Timaru man William Bisset has not looked back since selling his home, and a large chunk of his earthly possessions, in order to film his journey as a swagman travelling from Kaitangata to Bluff.
Mr Bisset, who is in his late 30s, is pulling a trolley for the journey on the Southern Scenic Route, working in exchange for accommodation and food. He started the project in December, dubbing himself the ''Southern Swaggie''.
On Saturday he was filming at Cannibal Bay near Owaka, when he had a close encounter with sea lions.
''A sea lion came right out of the water towards me. I stood still and he just veered to the left.''
Another wildlife highlight was seeing yellow-eyed penguins from a distance, Mr Bisset said.
In some cases he refrained from filming wildlife, as he planned to go through ''official channels'' with the Department of Conservation to ensure he did not endanger any birds or animals.
Mr Bisset began his walking journey in December, filming around Kaitangata before making his way to the Catlins.
His great-grandfather - also named William Bisset - emigrated to New Zealand from Scotland and for three generations the Bissets owned farms in Kaitangata, making it an appropriate place to begin his journey, he said.
However, the trip was taking longer than he had anticipated.
''I was thinking, worst-case scenario, that I would be in Bluff by March ... I was almost hibernating for three weeks, the weather was quite bad.''
While he had not set himself a time limit, Mr Bisset was concerned about the weather growing colder, more so than running out of time.
He also faced two big issues - replacing his main video camera which was ruined when water got in, and twisting his ankle after swerving out of the way of speeding camper vans on the Nuggets Rd.
Mr Bisset had expected to film about himself as he journeyed around the South but instead found himself focusing more on the people he was meeting.
''South Otago people are fantastic - they have really embraced what I am doing, just what I expected. I figured the further south you go, the more real Kiwi they are.''
Mr Bisset will spend the next few weeks in Owaka, working on projects for the Owaka Museum and Catlins Promotions, before making his way to Papatowai by the end of the month.
He hopes to arrive in Bluff in time for the annual oyster festival on May 24.
