Taranaki hospitality admired

South Taranaki hospitality has breathed new life into Karlyn Connolly's nationwide cycling slog.

So far, he's travelled 2753km to raise awareness for children's charities, but it was only when he ventured into Taranaki that someone offered him a place to sleep.

Stopping in Hawera yesterday before heading to Opunake on his way to New Plymouth, he received his first offer of support from a local.

Cycling around 70km a day and stopping only to sleep in a tent by the side of the road, it was a treat to sleep in a real bed, he said.

As his mission was so far unsponsored, he was restricted to a budget diet of porridge and soup for the past six weeks. "I'm sick of it, but it works," he said.

At this stage of his three-month journey, he has only $400 in his back pocket to support him for the rest of his mission.

"It's not about the money, it's about raising awareness," he said.

He's certain there will be many days of struggle ahead, but it's the biggest adventure of his life so far. "You hear of a lot of bad things happening in this country and people's bad attitudes to one another," he said.

"I wanted to reinforce to myself there's still good people out there and one person can still make a difference."

He began his journey in Wellington and will head clockwise around the North Island for at least the next three months.

- © Fairfax NZ News