By yesterday morning, Mr Butler (59) had completed 1450km of the trek he started in Christchurch on August 10, accompanied by a small support crew and canine companions Rapid and Ella.
The wayfarer wants to raise over $23,000 during his "four-week Daffodil Day" appeal. He has already raised about $12,500.
While working for the past three years for the National Bank, whose preferred charity is the Cancer Society, he often used a pedometer to measure "virtual walks" from day to day.
"I have done a fair few virtual walks raising money ... and I thought that this [actual walk] looks like a lot of fun." Today he will enjoy a rest day in Queenstown - he rests every fourth day. He is circumnavigating the South Island, after starting from Christchurch and visiting Nelson, Greymouth, over Arthurs Pass to Geraldine, then to Wanaka and Queenstown to date.
Tomorrow, Mr Butler will walk to Cromwell, before visiting Alexandra, Gore and Invercargill, before heading north to Balclutha and Dunedin, where he will turn 60.
He aims to arrive back in Christchurch on October 17, and said the response to his appeal had been "fantastic".
"It just reminds us what a wonderful place New Zealand is and what wonderful people New Zealanders are."
Donations for the cause can be made through www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/MikesHike or through the National Bank or ANZ.
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