Kicking off on Tuesday 19 June, the event incorporates the 2018 ECS Boards SUP State Titles and the 2018 Australian Skin Cancer Clinics NSW Longboard Titles. The stakes are high, as it will decide the NSW Teams for the upcoming Australian SUP Titles in Currumbin and the Australian Longboard Titles at Tweed Heads.

Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer says the event is a huge win for Port Stephens.

"Council is delighted to be partnering with Surfing NSW to host the inaugural Port Stephens Surf Festival,” Mayor Palmer said.

“This event will attract competitors from all around Australia and is expected to have an economic impact of more than $600,000 across the Port Stephens community.

"The Port Stephens Surf Festival will promote our beautiful beaches and incredible National Parks to a nationwide audience, and is in line with our strategy of growing overnight visitation to Port Stephens,” he added.

Surfing NSW CEO Luke Madden says Port Stephens is the perfect location to host the event.

“Port Stephens is an idyllic region and we can’t wait to show off its beautiful beaches to some of the best longboarders and stand-up paddlers NSW has to offer,” he said.

“We expect to see over 200 competitors partaking in the event over both disciplines in what is sure to be a spectacular display of wave riding and ocean paddling.”

The competition will commence each day at 7:30am with the call for the day's schedule and location confirmed via the event hotline at 6:45am. The event hotline is 0458 247 212.