New Zealand-born Chris Linton (52), of Tasmania, walked into Dunedin yesterday.
On January 1, Mr Linton started walking east out of Picton, alone and unsupported, in an attempt to be the first person to walk around the perimeters of the North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands.
‘‘A lot of people go from cape to cape, but to my knowledge nobody has walked the perimeter of the four islands.''
He expected the feat to take nearly a year, he said.
During the journey, he nearly drowned after being swept down a river on the Heaphy Track in the Kahurangi National Park.
‘‘I had to walk in wet boots and it stripped the skin away from my heels.''
He had already walked around Stewart Island and in the South Island, he had visited Gore, Invercargill, Queenstown, Riverton, Te Anau and Wanaka.
On the way, people helped him with free accommodation and meals, but the generosity occasionally made walking more difficult.
‘‘Sometimes, I eat too good.''
The walk was designed to raise awareness and funds to combat the stigma associated with mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, and support New Zealand's servicemen and woman with stress disorders, especially post-traumatic stress disorder.
He intended to stay in Dunedin for three nights before heading to Christchurch.
Mr Linton is raising funds for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, the Green Project and the Earth Walk Community Support Fund.
