As one of the ways to raise funds for a new school hall, during his sabbatical, Mr Excell will kayak around Lake Te Anau, a distance of about 350km.
His journey will begin on the west side of the lake, and he will make the trip through the South, Middle and North Fiords, finishing on the lake’s east side.
He hoped to start the journey on the first day of school and complete it in 10 to 14 days, but it would depend on weather conditions, he said.
The kayaking expedition has been on his bucket list since he shifted to the place 14 years ago, he said.
"It is always been something I’ve wanted to do and the Lake Te Anau shoreline is not straight — every half kilometre there is a little bay or cove that I can’t wait to explore."
He will stay in three Department of Conservation huts and camp the rest of the way.
To prepare for the adventure, he has paddled at least 30km a day on Lake Manapouri for the past couple of months.
"When I’m training I try to train for four to five hours at a time, so in the last four days I’ve paddled about 120km."
He hoped his pupils would be encouraged by his actions, he said.
"Te Anau School has a strong vision of ‘climbing our way to the top’, and in terms of my kayaking this is my way of climbing my way to the top.
"I want to show the kids that I can do more than just be the principal."
For the school hall they had raised about $600,000, but costs were estimated at about $1.2 million-$2 million, he said.
The existing hall was old, dilapidated and too small to hold all the school’s pupils, he said.
"We would like our children to have a meeting place which they are proud of, where they can celebrate achievement, play sport and perform in front of their peers, family and friends.
"I know I’m not going to make all the money on this trip, but this is adding to the long-term project."
A Givealittle page had been set up.
