Why You Should Go
Five days of runs, rallies and a night parade before the big Saturday show at South Bay
Format
Five Day Festival
Crowd
Over 1,200 show cars on the Saturday in 2023 (organiser figure)
Vibe
Small town cruise week by the sea
About This Event
The Kaikoura Hop is five days of cruising in a small South Island seaside town, built around a poker run, a lit up Friday night parade and a Saturday car show at the South Bay trotting track. It opens on the Wednesday with a Rest Home Run, where entrants take local rest home residents out for a drive, and closes with a farewell breakfast on the Sunday.
1What to Expect
The 2027 programme by day: Wednesday 15 September has the Rest Home Run and Cruize and the Early Bird Quiz, Thursday 16 September a Gumball Rally and a drive in movie, Friday 17 September the Poker Run and the Friday Night Light Up Cruise Parade, Saturday 18 September the car show, and Sunday 19 September the farewell buffet breakfast at the Sudima Hotel from 8am to 10am.
Saturday at South Bay Racecourse is the big day: the car show, markets and trade sites, pin up pageants, live music and food trucks, then the After Dark Dance that night.
The Friday night parade is a light up cruise: entrants light up their cars and themselves, with a cash prize for the best lit up car and a prize for the best lit up person or couple.
Prizes across the week include trophies, Repco prize packs, New World gift cards, South Pacific Helicopter flights, cash, crowns and sashes, plus a draw for a hoist: every pre entered car gets an entry, and a programme bought at the Hop Shop on the day enters too.
2Best Way to Experience It
- The Ultimate Pass covers the whole week for one vehicle and the people travelling in it: vehicle registration and entry to the weekend activities, a souvenir tote bag, number plate, magnet, wristbands and the printed programme. The After Dark Dance is a separate ticket (2026 pass terms).
- The Saturday day pass is the option for showing a car at the racecourse on the Saturday only, with the driver and passengers in the same vehicle.
- The Sunday farewell breakfast at the Sudima Hotel is NZ$29 for Ultimate Pass holders in 2027, and passes that buy a breakfast go into the breakfast prize draw.
About the Venue
3Logistics
Getting thereDriving, Public transport, Rideshare and taxis, Best value route
Driving
- Kaikoura is on the east coast of the South Island, north of Christchurch and south of Picton, and the car show is at South Bay Racecourse at South Bay.
- A pre bought day pass comes with a sticker posted out for the front right hand side of the windscreen, and that sticker is the car's entry.
Public transport
- InterCity buses run from Christchurch to Kaikoura, stopping at 86 West End, in about 2 hours 40 minutes.
- No event shuttle to the racecourse is published for 2027.
Rideshare and taxis
- Kaikoura Shuttles runs local transfers around the town, 8am to 5pm daily, and takes bookings ahead.
Best value route
- Without a car, the InterCity bus into Kaikoura and a booked Kaikoura Shuttles transfer out to South Bay is the published way to reach the Saturday show.
Tickets and entryTickets, Cash and cards
Tickets
- 2027 prices are not yet announced.
- In 2026 passes were sold online through The Hop Shop on the official site, and Saturday walk in entry was from NZ$15, sold only at the gate on the day.
- Ultimate Pass holders show their ticket on a phone or printed to collect their pack, as no tickets are posted for 2027.
Cash and cards
- There is no EFTPOS at the gates, so entry at the gate is cash.
Staying overCamping
Camping
- Camping is not allowed at the racecourse.
- Campgrounds and other accommodation are around Kaikoura.
4Frequently Asked Questions
?Just want to look around?
Saturday walk in entry is sold at the gate on the day, with no pass or show car needed, and it covers the show, markets, pageants and live music at the racecourse.
?Suitable for kids?
Children under 13 years of age got in free on Saturday walk in entry in 2026, and on the 2026 car passes children aged 15 and under rode along free.
?Bringing the dog?
Dogs are not allowed at the Saturday car show.
?Wanted to enter your car?
In 2026 there were four ways in: the Ultimate Pass for the whole week, a Saturday vehicle day pass, a motorbike day pass and a caravan pass, all through The Hop Shop. 2027 entry has not opened yet.
5Cost Breakdown
| 2026 prices (2027 not yet announced) | Price |
|---|---|
| Ultimate Pass, vehicle and driver up to vehicle with 6 passengers | NZ$110 to NZ$350 |
| Extra Ultimate Pass passenger | NZ$40 |
| Saturday vehicle day pass | NZ$33 to NZ$105 |
| Motorbike day pass | NZ$30 to NZ$45 |
| Caravan pass | NZ$15 |
| After Dark Dance | NZ$20 |
| Saturday walk in entry from | NZ$15, under 13 years free |
| 2027 prices | Price |
|---|---|
| Farewell breakfast for Ultimate Pass holders | NZ$29 |
Last verified: 20 October 2026Official link: kaikourahop.co.nz
Tags
Car DisplaysMulti Day EventShoppingLive MusicAutomotive FestivalNight EventFan FestivalFamilies
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