Fun for families and foodies

Tauranga Boat Expo and Water Festival manager Peter Gibbs, right, with Roly Bagshaw of Top Catch Tauanga preparing for the huge crowd to descend on waterfront this weekend. Photo / George Novak

Tauranga's annual Boat Expo and Water Festival is expected to draw a crowd of more than 5000, with the emphasis this year on family-focused fun activities.

The event sponsored by the Tauranga Marine Industry Association, Bay of Plenty Times and 92.6FM kicks off at 10am today down on The Strand waterfront, and runs until 4pm on Sunday.

Expo manager Peter Gibbs said this year's programme of activities was all part of a five-year plan to build this iconic Tauranga event up to become one of the biggest events in the North Island and ultimately on the national calender.

"It's going to be spectacular, as this year's expo is heaps bigger and better with the introduction of the new fishing zone which is shaping up to be a major attraction."

Mr Gibbs said the emphasis this year was to have a more family-focused expo, rather than just "an event for the blokes" and organisers were estimating thousands of people would attend.

The waterfront had been transformed with two large marquees, family-fun zones, with 60 exhibitors covering all areas of the marine industry there would be plenty to see and do both on and off the water, he said.

That included speed boats, IRBs, fishing from the back of boats, sailing, paddleboards, surf casting and a display by freestyle jetski stuntman Adrian De Villiers.

Visitors to the expo hub would also be privy to special fishing tips and demonstrations from the best in the business, including Scott Parry and Mig Rumney, who host the popular TV show Fishing and Adventure sharing their secrets on how to catch the elusive big ones.

The latest range of fishing gear and boats would also be on display and for sale.

Mr Gibbs said there would be a kids zone, including a treasure hunt for prizes, a bouncy castle and other fun activities.

"With a good weather forecast there is really no excuse for anyone not to come along."

Boat Expo & Water Festival activities

Today:
*10am: Scott Parry & Mig Ramsey from Fishing & Adventure
*11am: Justin Corrick from Shimano NZ
*Noon: Smoke & Grill -- learn killer recipes from the foodie gurus
*2pm: NZ's Fastest Filleter Fella
*5pm: The Fishing Zone Friday night auction

Saturday:
*11.30am: Paul Chen introduces micro-jigging (next big thing)
*12.30pm: Justin from Shimano NZ goes stray lining for Big Snapper
*3pm: Scott & Mig presenting the Okuma Snapper session
*4pm: Paul Senior kicks off "The Casting Challenge"

Sunday:
*Noon: Paul Chen introduces micro jigging & slow pitch jigging
*1pm: Smoke & Grill -- killer recipes from the foodie gurus.
*2pm: On the Water -- Scott & Mig present the Okuma Snapper Session.
*3pm: Roly from TOPCATCH highlights the top five snapper kingfish equipment
*Cost $5 adults, entry free for 14 years and under.

Visit www.boatexpo.co.nz.