I Am Pete – A Life of Adventure, Reinvented
I’m Pete Goodman — although over the years, I’ve gone by names like Kiwi Pete, Big Bad Pete, Goodo, and a few I probably shouldn’t repeat here.
I grew up on a farm near Wellsford, New Zealand, and kicked off life fast — leaving school early to train as a motorcycle mechanic. By 1985, I had a trade, a toolkit, and a passport ready for my first big adventure: nearly three years of backpacking, wrench-turning, and camera-clicking across the UK and Europe.
Since then, I’ve worn a lot of hats: overland tour driver, adventure photographer, mountain biker, kayaker, bikepacker, and founder of the Bikepacking New Zealand Facebook group. I’ve explored by truck, bike, unicycle, and foot — often with a camera slung over my shoulder and a grin on my face.
But in 2017, my journey changed overnight. A head-first fall on the way to work left me with a Severe Traumatic Brain Injury — and a new challenge I never saw coming. Recovery’s been tough, humbling, and ongoing. I’ve had to reinvent what adventure means for me.
These days, you’ll find me exploring closer to home — walking with my assistance dog Zippy, chasing light and landscapes with my camera, and roaming New Zealand in my Troopy camper. Life looks different now, but the call to explore is still strong.
