Lincoln University graduate Dan Lee, 23, has gained a new pair of boots and lost 11kg in his four month odyssey of New Zealand to raise funds for a helicopter rescue charity.

Lee passed through Wanaka on Monday and hopes to reach Bluff in about three weeks time.

He has already met his $10,000 fundraising goal for the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter Service – "I did that on the first day in the South Island on January 27" – and is now speeding towards $13,000.

"It has been well above my expectations. I knew I would see a lot of people and a lot of places. Some of the places I really want to go back to," he said.

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Lee's journey repays a favour to the rescue helicopter that saved his life after a serious agricultural accident aged six.

Apart from some hearing loss, the Hawkes Bay resident has fully recovered.

He completed a degree in agriculture at Lincoln University, in Canterbury, in December and is keen to find a job in the outdoors.

Lee said he had wanted to do the 3000km trail since learning about it on a gap year between school and university, while doing an outdoor pursuits course in Australia.

He started in November and got his second pair of boots at Taumaranui, about the 1700km mark.

He believes they should last until Bluff.

"I have lost about 11kgs. And I was clean shaven when I started so I would resemble Forest Gump by now," he joked.

He has also swapped his 2km pack for a 600 gram pack.

"I could feel every gram, every pen, every pair of socks. I've only got two sets of clothes. One to walk in, one to wear in camp. I have learned quite a lot of stuff. All that really matters is food and water. Facebook, all that sort of stuff doesn't matter. And keeping socks clean, free of fungi," he said.

After Lee completes the Te Araroa Trail he will pursue his dream of working in an African safari park.