Kayaker Tim Taylor is paddling hard for New Plymouth new today on his first paddling day since April 21.

Tim came shore at Patea before Easter and has been unable to make progress since, beached by high winds and big seas stirred up by recent storms affecting the lower North Island.

Tim set out from Opunake at first light today and rounded Cape Egmont, the western most point, by mid morning.

It is an important marker because the paddle from Opunake to New Plymouth is a big day on the water with nowhere to hide if the weather turns sour.

It is a section of coast with few safe landing spots when things don't go to plan. Most of the Taranaki coastline is either rock or cliffs - big, sharp rocks that barricade the shoreline and cliffs that drop vertically down, often over 30m straight into the ocean. Safe landing spots are few and far between but with a swell they are even less.

'It's a place you don't want to take chances with and forecasts that are anything less than perfect are a clear sign to stay off the water,” says Tim earlier.

The Taranaki hold up is the latest in the series of weather related delays that have stretched Tim's circum kayak attempt well past his original forecast. Tim set out form Tauranga on November 27, thinking that by now he would be the first person to complete a paddle round New Zealand in a single voyage.