Hastings car enthusiast turns down job for annual pilgrimage to Beach Hop

Hastings' Bronwyn Green and her husband Hugh at Beach Hop in Whangamatā. Photo / Supplied

Self-confessed car enthusiast Bronwyn Green has flagged a new job opportunity to attend her 13th Beach Hop at Whangamatā.

She left Hastings last week and hit the highway in 'Daisy' a yellow and white 1955 Chevy - with husband Hugh who is also mad about cars.

The couple joined more than 100,00 fellow fans and visitors who roared into the small Coromandel township to celebrate Beach Hop the biggest event of its type in New Zealand.

Held over five days 2018 figures from Thames Coromandel District Council shows Beach Hop pumped about $7 million into the local community with people travelling from as far afield as America.

Yesterday despite a MetService forecast for rain the grand parade rumbled down Whangamatā's main street under cloudy skies.

Green said the annual pilgrimage was the highlight of her year - and she missed out on a job because she wasn't prepared to put Beach Hop on the skids.

''We just moved to Hastings so I've actually been applying for jobs. I didn't get one because they wouldn't give me the time off which I can totally understand.''

Her passion for cars stems from her dad Peter Richards who had ''62 cars in his lifetime and was a fanatic''.

''I was bought up with matchbox toy cars and not dolls. I've been into cars all my life.''

Green's first car was a Morris Marina followed by an HT Monaro and a VW Bettle as well as numerous other cars including a Roadster that did not make the trip north.

''Daisy is more comfortable for the long journey and she has a roof.''

The Beach Hop vibe is fantastic and this year was no exception.

''The atmosphere is amazing and it's just so much fun. People always smile when you drive past and wave and give you the thumbs up which makes me happy.''

''I just love it.''

Beach Hop was the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends and like-minded people, she said.

''There is basically about 10 of us that share a house including our friends from America so we have a lot of fun.''

The Repco Beach Hop finishes today.