Manly: Hurley Australian Open of Surfing will see New South Wales give surfing fans a thrill as Hurley Australian Open of Surfing and Surfest take place this month. The Hurley Australian Open of Surfing returns to Sydney's iconic Manly Beach from 7-15 February 2015, showcasing the world's best surfers and skateboarders alongside a stellar music line up over nine days.

In the men's event, three-time World Surfing Champion and Aussie legend Mick Fanning, along with 2012 Australian Open of Surfing winner, Matt Banting will be returning to the Manly shores. Other competitors include California's Kolohe Andino and Aussies Ace Buchan, Kai Otton, and Bede Durbidge.

The top five female surfers in the world will go head to head on Sydney's shores with current  No.1 Women's World Champion Stephanie Gilmore, along with Tyler Wright, 2014 Hurley Australian Open of Surfing champion Carissa Moore, local Sally Fitzgibbons and Malia Manuel all set to battle it out in the Manly waves this month.

Current No.4 surfer, Sally Fitzgibbons said “I've grown up surfing and competing on Manly Beach over the years and I love the special feel that the beach holds. So many historic moments in Australian Surfing live on Manly's shores and it is always a proud feeling to follow in the footsteps of the legends before me and compete there.”

Newcastle: Surfest, a six-star competition taking place at Merewether beach in Newcastle from February 16 – 22, celebrates 30 years. The competition will see the world's best male surfers vying for the prestigious Mark Richards trophy. 

Destination NSW has secured World number six and 2012 winner Joel Parkinson for the competition who will have top seeding. Other surfers from the elite world surf league tour include Hawaiian countrymen Keanu Asing and Fredrick Patacchia, Australian duo Matthew Wilkinson and Matt Banting and Ireland's Glen Hall.

Joel Parkinson said “I love that Newcastle is a city that just feels like a big country town. The people are really down to earth, and there's a huge surfing community here”.

In another first out of the water, Newcastle Museum will present the full photographic exhibition of surfing in Newcastle from 1956 – 2010. It's On! in Newcastle and the Hunter will also stage live entertainment and activities in the Honeysuckle precinct.

For more information on Hurley Australian Open of Surfing visit http://www.australianopenofsurfing.com/

For more information on Surfest visit http://www.surfest.com/

For more information on Sydney and New South Wales, visit www.sydney.com or www.visitnsw.com

To access the image library and download images go to http://images.destinationnsw.com.au/

Media Contacts:

Laura Kelly, Destination NSW                                                    

Email: laura.kelly@dnsw.com.au                                              

Tel: 02 9931 1164 Mob: 0411 777 676                                       

Nadine Ghanem, Destination NSW

Email: nadine.ghanem@dnsw.com.au

Tel: 02 9931 1135 Mob: 0477 753 833