The 14-year-old boy from Te Anau previously biked the length of the country — from Cape Reinga to Bluff — with his family in 2021 as a 10-year-old.
He now wants to be the youngest person to complete the ride solo.
Leaving Albert Town yesterday, the year 10 Fiordland College pupil said he originally planned for the ride to take 60 days, but he was now looking to complete it in 28.
"I’m well ahead of schedule and have most of my friends riding the end of it with me from Invercargill to Bluff.
"The last couple days have been great through the Haast Pass with a bit of tail wind.
"It’s just been so much fun being able to do this by myself," he said.
Mahe followed the 3000km Tour Aotearoa route.
His mother, Stephanie Braaksma, joined him this week when he arrived in Albert Town.
"He set a goal and was adamant of doing it by himself," she said.
"It’s a big deal and I don't think he realises how much of a big deal it really is — he probably thinks it’s just another adventure."
Mahe packed light for the trip, carrying only essentials such as a small tent, Crocs, water and a jar of Nutella, which he was eating along the way.
"I only just realised I could sit it there [between his handlebars] and it wouldn’t fall off," he said.
Having trained for the national mountain bike champs prior to the ride, Mahe said he felt prepared.
Funds raised from his efforts will be donated to Fiordland Marine Search and Rescue.
A Givealittle page set up to support the ride said the teen planned to hold community talks after his adventure to inspire others to achieve their goals.
Ms Braaksma said without the support he had received from local businesses he would not have been able to pay for the food, campgrounds and the ferry.
"There are a number of businesses who believed in him from the start.
"It’s pretty cool, without the support, he would’ve been saving money this year to complete the ride next summer," she said.
"Children are so much more capable than we think."
Other young New Zealanders have completed the 3000km bike ride, but they were not alone.
Last year, Oscar Ellis, 14, completed the ride with his father in November and Amelia Twiss, 13, completed it with her father in December.
