Kayaker Tim Taylor crossed the Manukau harbour mouth today and is looking good for a stop at Piha tonight.

Tim's been at sea paddling for nearly six months on his history making mission to be the first person to paddle round New Zealand in a single voyage.

Tim Taylor in Raglan last weekend. Photo: Grant Dyson.

Since heading south from Tauranga on November 27, Tim has crossed Cook Strait twice, paddled round Stewart Island and dodged storms up the Fiordland Coast.

He has spent more than 90 days at sea and another 76 days stuck on land waiting out bad weather or rough seas too hazardous to take on.

'As a solo paddler, Tim judges each and every day with extreme care, carefully analysing weather and sea conditions,” says his dad Paul.

'He says that in spite of carrying an emergency locator beacon and other safety equipment, if he gets in trouble other people could be put at risk in a rescue bid.”

Tim has been paddling anti-clockwise around the country to make the most of tidal flows, covering as much as 100km a day when he's lucky enough to have ideal tail-wind conditions, says Paul.

Tim expects to have travelled 5500km by the time he gets back to Tauranga some time around the middle of next month.

He passed the halfway mark of about 2700km when in Fiordland.

Tim has been paddling with a hand-crafted, custom-made wooden paddle made by Dirk Passchier.

Tim's progress can be followed on his Spot Tracker which is viewable at: www.nzkayaker.com

The site is kept fully updated with Tim's blogs and other comments from his support crew, the Taylors.