WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Stuart Cleary set out in late 2014 to paddle solo from Australia to New Zealand. But in the end, it was his homemade kayak that completed the journey on its own.

Just hours into the trip, Cleary's kayak started taking on water, and he was forced to abandon the vessel before being rescued at sea. Eighteen months later, the kayak has washed up on a New Zealand beach close to where Cleary had intended to make landfall.

Nathan Marshall says he was taking his dogs for a run on Muriwai Beach on Wednesday when he found the barnacle-encrusted kayak. He was hesitant to look inside, worried he'd find a body.

Cleary says he'll travel to New Zealand to take a look. This time, however, he'll be taking a plane.