Englishman Steve Cleverdon moved to New Zealand in June solely to take up the challenge of becoming the fastest male on foot to walk the length of the country.
"Lots of people have walked the country, but no-one has set the record," he said.
The experienced hiker, who has travelled over the Andes and through the Amazon Rainforest in Peru, was drawn to New Zealand by its "beautiful and varied landscapes [and] the country's strong environmental focus and values".
With a passion for the outdoors, and the environment, Mr Cleverdon decided to raise money for the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, and increase awareness of environmental issues in New Zealand and the world.
He set out on the 2000km, largely solo, walk from Cape Reinga on November 6, and, all going well, will finish the journey in Bluff on Tuesday.
Despite experiencing a six-day delay two days into the walk because of severe blisters, he persevered and has since endured sprained ankles, muscle strain, knee pain and sunburn.
The tanned adventurer arrived in the South Island on December 21, and will pass through Dunedin today.
His Christmas treat was seeing seals and sea lions on the rocks around Kaikoura, while a highlight of the trip was the beauty of Lake Taupo and Mt Ruapehu.
"It's a great way to see a country. You can't go much slower than walking pace," he said.
However, if he was to do it again, he would want some company.
"You get a bit bored on your own."
Each day involves walking 45km, or for about 10 hours.
At night he either camps, or stays with friends, friends of friends, or people he meets along the way.
In order to have his record recognised, Mr Cleverdon must submit GPS co-ordinates each hour, write a journal, and receive witness statements from the public, and notary figures such as the police.
The next goal in his sights is to kayak through central Europe.
