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LIVE: Scott Donaldson arrives in New Plymouth as the first person to cross the Tasman solo in a kayak Posted by nzherald.co.nz on Monday, 2 July 2018

"Absolutely knackered" after 62 days at sea, Kiwi Scott Donaldson made history on Monday night, becoming the first person to paddle a kayak solo between Australia and New Zealand. Scott Donaldson looked weary and a little bedraggled when he raised his arms in jubilation after making landfall at the New Zealand town of New Plymouth, exactly two months after leaving from Coffs Harbour on Australia's east coast. He added that he needed a shower, before being processed by border control officials. On his last attempt, Scott Donaldson was famously rescued by helicopter in 2014 after he was injured when his kayak rolled in big seas, just 80km off the New Zealand coastline, within view of Mount Taranaki. Even New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has praised his epic effort taking to Twitter: "There are some accomplishments that are difficult to fathom - like crossing the Tasman solo in a kayak. "I'm pretty sure Scott Donaldson has stunned us all.
New Zealander Scott Donaldson becomes the first solo kayaker to successfully cross the Tasman Sea. After 62 days at sea, he landed in Ngāmotu Beach, New Plymouth, at 8.44 pm local time (08:44 UTC).