Road trip ends in $250,000 windfall

A Napier man who took a road trip to Wellington last week can now look forward to making a few air trips - to anywhere in the world.

The chance buying of a $5 "Road Trip" Instant Kiwi ticket while in the capital led to the man scratching his way to a win. A $6 win.

It wasn't much to cash so he put the ticket in his wallet instead.

Last Monday, after arriving home, he cashed the ticket in at a Lotto outlet and decided to chance his luck again by buying another "Road Trip" ticket.

He went home and after scratching the ticket was stunned to discover he had scratched his way to a $250,000 windfall - to be paid out in $50,000 instalments over the next five years.

"I kept staring at the ticket and couldn't quite believe my $6 winnings had turned into $250,000," the winner, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

"I'm still in shock."

He took the ticket to the Lotto desk at McDonalds Four Square in Taradale to have it verified, and staff were delighted to confirm his prize.

A staff member said it was great to have a big winner walk into the store.

"It doesn't happen every day."

The lucky traveller said he was keeping his win "under wraps" for the moment and had no immediate plans for the first $50,000 instalment.

Lotteries spokeswoman Katy Atkin said there was one more top prize "out there" in the "Road Trip" series, still to be won.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY