Having already had a wonderful week in New Zealand we left Rotorua & headed for Whangamata & the 2004 Beach Hop.

Forget the "Land of the Long White Cloud" New Zealand is definitely the Land of the Long Winding Road and getting into Whangamata meant travelling the last 17kms along a very windy road with the full-size Desoto behind us, crossing our fingers that his brakes would hold-up.    All was well, however, and we all made it into Whangamata.

Beautiful Whangamata Beach on the Pacific Ocean

The hills in the background are home to those windy roads.

After checking in at the Pipinui Motel it was time to check out “Beach Hop Central”. After visiting the ATM and purchasing the compulsory “Beach Hop 2004” T-shirt, which came in a colour range of black, grey or white [I rather fancied the green but that was for “crew” only] it was time to get into some serious “car spotting”. Bill found a place in the sun and proceeded to snap away. After about an hour I began to suspect that I had seen some of the cars at least 10 times.  I realised then that these boys just love doing laps of the block.

After picking up Merron we later joined Mark, Nan, Jay, Demi & Yas for some night-time car spotting, a meal at the pub then on to coffee at Mark, Nan, Jay & the girls impressive digs.

Merron and Helly	The TOQ gang
...and cruise they did day and night all weekend long
Saturday is the real deal so we were up early to see the 60’s surfing competition and then to snap a few more cars.  Cars just seemed to come from everywhere and as an estimated 2000+ cars and 500 bikes were there, I guess they did.  Of all the cars I saw, and there were many, my favourite was “Lipstick” a beautiful 55 Ford Victoria (so I’m told).    So impressed was I that I photographed both the interior & exterior.  The Kiwis showed a lot of imagination with their number plates, IMPAKT, KOOL56, TERROR, DOOFER, 2CUTE4U, 4CRUSN, 02CRUZ, HERBRD and the Mexican number AMIGO being some of the fun ones. Others identified cars 55FORD, 56COUP, 59FURY, 59ER, 66BIRD and 1STZ06.   This allowed me to impress with my car knowledge.   Also impressive for me was the large contingent of lady owners and drivers of both cars and bikes.  The Kiwis really love their motoring.

After a parade lasting 2 1/2hours, everyone was looking forward to some music and lunch. With 42,000 people there, this little town was bursting at the seams so with not a lot of prospect of buying food Mark headed to the butcher, Jay to the bakery and the rest to the supermarket, then off home where Mark cooked up a great B-B-Q.  Lunch over and needing to walk some of our tucker off we paid a visit to the NZ T-birders Whangamata headquarters for yet another photo opportunity and a chat. Then it was off to the Surf Club for the final of  “Beach Hop Idol”, auctioning of a surfboard for charity and the drawing of a car (Falcon I think) raffle, which I believe some really smart people from the local school had restored.

Dinner was to be “fush & chups” so Mark & Bill were despatched with a list.  They did a wonderful job, finding food for everyone.  News too, of the boys still lapping the block.  Don’t think much fuel could be left in NZ after these boys finished.
Things had quietened down a bit by Sunday, and while some hardy souls still lapped the block we headed to the “nostalgia fair”.  Most of us managed a purchase or three.  Nan brought a beautiful blue bowl, which unfortunately didn’t make it home in one piece.  Hope Tony liked his radio and Jay, the girls & I loved our jewellery.  The car park was also visited with Billy still finding cars that had somehow managed to slip under his radar.

Everyone except Bill & I headed for a Sunday afternoon drive.  Billy had a game of golf and I wandered around what was fast becoming a ghost town, as all started heading home. 

I loved the bach houses, as they are called, reminding me of many happy childhood holidays spent in a little fibro house at Caloundra. I even found one with a Holden, just like my Dad’s “Betsy” out the front.

After a fine meal at the NZ version of the RSL it was about time to pack up and head back to Auckland the next day.I had a great time on our holiday in New Zealand and would recommend the “Beach Hop” to anyone interested in cars.  Everyone seemed to be having a good time and I believe it keeps getting bigger & bigger.  Heard one local say it was New Zealand’s biggest event, and it’s only been going 4 years.

While at the Beach Hop we caught up with some members of the Thunderbird Club of New Zealand. It was nice to meet fellow Tbird enthusiasts from across the Tasman and great to see a healthy number of Thunderbirds as well.

Helly

Merron catches up with two of the NZ Thunderbird club boys at Whangamata

Just some of the Thunderbirds seen at the Hop