(JP/Cynthia Webb)

Whangamata's biggest weekend of the year is a festival of nostalgia, the Beach Hop, when the town of almost 4,000 has 80,000 people gather for some New Zealand rock 'n roll.

On the first weekend in May this year, vintage car enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the culture of the 50s and 60s.

Proudly traveling in a red Cadillac convertible with spotless white interior, four young women dressed in sixties fashion, wearing black wigs, pointy frame sunglasses, black t-shirts and full-flared red skirts with plenty of petticoats.

They were Pat, Erin and Joan, friends of Kirsty Park, the owner of the immaculate Caddie. They work together at the famous Wairakei Golf Course in Taupo, and were having a ball on this "girls' weekend away".

Graeme "Noddy" Watts, the director of the Beach Hop, said it had come a long way since its beginnings in 2001.

"The town's businesspeople noticed that the local rock 'n roll club held their annual birthday "hop" (dance night) every year in April. People came from all over the North Island," he said.

"However there was nothing for them to do during the day. So we arranged for about 100 cars and 100 motorbikes and a couple of bands to come, and closed off the main street. About 4000 people turned up. It was a surprise -- it was fantastic. It all grew from there. Now visitors come from the United States, the UK, Germany, and, of course a lot from Australia."

"We have an "Adopt an Aussie" policy, and they get a free entry pass identifying themselves as Australian visitors and we like to make them feel a little bit special," Watts said.

On the Wednesday of the five-day festival, the cars that had already arrived in Whangamata "cruised" in convoy to the nearby beach town of Pauanui, and on Thursday they took a day "cruise", to Coromandel Town.

On Friday they headed out to another beach village, Onemana, where hundreds of cars were parked on the green lawn adjoining the beach.

Several people brought along a packed lunch in the boots of their cars. There were a variety of modifications and vehicles, which must all be pre-1972 models to take part. The gleaming paintwork and pristine interiors and engines attested to how much they were loved.

All along the cruise routes, locals sat out on the roadside on chairs and sofas to wave to the passing convoy.

This year 1308 cars participated, along with motorcycles too. American cars were dominant at 90 percent of the fleet, with some British and early Australian cars in the mix. New Zealand did not have a car industry during the "rock 'n roll" era.

The American cars, which were known back then as "yank tanks", are sleek and stretched and look quite surreal by today's standards. Among the 'gas guzzlers' were Cadillacs, Pontiacs, Fords Fairlanes, Chevrolets, and Thunderbirds, Lincolns, Chryslers, Dodges and Studebakers; their logos emblazoned across the cars.

Among the impressive older cars was the huge 1924 Cadillac convertible, which oozed the charm of the gangster era, of Al Capone and movies starring James Cagney. I almost started looking around for guys wearing dark suits and hats with machine guns.

Twenty rock bands, including six from Australia, came to Whangamata for the big weekend, joined by a grand parade of motorbikes and cars, and dancing in the streets.

Weekend visitors flocked to see these pampered vehicles on display. Some people were dressed up in rock 'n roll era outfits and couples jived to songs made famous by Buddy Holly, Bill Haley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis.

One lucky visitor, Paul Sloan of Hamilton won a 1959 Pontiac imported from the USA, and valued at $55,000 in the Lucky Number Draw. A grand parade, a vintage car auction, a rock 'n roll era fashion competition and a market day where antiques are sold were also included in the event.

"Beach Hop is a celebration of the '50s and '60s, which was an important part of our culture. It's a celebration of the music, the fashion, the culture, the cars and the bikes," Graeme said.

But wasn't actually American culture?

"NZ developed its own culture in the '50s and '60s. Yes, we had American music but we also had British music and our own music of New Zealand. Some of our cars were English and Australian, as well as American."

"NZ had its own rock 'n roll scene back then. Beach Hop is an opportunity for me to show my kids what my parents were like. I was born in 1966 so I can remember the cars they drove and how they dressed. It's also a chance for my children to experience that with their grandparents."

The non-profit event is run by 200 volunteers. Vehicle owners pay to register their vehicles to take part, but it free to the public.

Over the years proceeds of more than US$100,000 have been donated to water-safety organizations, as Whangamata is a boating, fishing, sailing, surfing, diving and beach location. For further information visit www.beachhop.co.nz

-- Cynthia Webb

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