Around The World In 80 Waves

I’m a bit gutted not to be heading any further south. Apart from missing out on seeing the action sports favourite of Queenstown which is where bungy jumping was invented, I also miss out on seeing the beautiful Milford Sound that you see here.

I was also looking forward to getting down to Invercargill, which is the southern most city in the world. I was keen to do some exploring there and in particular look into the exploits of  Herbert James “Burt” Munro.

Burt Munro was New Zealand motorcycle racer, famous for setting an under-1,000 cc world record, at Bonneville in 1967 that still stands today.

In itself you might think that too extraordinary but Burt was 68 at the time and riding the 47-year-old machine you see here!

He had worked in his garden shed for years to highly modify a 1920 Indian motorcycle that he had bought in the year it was made.

Having already set several New Zealand speed records when most people would be settling into their retirement he travelled to compete at the Bonneville Salt Flats, and during his ten visits to the salt flats he set three world records.

The World’s Fastest Indian starring Anthony Hopkins is quite a charming film which tells his tale and is certainly worth checking out.