Waimarama Beach teemed with life yesterday as thousands flocked to the summer hotspot for the annual beach day.
More than $7000 was raised for the Waimarama Surf Life Saving Club, beach day organiser Debbie Morgan said.
'"Beach day is now becoming more of a major fundraiser for the surf club . . . we thought with the surf club having all of these people here that we'd make it more of a fundraiser and awareness of what the lifeguards do."
"It's fun and it brings everybody together, it really does. We're a good family here and it's great when people come and join us and put their hands up to help because we get to know more people and they realise what a great community the surf club is."
Donned in red and yellow, more than 50 lifeguards were on deck to patrol the beach and keep a watchful eye on swimmers yesterday.