SURFEST Newcastle Australia

SURFEST Newcastle, Australia will celebrate its 37th anniversary in 2023. The event is the largest surfing festival in the southern hemisphere with a large number national and international male and female competitors, from more across the Asia-Pacific region competing in the event.

Surfest is possible through the enduring support of Burton Automotive, the NSW government and Destination NSW, the City of Newcastle, Reflections Holiday Parks and a combination of crowd-funding businesses within the Newcastle and Hunter community, Lake Macquarie City Council, Sanbah Surf, Surfest’s many media partners and supporting and supplying sponsors.

The event features international fields of competitive surfers in the World Surf League (WSL) Men’s Qualifying Series 5000 point Burton Automotive Pro, the WSL Women’s Qualifying Series 5000 point Speaking in Colour Womens Pro, and the Lake Mac City Pro Junior a WSL Qualifying Series 1000 point event. There's also a number of complementary surfing events.

Surfest will commence on 11th February, 2023 with the Lake Mac City Pro wildcard trials on Redhead Beach and will conclude on the 5th of March, 2023 at Merewether Beach.

Merewether Beach was crowned a national surfing reserve in 2009 and is home to festival patron and Australia’s most accomplished men’s world professional surfing champion, Mark Richards (1979-82). The four-time world champion was voted as the most influential Australian surfer (1963-2013) at Surfing Australia’s 50th anniversary.