Ode to Beach Hop

With over 100,000 people in Whangamata for the annual Beach Hop over the next few days, remember to plan a little extra driving time to get around.

Parking in Whangamata will also be at a premuim, since Council reserves will be filled with displays and classic cars. Plan to walk some distance from your car and remember to keep valuables out of sight so you're not easy pickings for those who visit big events just to steal.

Whangamata Community Board is a massive supporter of the Beach Hop and earlier this year approved an additional $10,000 effectively taking over all the infrastructure costs associated with the event. Every year the Community Board pays between $6,000 and $8,000 to Council contractors Smart Environmental Limited to maintain rubbish, toilets, roadways and the parks for the visitors who attend the event at Whangamata, Tairua and Onemana. We also pick up the costs for barriers and portaloos for these venues.

Naturally, visitors have questions about freedom camping, things to see and do, moving here to live and, recently, Kauri Dieback. So we've set up a stall outside our area office in the main street with all the relevant information and will be joined by our Annual Plan team who will be able to answer questions about the big ticket items proposed in the Draft Annual Plan and can explain how easy it is to make a submission before the official closing date a week away (Friday 4 April).

We're also working with Beach Hop on a survey. If you're at the Beach Hop, jump onto the Beach Hop website and take our survey.

For those who have asked for a copy of our Chief Executive David Hammond's Ode to Beach Hop as delivered on the radio this morning, here it is:

Huge welcome to Beach Hop goers
From the Council who sponsors it, road makers and verge mowers;

Leave behind life's worries and fear
As you breath in Coromandel's clean air;

Enjoy the sound of a deep-throat chevvy
And don't cruise with one hand on a bevvie;

Wherever you are
Tell people, "You beauty, Whangamata!!"

Beach Hop Highlights

This year's Beach Hop runs until Sunday with the Grand Parade on Saturday.

Ultimate passes to the event sold out in 36 hours last October and special guests include Bill Haley Jnr (son of Rock'n'Roll legend Bill Haley) at the Repco Tairua Beach Party, V8 Supercar legend Greg Murphy with his classic Mopar (leading the Castrol Edge Thundercruise to Onemana Beach on Friday), and actor Shane Cortese (Outrageous Fortune, Nothing Trivial and Shortland Street).

There are also markets, drive-in movies, bands, classic car shows, retro beauty shows, a retro caravan show, a swap meet, Burlesque and Rock'n'Roll - and that's just scratching the surface.

For full details, event schedule and guest information, go to the event website here.

© Scoop Media