SOME of the best surfers in Australia have been plying their trade in Port Macquarie this week as part of the Australian Surf Festival.
The 14-day event, which started last Friday, has been a boon for the Hastings economy, with hundreds of people making the pilgrimage for the annual festival.
Several gongs are up for grabs, including the Australian longboard, logger and surfmasters titles.
Held since 1964, the Australian Surf Festival is the longest running surfing event in Australia.
Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams joined deputy mayor Trevor Sargeant, event manager Luke Madde and NSW surfing champion Jarrod Neal in opening the event last week.
“I join the entire community in expressing a great sense of pride in hosting this event here in Port Macquarie,” Mrs Williams said.
“This event not only showcases Port Macquarie’s hub of Town Beach, but the spectacular coastline south of Port Macquarie at Flynns Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Rainbow Beach at Bonny Hills and Grants Beach at North Haven.”
Almost 400 surfers from around Australia will compete in the two-week event, organisers said.
