Destination New South Wales is offering travel agents and their clients special packages for the upcoming Australian Open of Surfing (AOS), which takes place February 8 - 16, 2014.
The second annual AOS takes place at Huntington Beach’s sister city, Manly Beach in Sydney, Australia, and will feature competitions between top international pro surfers and skaters, A-list band performances, and a host of summer activities. More intimate than its USOS counterpart, the AOS expects crowds of 175,000 over 8 days.
According to Destination NSW Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Chipchase, “The Australian Open of Surfing is a wonderful showcase of Sydney and NSW’s incredible beaches, surf breaks, surf culture and unique coastal lifestyle.”
Manly, the host city of the AOS, has a deep history in surfing. Manly Beach was named a National Surfing Reserve in September 2010 with an area that covers roughly 2.5 miles (4 kms). Manly Beach is the site of the first legal bathing (1902), the first surf club (1903), the first body surfing and surf boat (1907), Duke Kahanamoku’s famous board surfing demonstration (1915), first world surfing championship (1964) and is home to two world surfing champions, Barton Lynch and Layne Beachley.
“An Australian Open vacation offers a really diverse travel experience,” adds Chipcase. “You can enjoy the outdoor, surf culture in Manly, hit up the buzzing Sydney night life 10 minutes away from the beach and explore the coast of New South Wales on your own surfing safari. Truly, it is the best way for our American friends to beat the winter blues.”
Destination NSW has partnered with Qantas Vacations to offer a special travel package to the AOS including flights and hotel accommodations, which can be booked at www.sydney.com/ausopenofsurf.