Ever thought of dropping everything and doing something slightly batshit crazy? Not a weekend strike, a quick Indo dash or a run-of-the-mill surf trip. But something with no guarantees or plan. If that idea’s been ratting around your head, Johanna Brebner might’ve just mapped it out for you.
Last year Johanna spent three months cycling the length of New Zealand, from the South Island to the North, in search of waves, community and a reconnection to her Kiwi roots.
Brebner left her hometown of Ohope Beach at 17 after a spirited stab at the NZ junior surf circuit. Chasing the pro-surfing dream from a quiet coastal town was always going to be tough and when her competitive streak peaked early she relocated to Noosa. The laid-back, Sunny Coast life suited Brebner’s freewheeling style but New Zealand was always calling her back.
Setting off with two wheels and two fins, Johanna leaned into the kind of trip where plans barely exist and forecasts don’t mean much.
“I bought a $50 bike off Marketplace, did a few trial runs from Byron to Yamba and that was that,” she said. “I planned about a week ahead of time, which was realistic, because I was moving at such a slow pace. It was honestly freeing. Any pre-swell anxiety that one might get, was irrelevant. It was like, well, I’m on my bike and I know I’m going up the coast to so-and-so. I was literally able to go with the flow.”
Of course, not every moment felt that romantic.
“I was chased by wild dogs up in Northland. Big trucks passing me on small country roads were sketchy. And towards the end, decision fatigue was a thing – looking at the weather, deciding where to go, not getting a good sleep when camping, it all got a bit mentally exhausting.”
Still, somewhere between the long stretches of road, the missed swells and the unexpected ones, Johanna found something in the rhythm of it all. We asked her for five tips in case you ever feel the urge to trade the ordinary for a bike and point it at the horizon.
1. Let go of expectations.
Reality is that you’re going to be moving slowly. 10 – 30kmph to be precise. That means you’ve got a very small radius of coastline to work with when lining up forecasts. You’re probably going to miss a lot of swells due to this. Shifting your mindset from hyper fixating on perfect waves, to enjoying whatever you find along the way makes the trip far more rewarding.
2. You’re far more capable than you think.
You’ll be surprised once you’re out on the road and find rhythm in the journey, just how much ground you can cover by doing a little bit each day. Power of the pedal!
3. Get a rear vision mirror for your bike.
Do yourself, and every other road user a favour and get this life saving piece of equipment! It makes a world of difference seeing what’s coming up behind you and being able to pull over safely – especially on roads with no shoulder and logging trucks coming through.
4. Attitude is everything.
You’re going to get rain, headwinds, and hills. Days with low energy. It’s inevitable. Embrace it. The difference is in how you respond – look for the glimmers amidst it all (they’re everywhere!!)
5. Rest.
Take rest days. Decision fatigue is real when you’re a few months in. Don’t underestimate the value of a hot shower and bed if you have to. Let your mind/body and soul switch off for a second! Future you will be thankful for it.
Struck by wanderlust, Johanna’s already eyeing Japan and Ireland for the next chapter. No word yet on whether the $50 Marketplace bike will make another appearance – but it’s a safe bet whatever she does next won’t follow the conventional route.
