KEY POINTS:
Leg-weary, tired, but delighted, James Castrission and Justin Jones have completed their transtasman kayaking odyssey.
Castrission, 25, and Jones, 24, struggled onto Ngamotu Beach, near New Plymouth, 62 days after starting their kayak across the Tasman from their home city, Sydney.
They needed to hold onto each other for support as they got out of their two-man kayak but managed to walk to shore, where they were greeted by thousands of people.
Castrission hugged Jones as they stood on the beach and said: "I love you bro."
"He's my best mate and he always will be," Castrission told the crowd.
The pair embraced family and spoke to media and customs officials before walking onto a stage, where they were greeted by New Plymouth's mayor Peter Tennant, who said the welcoming crowd had been estimated at 45,000.
Castrission and Jones spoke briefly to the crowd, responded to a waiata and sang Waltzing Matilda - with the New Zealand crowd singing in support.
"This is so extreme," Jones said. "We didn't expect a reception like this. Thank you New Zealand."
After addressing the crowd, they headed to an ambulance which took them to New Plymouth Hospital to check their health.
Castrission and Jones are the first people to kayak across the Tasman, travelling for longer than any other two-man kayaking voyage.
They were greeted by a Maori waka party, several other kayakers and a huge media contingent as well as thousands of bystanders.
Castrission and Jones told media they were tired but delighted with their achievement, which went on much longer than anticipated and ended at a different place from where they intended.
They travelled more than 3300km since their departure on November 13 and battled strong winds and tides that saw them go round in circles for part of the trip.
The conditions caused them to abandon their original plan to reach shore at Auckland, which they had hoped to reach before Christmas, and instead use more favourable currents to travel to New Plymouth.
Mr McDonald said it was likely they would remain with friends and family for the day once they got out of hospital.
They are unlikely to do anything public until a function tomorrow at Puke Ariki museum in New Plymouth.
Mr McDonald said the men's families were also a little gobsmacked when Castrission and Jones said they had thought of another adventure in the past two days, one they wouldn't reveal today.
"They'll have to talk to their families first. I don't know if they'll let them," he said.
"We're not sure if they were being serious."
The interest in the men's journey was so high today that the website following their progress crashed as they were approaching the shore.
"The website managers said they had around 150,000 to 500,000 hits this morning and it was just too much for the site."
The website was still down early this afternoon.
- NZPA, NZ HERALD STAFF
