Beach Hop 24 the Recovery Festival

By John Freer

Beach Hop returns for the 24^th time in the coming week and the man behind it remains just as enthusiastic as ever.

For the more than 200 volunteers who put on the five-day festival, organiser Noddy Watts said it was these people who ensure the event runs well and meets the expectation of both registered vehicle enthusiasts and spectators.

Over years, Noddy said the volunteers changed, unfortunately some had passed away, some had left the region and some just drifted away. But new blood continued to come along, many who had previously had vehicles in the festival.

Like the rest of the Coromandel Peninsula, Beach Hop 24 could be tagged the recovery festival.

This week, Noddy confirmed that increased registrations had been applied to next week’s Repco Beach Hop as organisers looked to make-up for last year’s financial shortfall.

He said that over 1500 entries had been accepted for 2024, making it the biggest festival of its kind held in Australasia. The uncertainty of last year’s weather situation caused the shortfall, now though, through what he described as several supportive people and increased prices and entrants, the event was back on track to generate the funds donated annually to local emergency services.

Repco Beach Hop 24 opens in Waihi on Wednesday you can hear an interview with Noddy by opening the link below.