Rowing from Singapore to New Zealand - some 12,000 kilometres - Rawlinson and his partner Charlie Smith found they had no choice but to make a beeline for Dili when they realised their food and emergency supplies were not going to sustain them to Darwin.

Rested and fully stocked up the adventurers thanked the warm welcome he received in Dili.

Heading out from Dili port Saturday afternoon, the duo noted on social media the crossing of the Timor Sea loomed as “perhaps the toughest” part of our journey yet.

The rowing trip, dubbed “Home to Home” is the brainchildof Rawlinson, who lives in Singapore and wants to travel to his place of birth in Stratford, New Zealand.

 The 42-year old said his trip is to promote what he sees as an un-known partof the world and inspire sustainable exploration and healthy lifestyles.

 Before Rawlinson reaches Stratford, he will have become the first person to row the 4,500 kilometres from Singapore to Darwin, with the help of Smith.

 He will then bicycle another 4,500 across Australia to reach Coffs Harbour. There he plans to meet up with his rowing boat again and row the final 3000 kilometres across to New Zealand in Plymouth and cycle the last 40 kilometres to his parent’s place in Stratford.

 Speaking to New Zealand media, Stuff, Rawlinson said he had been training for the adventure for “about a year and a half.”

 He expected the journey to take around seven months, reaching New Zealand in November, 2017.