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Car Show

2027 Caroline Bay Rock and Hop

Caroline Bay, Timaru, New Zealand18–21 Mar 20274 days

Why You Should Go

Cruises, a Show and Shine and a vintage caravan section, all raising money for the local Hospice

Format

Four Day Car Show

Crowd

Car owners, caravanners and retro fans, no published crowd figure

Vibe

Retro dress up, cruises and a seaside Show and Shine

About This Event

Caroline Bay Rock and Hop is a four day show for cars, caravans and motorbikes of every era, with a 50s, 60s and 70s nostalgia theme where everyone is encouraged to dress for the period. It runs on the lawns of Caroline Bay, the seaside park beside Timaru's town centre, and every dollar raised goes to Hospice South Canterbury.

1What to Expect

The 2027 event runs Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 March 2027, on the third weekend in March as it does every year.
Registered vehicles take part in every cruise and in the Show and Shine on Gala Day, and the vehicle mix runs from modern to vintage, classic, muscle, Japanese and English.
A caravan section takes pre 1980 caravans, limited to 45 in total, and caravan owners can stay the night on site.
Show all 5
The Gala Day has a market with trade stalls on the lawns beside the cars.
The 2027 timetable is not published yet. Thursday details are still to be confirmed.

2Best Way to Experience It

  • Gala Day is the day for walking the Show and Shine, and the general public get in by donation to the Hospice.
  • Showing a car means registering ahead: the organiser says vehicle places have sold out by February in past years, and on the day registration only happens if places are left.

About the Venue

Showgrounds and Parks

Caroline Bay

See the venue guideDirections

3Nearby Accommodation

4Logistics

Getting there

Driving

  • Caroline Bay sits right beside Timaru's town centre.
  • Cars come in from Marine Parade and Virtue Avenue, where there is parking.

Public transport

  • From the town centre the bay is a walk across the Piazza, by its staircase or the lift, which gives step free access.

Best value route

  • Staying in Timaru and walking in over the Piazza avoids looking for a park on Gala Day.
Tickets and entry

Tickets

  • Vehicle registration is NZ$50 for a car or caravan and NZ$30 for a motorbike in 2027, bought on the organiser's website or through Hospice South Canterbury on 03 687 7670.
  • Registration covers everyone in the vehicle.

Ticket rules

  • Tickets carry a QR code that is scanned at the entrance, printed or on a phone.
  • There are no refunds, and a ticket can be passed to someone else once the organiser has the new owner's details.
On the day

Helmets

  • Motorbike riders wear helmets on all open roads during the cruises.

5Frequently Asked Questions

Just want to look around?
Gala Day entry for the general public is by donation to Hospice South Canterbury.
Want to show your car?
Any car with a point of difference can register, and caravans must be pre 1980 for the caravan section. A caravan and a car each need their own registration to be judged.
Want a stall?
Trade stall applications for the Gala Day market go to the Hospice by email.
Want to help out?
The event is run by a volunteer committee and takes volunteers through the Hospice.

6Cost Breakdown

2027 pricesPrice
Car or caravan registrationNZ$50
Motorbike registrationNZ$30
Gala Day public entry by donation
Last verified: 5 November 2026Official link: carolinebayrockandhop.co.nz

Tags

Car DisplaysMulti Day EventClassic CarsShoppingCruiseCharity EventCar ShowMotorbikes

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