Scheduled for Saturday 23 August, the latest NZ Retro Boats event—titled Chillin’ in Taupō—will see a convoy of classic fibreglass powerboats launching from the Three Mile Bay boat ramp at 10am. From there, the group will cruise north along the Taupō lakefront, stopping at several key points before returning to the ramp later in the day.
The plan includes a visit to the Mine Bay Māori carvings, followed by a stop at Acacia Bay to stretch the legs, share a picnic, and catch up on all things retro boating. From there, boats will cruise back along the shoreline, taking in views of the township and lakefront before returning to base.
A growing community
The gathering builds on the success of last year’s Lake Tarawera event, which brought together a wide range of well-kept retro boats—from Hamilton Jets and Haines Hunters to Sidewinders, Vistacrafts and restored Sea Nymphs. At the heart of it all is Brendon Cornes, organiser and admin of the NZ Retro Boats Facebook Group.
James Bond would have been very pleased with the NZ Retro Boats gathering 2024 at Lake Tarawera
These casual get-togethers are helping to strengthen a growing national network of classic boat owners and enthusiasts. Alongside the Taupō gathering, the group has already confirmed its next North Island meet-up for Saturday 15 November, this time returning to the Rotorua Lakes region—Lake Tarawera will host the end-of-year run.
There is also growing interest from the South Island retro boat community, with early planning underway for a southern gathering in the coming months.
Ramp Setup and What to Bring
Three Mile Bay offers a well-designed boat ramp facility with two lanes in and two lanes out, plenty of trailer parking, and clean toilet facilities. Ramp passes cost $6 for 24 hours and can be purchased locally through Taupō Hunting & Fishing.
Owners are encouraged to bring warm clothing—at this time of the year beanies are almost a must have—as well as food and refreshments for the picnic stop at Acacia Bay. A basic route map and links to local businesses stocking supplies have been shared on the Facebook Group for anyone travelling in.
Supported by Local Sponsors
As always, these events rely on community support. For this Taupō gathering, the organisers have received assistance from Taupō Hunting & Fishing and Taupō Repco, helping cover some of the costs and logistics behind the scenes.
LEARN MORE: Chillin’ in Taupo
