Austin-Healey Car Club of New Zealand National Rally
13th -16th March 2025
Welcome
Welcome to the Web Page for the Austin Healey National Rally to be held in Matamata 13th,14th,15th March 2025 (Arriving 13th and Departing 16th March 2025). We believe we are well underway in preparing for a memorable event in the heart of the Waikato. The Waikato being noted for some of the most majestic motoring roads in the country. To give you a brief idea of our plans so far, or maybe I should say a preliminary itinerary:
Thursday 13th March
Please check into your selected motel. At 6pm we will all gather at the nearby Matamata Club, 13 Rawhiti Avenue Matamata for our registration evening. Food platters will be provided.
Friday 14th March
We will head out for a day of driving round some of these beautifully scenic roads, punctuated by stops at points of interest. We will begin the morning with a breakfast stop. We will then journey to visit the extremely talented metal sculptor, Adrian Worsley. Our drive will then continue, taking us on to visit the Ross Bros Muscle Car Garage (aka C&R Museum), where you will find lunch has been prepared. Friday Evening there will be Dinner at the Matamata Club (AGM?)
Saturday 15TH March
From 9am to 12 midday we have a location booked to hold our concourse. Further details will follow on judging categories. Matamata Tourist Information Centre are all prepared to promote and advertise this event for us. We are hoping to provide a good display to the public. Saturday afternoon there will be a mystery tour.
Saturday Evening
Themed Dinner and prize giving at Matamata Club. Our theme is ‘British’ so this should provide plenty of ‘dressing up (or down)” scope for those with great imaginations!
Departure
Departure date is Sunday the 16th March 2025. Unfortunately, despite plenty of research and discussions with the attraction, costs prevented us from including Hobbiton in our Rally. If anyone is interested in visiting Hobbiton whilst in the area, we would suggest you individually make a booking for that Sunday morning. Prices seem to vary a little depending on which website you book through, but I believe it is about $120 per person for the Movie Set Tour.
Rally Updates
Watch this space for any future Rally 25 updates
Accommodation
Booking accommodation is individual responsibility. Please quote Austin Healey Car Club when making a booking. The Broadway situated at 128 Broadway Matamata and Matamata Central situated at 42 Waharoa Road East, Matamata are both now FULLY BOOKED.
We have personally been over to discuss parking facilities with the Motel Owners. Each offers off road parking outside individual rooms. If more than one couple are sharing a room, further secure parking spaces are available on the motel premises. Links to the motels are:
Rally Fee
The cost of the Rally is $150 per head. This will cover food platters on registration night, lunch on Friday and two full evening meals (Friday and Saturday). Alcohol is not included but drinks purchased from Matamata Club will be at club prices. Matamata Club are also providing a minibus on the Friday and Saturday evening to transport us from and back to motels. Entry fees to points of interest where we have already made reservations, are also included in the registration fee.
Registration
All current AHCCNZ members have been sent an email with a link to the registration form. Registration for the rally is a simple process of typing in your details and clicking the register button. You will receive an email confirming your registration which will include our payment details. Your information is private, secure, and will only be sent to the rally organising committee
If you are not a current AHCCNZ member but are interested in attending the Rally contact one of our regional AHCCNZ representatives (contact details here) or email the rally organising committee at rally25@austinhealey.org.nz. to discuss
Please feel free to contact Cheryl Evans on mobile 021 146 4781 or email rally25@austinhealey.org.nz if you would like any points clarified before registering. We have already had a good response and are getting very excited.