My holiday: Kevin Biggar

Jamie Fitzgerald (left) and Kevin Biggar, TV presenters and authors of 'First Crossings'.

What was your greatest holiday?

How about the longest? I left to go overseas a few days after finishing my final exams and then returned four years later. Working in pubs in London, building Euro Disney, hitchhiking around Europe, trekking in Colombia and Ecuador. Nearly all of it while completely broke.

And the worst?

I would say the hungriest holiday was the few weeks I spent travelling around the US during the Christmas break while at Uni. I was living on a couple of boiled eggs and a handful of cornflakes a day.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?

Looking forward to talking with you. Don't let the book over my face and the soft snoring sounds put you off. Give the hammock a shake.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be?

The Auckland Islands. Exotic, trusting wildlife, windswept coast lines, fantastic history of shipwrecked and marooned sailors, failed settlements and sunken gold.

How about for a dream holiday internationally?

The snow hotel in the north of Norway. It's a constant -4C inside. In the Ice bar you drink ice cold vodka from glasses made of ice. At night you sleep on an ice bed. The only thing I'm worried about is sitting on the loo.

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling?

When I was in transit in Honolulu airport and the connection to the ongoing flight was very tight, somehow I managed to run out of the airport on to the kerb and turned around to have the doors lock behind me - missed my flight. Then there was the time I turned up on the wrong day for a flight in London. Or the time I tried to fly to India without a visa. Complete this sentence: I can't travel without ... leaving my suit bag in the airport. Have done it so many times I now clip the suit bag on to myself.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given?

If you can't sprint 50m with it - you've got too much luggage.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling?

Sushi served on a flight in Asia. The man next to me started to turn red and began sweating and coughing. When he finally calmed down he said: 'That green stuff isn't avocado is it?'

Favourite airport to land at?

The Matamata Aerodrome, home of Piako gliding club.

What's the next trip you've got planned?

Helsinki - rotten herrings, 23 hours of darkness, death-metal bands. Then Bangalore in September, New York in November for the marathon. But the one I'm really excited about is leading a trek up to Everest Base Camp.

The book First Crossings by Kevin Biggar and Jamie Fitzgerald, documenting their television of the same name, has been published by Random House. RRP: $45.