A solo sea kayaker has paddled into Riverton today after 67 days in the Tasman Sea.

Richard Barnes has successfully crossed the Tasman Sea in 67 days, making landfall in Riverton around noon today (18 Feb).

Barnes set out on his 2000km journey from Hobart, Tasmania on 14th December. He is just the second solo sea kayaker to successfully cross the Tasman, after Scott Donaldson in 2018.

Barnes, a mechanical engineer, designed and built his 10m sea kayak 'Blue Moon'.

An enthusiastic crowd of Riverton locals welcome trans-Tasman solo kayaker Richard Barnes to shore. Photo: Jo Shearer

Riverton Coastguard Safety Officer Ian Coard said they were first alerted to the trans-Tasman attempt by the Rescue Coordination Centre, as Barnes neared Big South Cape, at the bottom of Stewart Island/Rakiura.

Barnes's land support person was subsequently hosted by Coard, so he was able to watch Blue Moon's daily progress online.

Once Barnes's kayak reached Codfish Island/Whenua Hou, he was able to get into the currents running through Foveaux Strait, Coard said.

A Riverton Coastguard crew first checked on Barnes yesterday (17 Feb) as he neared Centre Island.

Barnes then caught the currents and paddled to Pig Island before arriving into Riverton this morning, Coard said

Coard said Barnes would be staying in Riverton for a few days while he gets his weight bearing on his legs again and decides what to do with Blue Moon.

He said the Maritime Museum in Tasmania already houses two vessels that attempted the trans-Tasman crossing including the successful double sea kayak.

This is Barnes's second attempt to kayak to New Zealand from Australia.

His first attempt from Sydney in 2021 was called off after 75 days when he struck Cyclone Seth.

The Tasman Sea was first crossed by sea kayak in 2008 by Justin Jones and James Castrission, in a time of 60 days and 20 hours.

Solo sea kayaker Andrew McAuley's attempt in 2007 ended in tragedy after he went missing just 56km from New Zealand's shore.