The colourful cavalcade of more than 100 Bash crews made their way back on Saturday to the city where it all began a week ago, after visiting 10 schools throughout the state and making donations to help provide opportunities for regional kids. Their return was celebrated with the Variety Family Fun Day at Foreshore Park, with live music, activities, rides and a petting zoo.

The Variety Bash cars, all a minimum of 30 years old, included an E Type Jaquar, Mark 2 Wolseley, VW Beetle, Bedford Bus, F1000 Troop Carrier, an Austin 1800 and numerous Statesmans, Holden HRs and Mercedes Benz.

During the Bash, more than $50,000 worth of grants were given to regional schools for equipment such as coding robots, playgrounds and literacy materials.

"All our Bashers work hard throughout the year to fundraise and get their cars ready," Variety - the Children's Charity NSW/ACT head of regional development Jason Bourke said. "We are thrilled to have raised more than $1 million to help give kids a fair go.

"The highlights from the Bash are always meeting the kids we help along the way and seeing their faces light up as they see the cars come into the schools."

This year's event began on May 19 at Foreshore Park Newcastle and headed to Nowra, Moruya, Canberra, Batlow, Wagga Wagga, Carrathool, Wyalong, Binda, Goulburn and Wollondilly before returning to Newcastle.