Beach Hop puts on a show once again
Beach Hop once again put on a show with thousands turning out to enjoy the week long festival.
For one week of the year going to Whangamata is like stepping in a time machine and going back to the rock’n’roll times of the 60s.
Beach Hop has wowed crowds for more than 18 years and been the main event on the calendar for many classic car enthusiasts. It was voted New Zealand event of the year in 2017.
“The event has grown substantially over the years and we hope it can only get better,” event founder and organiser Noddy Watts said.
However, he is also warning its future may be in doubt as the squeeze goes on accommodation in the town.
Watts says it may become a victim of its own success as locals and bach owners raise rents, making it difficult for the organisers to accommodate volunteers and bands.
“We have to rent 20 houses for our bands that perform and it gets to the point where we can’t afford to run a festival,” said Whangamata local Watts.
“Many home owners are lifting their prices which people are paying but making it harder for us to afford,” said Noddy.
The event started last Wednesday in Waihi for the annual “Warm Up Party”, then moved to Whitianga on the Thursday. Friday saw the “Thunder Cruise”, where cars could remove any noise restrictions on their vehicles as they cruised out to Onemana.
On Saturday there was the annual parade of vehicles through Whangamata. With the main street closed it allowed many spectators to walk around to enjoy the bands and get a closer look at their favourite cars. Sunday was the final day of the event with fair stalls along with the cars and rock’n’roll.
Watts said he this year’s event was bigger than ever in terms of vehicle and spectator numbers.
“All up with cars, caravans and motorbikes we have over 1600 registered vehicles on show here at Beach Hop, but all up probably over 3000 in town,” said Watts.
He said more than 100,000 people had been expected on the Saturday.
Bert van Wijk is one of the very few people to have attended the event all 18 years, bringing his car each time.
“I have a 1934 three window (Ford) Coupe. I built it 43 years ago and have registered it every year to Beach Hop.”
All the money made from the event goes to local charities including Surf Life Saving, Search and Rescue and St John, Watts said.
Last year the festival raised around $160,000 for the local community charities.
