Tiger Toy In Front Of Waterfall - Waiau Falls, New Zealand

Planning your annual break is something to look forward to but it’s got added joy for toy voyagers. Toy voyaging is an unusual hobby that sees people send their beloved cuddy toys off on holiday and check in to see how far around the world they get. Toy voyaging is inspired by the film Amelie, and the well-known travelling gnome. You send off your toy and it begins adventures all on its own, with the help of some friends along the way.

Start Your Toy Voyager Journey

Toy Voyagers are toys form your collection you send off on a random journey, tracked through a dedicated website. The toy’s voyage is entirely dependent on other people moving it along the way and helping it get to its next destination. Each voyager has a unique ID number on its tag and once someone finds it, they visit the website, update its location, and decide where to send it next.

If you find a voyager you can update its travel log and let the original owner know about its location. Some people choose to show off their hometown while others will take the voyager along on their next trip and make its voyage even more exciting!

Choosing Your Voyager’s Route

While you cannot plot exactly where your voyager goes once you set it free, you can influence its first journey. You can opt for a range of options including:

- Selecting a Host from the website’s forum and sending it on to them

- Follow a set Voyager Trail

- Hand it to someone directly

- Leave it in a safe place such as a café with the owner’s permission or holiday accommodation

The safety or any travels at all for your toy cannot be guaranteed with the last choice but it does add a touch of spontaneity and adventure to the trip. Those involved in this hobby love it so much you can find all kinds of additional activities including missions and days out the voyager’s owner hope you will complete while they’re staying with you.

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