Kiwi kayaker Scott Donaldson face a lot of physical and mental battles while he crossed the Tasman sea but he admits one of the toughest was the "freakish" amount of news he recieved of loved ones passing away.
Donaldson become the first person to kayak solo from Australia to New Zealand last night when he arrived in New Plymouth - a journey that started on May 2 in Coffs Harbour in northern New South Wales.
The Kiwi was asked what it was like missing family events back home, which took him a moment to answer.
"We've had a lot of family deaths and friends and they've only happened when I've been out there.
"It's freakish... when that stuff happens, that is incredibly hard."
Donaldson said other than that, he never really thought about the "world" going on outside of him.
"In terms of me being out there, there is no world. I've seen water for the last however many days it was and that's all you see."
When asked what was next having completed the journey on his second attempt, he was clear.
"Family time."
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