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After eight months on the road a Sydney grandfather has arrived in Perth, having crossed the entire continent on foot.
Dutch national Richard van Pijlen, 68, has been pushing a trolley of supplies for more than 4000 kilometres to raise money for the community bush regeneration group Landcare to plant one million trees.
"I feel really quite amazing," Mr Van Piljen told AAP as he arrived in central Perth late on Monday afternoon having walked for 12 consecutive hours.
"I could keep walking for another year, I've got so much energy," he said.
He spent Monday walking with his partner Debbie Tennant who flew from Sydney at the weekend to join him on the last 40km of his trek.
When AAP first caught up with Mr van Pijlen in May a few weeks after he hadset out, he was expecting to walk about 25km a day, but on one occasion he did 85.
In November, after spending six weeks crossing the vast Nullarbor Plain, the former painter walked 27 hours almost non-stop, resting only to eat.
"I've never been as exhausted in my whole life, like that moment," he said.
It was soon after that mammoth effort, when he arrived in Norseman in Western Australia, that Mr van Pijlen met local cook Steve Pates.
Since the pair met, Mr Pates has driven several food packages out to Mr van Pijlen on the road and on one occasion made a 500km round trip to deliver the meals.
""He wants to leave the world a better place ... you've got to admire the man," Mr Pates said.
Mr van Piljen set off from Sydney's northern beaches on May 2 and says the people he's met on his journey have been the highlight of his journey.
During his trek, the Dutch-born Sydneysider celebrated his birthday and became a grandfather for the ninth time.
He is looking forward to meeting his new granddaughter and choosing where to plant the trees he raised money for, before working out his next adventure.
Mr van Piljen is exceptionally proud of raising money and attention for Landcare, a charity he's passionate about.
But for now, he is focused on resting, and will spend December housesitting in Perth.
* If you would like to donate to Richard van Piljen's fundraiser please see his gofundme.com page titled 'I'm walking SYD-PERTH to plant 1000'000 trees!' As of Monday he had raised more than $8000.
