Brit makes $10,000 round-the-world trip to New Zealand without ever catching a flight

A British woman spent nearly $10,000 and two months travelling to New Zealand – all without taking a single flight.

Bethany Hearn was told she wouldn’t be able to fly due to a health condition after surgery in 2022 – but didn’t want that to hold her back from getting across the globe.

The “determined” 23-year-old yoga instructor was set on another visit to New Zealand, having previously travelled there, and ended up on a nearly two-month-long expedition to reach it.

“It started off as a joke with my friends,” Bethany told What's The Jam.

“I was saying how I really wanted to get back to New Zealand because I love surfing and stuff, [but] then my surgeon said that I couldn’t fly. So I just said ‘I’ll get a boat then’."

At 14, Bethany was diagnosed with a rare ear condition called cholesteatoma – an abnormal collection of skin cells. That same year, she travelled by train with her dad on a family holiday to Greece, rather than fly with the condition.

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When her condition developed in her early 20s, she had a surgery called a mastoidectomy but found she suffered pain when she later flew. After medical checks, her surgeon advised that she no longer fly.

“Me being me, I never wanted my diagnosis to hold me back," she said. “I just thought why not? I’ll get a boat – people used to in the olden days.”

Lengthy trip to New Zealand broken down

Bethany’s trip started in Southampton on England's south coast in September 2022, where she got a ship to New York, taking eight days. Next, she took a three-day train from New York to Los Angeles, before spending a week waiting in LA for her next boat.

Finally, she spent 25 days onboard a ship travelling from LA to New Zealand, passing through Hawaii, French Polynesia and Fiji. All in all, it cost her just shy of $10,000.

“It was cheaper than I think most people anticipate because I booked really last minute, so I got all the late deals," she said. “I would definitely recommend it to anyone if they can afford it. It was such an incredible experience."

“My biggest struggle was being quite young in comparison with some of the other travellers, but it was really empowering doing it by myself and not being held back by my diagnosis – and it was really fun.”

Bethany has remained in New Zealand ever since, though she hopes to return home soon.

“Because I can’t fly, I just got a one-way ticket with no idea when I’d come home," she said.

“My best friend has just got engaged so I’m hoping to get back to the UK in the next couple of months – but I’m still to sort all the admin!”

- Jam Press

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