is awake and aware of everything. The doctor explained it was a common experience for people in stressful environments and told me that in medieval times doctors thought it was the work of the devil, who'd paralyse you at night so he could steal your soul. Thanks Doc! I'm now soulless.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?

I'm an avid landscape photographer. So, most likely you will see me obsessing over locations, either up early or out late to catch a good sunrise/sunset.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be?

Aoraki National Park. I was just down there last month for a week taking landscapes for a project. It's an international heritage site for night-sky observation in the heart of my favourite province — Canterbury. You can take the boy out of Canterbury, but you can't take Canterbury out of the boy!

How about for a dream holiday internationally?

Greenland! Antarctica! Sweden! The Trans-Siberian Rail!

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling?

Took a high-dose sleeping tablet by accident on a 45-minute flight to Ireland. I couldn't wake up properly. Can't really remember how I got to the hotel!

Aisle seat or window seat?

Always aisle. I like to have an escape route to the loo if I need it.

Complete this sentence: I can't travel without ...

...My camera. I take it everywhere.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given?

"Pack light because you'll buy stuff over there." - Mum

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling?

Natto. It's a slimy Japanese bean curd that looks like boogers on a tray. It's kinda gross but you can't stop trying it!

What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip?

This is cheesy I know, but it's my photographs. I love adventure, and landscape photography and coming back home with a bunch of great photos, it's priceless.

Favourite airport to land at?

Leknes, Lofoten Islands, Norway. It's small. Very small.

What's the next trip you've got planned?

Hmmm. I've just come back from a recent trip to New York, so I think saving again is my goal. Travel is very important to me. If I ever get to Antarctica with my camera ... I would feel like I've clocked life!

Byron Coll — best known as All Black super-fan Tim in the Mastercard ads — stars in 'Nell Gwynn', ASB Waterfront Theatre, August 15-30.