An eclectic collection of classic and retro boats gathered for the annual Magic Moana Weekend, bringing together boating enthusiasts of all ages for a celebration of fun, friendship and life on the water.
With vessels dating from 1910 through to the 1990s, the popular event attracted an impressive variety of craft, showcasing decades of boating history and design. The relaxed ‘run what ya brung’ gathering is all about sharing a passion for boating, with families and friends enjoying a weekend of nostalgia and on-water activities.
New Zealand’s boatbuilding heritage was well represented, with 1970s fibreglass classics including a Fi-Glass Fireball, a striking red Firestar and several early Hamilton Jet 30s featuring beautifully varnished timber decks. A rare Jet 43 also made an appearance, alongside well-preserved examples of the popular Jet 20, 32, 42 and 53 models.
Traditional clinker-built boats were represented by Kaiwaka and two elegant steamboats, while an early Hartley runabout and a recently restored Beattie Craft added to the impressive line-up. Among the crowd favourites was a former offshore powerboat racer, built in England and powered by a big-block MerCruiser. An American-built Glastron and a stunning New Zealand-crafted wooden barrel-back also attracted plenty of attention.
The houseboat Tranquility proved a popular stop during the poker run, with its crew providing BBQ sausages and sweet treats for participants. Under brilliant blue skies, the weekend’s festivities were rounded off with rides in a fleet of 1980s bumper boats, keeping both young and old entertained. With an incredible variety of boats, plenty of nostalgia and smiles all around, Magic Moana Weekend once again captured the simple pleasure of getting out on the water.
