Fundraising madness and mayhem rolled into Tauranga today, with the annual Variety Trillian Bash bringing plenty of smiles to children's faces.

Arriving in the city late yesterday, the convoy of colourfully designed ageing cars and firetrucks have been trekking across the North Island as part of this year's Bash Week ahead of a gala event in Auckland celebrating 25 years.

Variety Bash members prepare to make the trip across to Matakana Island. Photos: Bruce Barnard.

Hitting the road on March 7, the convoy of crazy vehicles set off from Palmerston North and since then have been visiting out-of-the-way towns to entertain locals and hand out much-needed grants to Kiwi kids in need.

This year's Bash Week will see close to $150,000 distributed in the form of laptops and tablets for low decile schools, a specialised trike for a young girl with Spina Bifida, a change table for a kindergarten in an economically-challenged suburb, and a tablet to help a teenager with Aspergers and kidney failure with communication and schoolwork.

Variety basher Mel Rushton says after breakfast at Greenpark School this morning, the convoy made its way to Matakana Island for a school visit and community projects.

Celebrities joining the bash for the day included Suzy Cato, Matai Smith from TVOne Good Morning and actor Shane Cotese.

Behind the wheel of an AU Ford Fairlane V8, Mel says in the events' 25-year existence, $17million has been raised.

This afternoon the bash made its way to Cambridge before heading to Thames on Sunday.

Over the eight day trip – which covers every place teams come from – they will wind their way from Taranaki through Manawatu to Wellington, Hawkes Bay, through the Bay of Plenty before finishing in Auckland.

The Bash raises money for Variety – The Children's Charity, which helps about 10,000 disadvantaged Kiwi kids every year with grants and equipment for health and education needs.