An 11-year-old boy set out for Dunedin from Invercargill on his 80cc motorcycle on Monday night, pyjama-clad and with a can of petrol, police say.
The boy completed almost quarter of the journey before a concerned member of the public, who saw the boy near Dacre, gave him a ride from Brydone - about 40km from Invercargill, Senior Sergeant James Ure, of Dunedin, said.
‘‘He ... buckled a spare can of fuel on the back [of his bike] and headed on up the highway,'' he said.
The boy was reported missing by family members in Invercargill on Monday.
Despite the boy's age and attire, his presence on a highway was not reported to police by any members of the public.
‘‘An 11-year-old on an 80cc motorbike - and no-one reported it?'' Snr Sgt Ure said.
He was bemused by the public response, especially the motorist who drove him from Brydone to Dunedin.
‘‘There was a lot of risks for that wee fella, but luckily he turned up safe and sound after all,'' he said.
The boy was heading to Dunedin to visit other family members.
''He just wanted to get to the other family members in Dunedin,'' Snr Sgt Ure said.
‘‘He was obviously quite determined.''
Police were able to locate the boy after ‘‘doing a few inquiries'' and he was found with his Dunedin-based family on Tuesday night.
