An Oamaru man pedalling the length of the country on a penny-farthing cycle is now only about 40km from Cape Reinga.
David Wilson, who's decked out as a Victorian-era cyclist, began his journey in November.
He says the rainy summer has slowed him down, because it is too risky to ride the big bike on wet roads, but he expects to make the Cape on Friday or Saturday.
So far he has tumbled off his perch only once in the Catlins, but he came close this week on Kaeo hill.
Mr Wilson says the hospitality he has encountered has been tremendous and he has had to camp only a few nights in three months.
