Preliminary Itinerary
Monday, March 24, 2025 - Depart Australia and arrive Auckland
The first day of the historic 2025 Silver Anniversary Beach Hop Aussie Invasion will include arrival into Auckland and overnight accommodation near Auckland International Airport, plus attendance at a special Hop to the HOP Welcome Reception to be hosted by a surprise guest.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - Campervan pick up and drive to Whangamata
Campervan pickup and provisioning, which is made incredibly easy by the campervan company, with a special supermarket nearby that caters specifically for campervan tourists. Then it’s time to hit the road and complete the leisurely two-hour, 160km drive to Whangamata, the spectacular and scenic coastal home of Repco Beach Hop. Check-in at special campervan-friendly location and receive your Repco Beach Hop passes and info packs. Time to check out all of the incredible Beach Hop action.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 -to- Sunday March 30, 2025 -Enjoy all that Beach Hop and surrounding areas have to offer!
Based on the traditional program and lists of events and locations, Hop to the HOP tour members have the choice of the following incredible official events and locations (note actual events and locations subject to change for 2025):
Wednesday, March 26
Go Waihi Warm Up Party with a show at the Repco Garage.
Thursday, March 27
Repco Thames Power Cruise including the NZ Petrolhead Vintage Market, live music and Nostalgia Quiz Night at the Whangamata Club, Classic Comedy Show at the Repco Garage, live music at the RSA.
Friday, March 28
Castrol Edge Thunder Cruise to Onemana, Rock ‘n’ Roll dancing lessons at the Whangamata Club, NZ Petrol Head Vintage Market, Hop Idol Heats at the Whanga Bar, various bands and acts at the numerous clubs and bars in the Whangamata town centre.
Saturday, March 29
Rock ‘n’ Roll Club March, Grand Parade, Cool Classic Car and Boat Show, Meguiars Main St Car Show, Tot Rod Show, Repco Pre-1949 Hot Rod Show, Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Show, Retro Caravan Show, NZ Petrolhead Vintage Market, bands all over town, Whanga Bar Hop Idol Final, Prize-giving and Prize Draw, various bands and acts at the numerous clubs and bars in the Whangamata town centre.
Sunday, March 30
Classic Cover Insurance Nostalgia Fair, Rock ‘n’ Roll church service, Nostalgia Surf Fest, Top 10 Shoot Out, Final Prize Drawing, Entrants Draw, live music. Repco Beach Hop 2025 official closes.
Monday, March 31, 2025 - Depart Beach Hop Whangamata
Depart Beach Hop Whangamata and explore the spectacular North Island of New Zealand for the next six days, with places to check out including Auckland City, the Bay of Islands, Rotorua, Lake Taupo and the central National Park which includes three active volcanoes, including Mt Tongariro, Mt Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe.
Saturday, April 5, 2025 - Campervan pick up and drive to Whangamata
End the day at Auckland International Airport for campervan return and check into hotel. Final Hop to the HOP Tour Party and celebration.
Sunday, April 6, 2025 -Enjoy all that Beach Hop and surrounding areas have to offer!
Return flights to various locations in Australia. 2025 Silver Anniversary Beach Hop Aussie Invasion tour members may also want to take the option of extended stopovers and we will try to cater for special wishes as required.
Extracurricular Activity
Coromandel Cruising
While the 25th running of Repco Beach Hop will keep our tour group guests more than busy there are so many other reasons to visit the beautiful and spectacular Coromandel Peninsula. From its pristine beaches, curving coastine, hundreds of offshore islands, misty forests, cavernous caves and laid-back vibe, The Coromandel can keep visitors captivated for weeks.
But we thought we’d at least give you a taste of what’s to see and experience once the excitement of Beach Hop has left you looking for something a bit more relaxing.
Cathedral Cove
From beautiful Hahei Beach on The Coromandel, you can walk to Cathedral Cove, a spectacular naturally formed archway. After a pleasant one-hour walk along the cliff top you’ll stroll into a gigantic arched cavern that passes through a white rock headland to join two secluded coves. The cathedral-like arch gives the whole area an air of grandeur and leads to a sandy beach with shady pohutukawa trees along the foreshore -- a perfect place for a picnic and a swim.
Boat Cruise
You might be all cruised-out after the Hop, so you might want to sit back and take a boat cruise to view spectacular sea caves, huge coves carved by waves, white-sand beaches, teeming marine life and more -- there's a cruise to suit everybody's tastes. Look out for penguins, seals, dolphins and diving gannets as you experience this spectacular part of the New Zealand coastline from the ocean. Some trips also offer film location tours from Narnia movie Prince Caspian -- filmed partly in and around The Coromandel's beaches and sea caves.
Fishing
Given it’s adjacent to the mighty Pacific Ocean, the Coromandel boasts a huge range of fishing options and target species, from surfcasting from the beach for kahawai, live baiting for big, muscular kingfish around current-swept headlands, or tour guests can even head further afield to chase that elusive marlin or tuna.
Boasting some of New Zealand's best quality fishing within a relatively small area, The Coromandel offers plenty of bays and islands for wind protection, so you can be sure on most days you will find somewhere to fish. Mercury Bay and Mercury Islands offer some of the most diverse fishing in the area, while Castle Rock holds plenty of trevally and kahawai. There's also great land-based fishing around Colville and Fletchers Bay.
Thermal Springs
Given that New Zealand is still an extremely thermally active land, there are springs literally springing up everywhere!
You can either hire a shovel and dig your own hot water spa at the aptly named Hot Water Beach. Bring a few friends to help with the digging and then simply lay back with a few cold ones and enjoy the view in your own natural spa!
Or you can relax in naturally heated mineral waters at The Lost Spring Geothermal Spa in Whitianga. Surrounded by tropical plants and soothing waterfalls, the thermal waters flow from a spring deep beneath the earth’s surface. For a real treat, indulge in a pampering session at the on-site day spa.
Track Walks
The jagged forested ranges of The Pinnacles forms the spine of The Coromandel Peninsula. Tour guests can explore the ranges on foot with the spectacular or even take an overnight adventure, then climb to the summit first thing in the morning to catch the sun rising over 360-degree views of The Coromandel and beyond.
Kayaking
Tour members can explore The Coromandel’s famous Cathedral Cove from a different viewpoint with a Kayak tour or boat cruise. Just offshore is a protected marine reserve where you can look out for seals, dolphins and colourful fish in the crystal-clear water as you paddle. Many boat cruises also visit impressive Big Bay Blowhole, near Hahei Beach.
The Rail Trail
Following old railway lines between the regional centre of Thames and Te Aroha, the Hauraki Rail Trail is an easy ride dotted with gold mining history, rolling countryside and charming Kiwi towns. The full trail takes 2-3 days, but a great day ride is the third leg from Paeroa to Waiki. Pedal alongside the Ohinemuri River and through the Karangahake Gorge to admire the stunning Owharoa Falls and photogenic gold mining relics.
While you're in Coromandel Town, you can also take time to catch the Driving Creek Railway, a narrow-gauge mountain railway journey through native forest.
So once you’re all Hopped Out there is still plenty of other great stuff to do on the incredible Coromandel Peninsula!