The friendship and goodwill of strangers is a necessity for any traveller. Writers from Peter Mortimer to Michael Palin have all recorded its importance.

But relying entirely on Twitter users for your transport and lodgings is entirely novel. That’s what Paul Smith, perhaps better known as Twitchhiker, did last year. You can follow him on Twitter @twitchhiker.

Now he’s documented his 30-day journey in a new book of the same name.

We met very briefly at Tyneside Twestival in February 2009 shortly, as it turns out, after the fateful trip around Tesco in Gateshead, that provided the inspiration for his trip.

Twitchhiker’s goal was to travel to Campbell Island, near New Zealand, on the opposite corner of the world, using the goodwill of Twitter to propel him in his bid to raise cash for charity:water and prove that the  world isn’t full of “bastards and rapists”.

It makes for a great story.

In the book Twitchhiker takes you with him on his journey from its start point in Newcastle, to Amsterdam, Paris, New York, Washington and Chicago. The list goes on until Twitchhiker reaches New Zealand.

Each step of the way you are introduced to the new friends that he meets that help him along his way and provide hospitality.

In places it’s extraordinarily candid. Twitchhiker isn’t frightened of sharing his fears or his failings with his audience.

But it’s also really well written. I guarantee you won’t be able to put it down and that once you’ve finished it you’ll be reaching for a map or even Twitter to plan a journey of your own.