UPDATED 3.12PM: An action-packed week creating fundraising mayhem and madness, saw a convoy of 30 ageing cars and firetrucks finish the annual Variety Trillian Bash in Tauranga today.

Since leaving Rainbows End in Manakau last Sunday the teams have covered more than 1100km in their decorated vehicles on a route taking them from Waitomo to Rotorua and down to Gisborne before returning to the Bay of Plenty via East Cape.

The Every Little Boys Dream fire truck (pictured at front) at Whakamaru School, one of the many schools visited along the Bash's fundraising route.

Bash director Murray Odonnell says the day has been really great.

'We did a finishing contest with the children at the Whakatane wharf, which was highly successful. We then moved up the coast and now we are here at the Historic Village.

'The event has done 24 years and has 140 people and 26 people involved. We raise money for underprivileged children of New Zealand.”

Murray says during their time of the road they have given away a mini bus to Bennydale School and a defibrillator at Lake Waikeremoana.

While it was all smiles today, it was a different story for 'The 8^th Tribe' – one of two Tauranga teams taking part – when the rally looked like it was over before it barely began.

The 8^th Tribe captain Morris Danks counted his team lucky to be still in the rally when speaking to SunLive, saying a fire in the truck cab on the first day stopped them from completing the day's run to Waitomo.

'It wasn't looking good at all,” says Morris, saying an electrical fault burned the dashboard. Otorohanga Auto Electric came to the rescue, working through the night to repair the damage to their 1981 International fire truck, allowing the team to re-join the rally on its leg to Rotorua the next day.

'It's great to be back on the road handing out cheques and donations at schools; and hopefully that will be the last problem we have.”

As one of five fire trucks involved The 8^th Tribe and fellow Tauranga crew, seasoned bash veterans ‘Every Little Boys Dream', help entertain children at schools they visit along the way by blasting each other with their firehoses in exciting water fights.

The Variety Bash vehicles arrived at Tauranga's Historic Village about 1.45pm today (after turning left at Te Maunga, over the causeway into the city).

They'll be on display at the village until 3.30pm.

All funds raised on the bash are handed out in donations of medical or educational goods, or equipment to help Kiwi children overcome difficulties. For details, visit www.variety.org.nz