Why You Should Go
Free to watch hot rods, classics and low riders lined up on the Orewa beachfront
Format
Two Day Festival
Crowd
Thousands of people across the 2026 weekend (Local Matters report)
Vibe
Rock 'n' roll hot rod weekend on the beachfront
About This Event
Hot rods, classics and American cars line Orewa Boulevard right beside the beach, on a road closed to traffic for the Saturday Show n Shine. Volunteers run it to raise money for the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, so the beachfront fills with chrome, rock 'n' roll and charity buckets.
1What to Expect
For 2027 the festival is shortened to two days and moves to a Friday and Saturday in February. Earlier editions ran three days over Auckland Anniversary weekend in January.
Friday starts away from the beach for entrants: breakfast at Joe's Garage in Silverdale at 8:30am, a Hot Rod Photo Poker Run at 10:30am and a country cruise at 11:30am to Shed 16 at Kaukapakapa for Hot Rod Bingo, line dancing and lunch.
Friday in Orewa: the convoy rolls into Orewa Square at 3pm, rock 'n' roll dancers and live entertainment run from 4pm, the Low Rider Parade is at 7pm and night cruising starts at 8pm.
Show all 5
Saturday is the Ze Build Show n Shine on Orewa Boulevard from 8am, with rock 'n' roll dancers from 9am, the Miss Hibiscus Vintage Competition at 12pm, the Auckland Rescue live auction at 1pm and prizegiving at 2:45pm.
Saturday afternoon the cars cruise to the Puhoi Pub at 3:30pm for What's Under Your Hood and the Auckland Harley Davidson bike show (4pm to 6pm) and the Loudest Exhaust Competition at 6:30pm, then return to Orewa from 8pm for late night cruising.
2Best Way to Experience It
- Friday evening in Orewa Square is the town programme: dancers, the Low Rider Parade and the night cruise, when spectators can ride in an entrant's hot rod for a donation.
- Saturday morning on Orewa Boulevard is the Show n Shine itself, with the auction and prizegiving to follow. The engine bay and exhaust competitions run at the Puhoi Pub, and the cars come back to Orewa for the late cruise.
- Entrants choose between the 2 Day Pass and the V8 Chic Pass, which adds entry to the V8 Chic competition and a V8 Chic goodie bag (a V8 Chic entry form is also needed). Each comes with a + Burger version that includes a burger at the festival, with drinks bought separately.
- The 2 Day Pass includes an optional Sunday: breakfast from 9am at Joe's Garage in Silverdale and a final cruise to the Puhoi Pub, with the band Rumpas Machine playing.
About the Venue
3Nearby Accommodation
While you're in the area
Experiences near Orewa Reserve
4Logistics
Getting thereDriving, Public transport, Rideshare and taxis, Best value route
Driving
- Orewa is north of central Auckland on the Hibiscus Coast Highway.
- Entrant cars park on the main road and Orewa Boulevard with parking wardens directing, and public parking is on the side streets off the main road.
- Orewa Square is closed Friday and Saturday and Orewa Boulevard is closed Saturday, with times to be confirmed by the organiser.
Public transport
- Northern Express NX1 buses run from Britomart along the Northern Busway to Hibiscus Coast Station, and local Auckland Transport routes 981, 984 and 985 connect the station with Orewa, stopping at Moana Avenue/Orewa Shops (Auckland Transport timetable, September 2024).
Rideshare and taxis
- Uber operates across Auckland, including Uber Taxi and UberXL for groups of up to 6.
Best value route
- Without a car, the NX1 plus a local bus to Orewa is the low cost way in, and Uber covers the finishes after the 8pm cruising on Friday and Saturday.
Tickets and entryTickets, Bringing things in
Tickets
- Car entry is from NZ$75 per vehicle for 2027, one ticket per vehicle with passengers free, bought online on the event page.
- Pre registration closes Thursday 11 February 2027.
- Packs ordered by 31 January are posted, and later buyers collect theirs at Joe's Garage from 8:30am Friday or at the RBF marquee in the afternoon.
- Entry fees are non refundable after 12 January 2027 or if the event is postponed or cancelled.
Bringing things in
- Dogs on a lead at all times.
- Bikes, scooters, e-bikes and children's bikes are not permitted, the event is smoke free, and gang colours or patches cannot be worn.
- Entrant cars need the windscreen sticker on the top left corner: no sticker, no entry.
On the dayFood and drink, Around the event
Food and drink
- The Rodders marquee is open to entrants and the public, with a bar and food.
Around the event
- Festival T-shirts can be pre ordered online and picked up at the marquee, with proceeds going to the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust.
5Frequently Asked Questions
?Just want to look around?
Spectator entry is free, by donation: a bucket donation, a raffle ticket, the Ze Gold Coast trip entry form or a donation at Orewa New World.
?Wanted to enter your car?
Registration is open to American origin cars and any car, motorbike or trike built before 1978. Anything else needs pre approval from the show committee by email at roddersbeachfestival@gmail.com.
?Only free for one day?
Saturday has every entrant car on Orewa Boulevard from the 8am Show n Shine start, and cars cannot leave before 3:30pm unless an event official walks them out.
?Suitable for kids?
Friday evening in Orewa Square has a Retro Tiny Tots and Teeny Boppers segment at 5pm between the rock 'n' roll sets.
?Worried about rain?
In 2026 the Saturday ran through sudden squalls and the Miss Hibiscus Vintage pageant moved to sheltered runways, and the festival carried on.
6Cost Breakdown
| 2027 prices | Price |
|---|---|
| Spectator entry free, by donation | |
| 2 Day Pass per vehicle | NZ$75 |
| 2 Day Pass + Burger | NZ$90 |
| 2 Day V8 Chic Pass | NZ$115 |
| 2 Day V8 Chic Pass + Burger | NZ$130 |
| Additional burger | NZ$15 |
| Booking fee | NZ$0.38 to NZ$3.25 per ticket |
Last verified: 19 October 2026Official link: roddersbeachfestival.co.nz
Tags
Car DisplaysMulti Day EventClosed Public RoadsShoppingLive MusicAutomotive FestivalNight EventFood and DrinkFan FestivalFamilies
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Tickets
Free, entry by donation