Surfest Newcastle Australia 2018

Overview

Grab your beach chair and binoculars — it's time for Australia's biggest surfing festival. This year marks Surfest's 33rd birthday and will see 11 different surfing events take place across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens. While the events are spectator-only (unless you're lucky enough to have already qualified for the comp) you'll definitely be inspired to get your board out of storage and catch some early-morning waves.

If you fancy yourself as the next Steph Gilmore, there's the Grandstand Women's Pro, and for the budding Mick Fannings out there, it's the Burton Automotive Pro. Let's not forget the little grommets, either — watch the under-18s take part in the nib Pro Junior where there's a cool $10,000 on the line for the winner.

If you love to catch waves and enjoy the atmosphere of a team sport, get around the ORICA Team Challenge or the High School Team Challenge if your time in the green room still revolves around the school bell. And if you'd rather haggle than hang ten, check out the 3 Peas Markets which will take place at Stockton Beach and Merewether Beach. And of course, there's the option of pulling up some sand, getting your shakas out and watching it all go down.