“I want to go to the Philippines, all of southeast Asia, and then on to Japan,” he said.

The Mashhad, Iran native found himself at Tuncurry Primary School yesterday telling students of his journey. It’s an unlikely place for him to wind up, but then again nothing about his odyssey has been planned.

“One night I had this dream that I travelled around and planted trees. I knew then I had to see the world,” he said.

“I left with $300 in my pocket, because I knew money would not be the problem. I haven’t worked along the way, but people have donated.”

With 19,800km clocked up so far – the Earth’s circumference is 40,000 km – Mohammad has planted over 900 trees, including some additions yesterday to the Tuncurry Primary School gardens.

“I don’t mind what trees, just planting trees is what’s important. I mainly plant natives, because people usually prefer that.”

His trail of seedlings snakes through Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Laos, New Zealand and several other countries. He reached Forster via Auckland and Sydney, and is happy to keep going with just his bike, laptop and some clothes.

“The riding doesn’t worry me. I played a lot of sport for 15 years, so I’ve always had a couple of hours’ activity every day,” he said.

“I’m thinking about continuing for the next five years, through Asia then eventually over to the USA.”