MEDIA RELEASE · Friday 30th October 2026
30 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 · Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills NSW
The world's biggest surf sports stars are set to descend on Bonny Hills for three days of elite racing and the Race One World Youth Championships.
BONNY HILLS, NSW: Some of the world's best surf sports athletes are set to descend on Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills, from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November, as the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Bonny Hills 7,000 returns to the Mid North Coast for three action-packed days of elite ocean racing, proudly hosted by Wauchope Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club.
Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills, ready for racing.
The event will attract leading male and female athletes from across Australia and around the world, competing in Board, Swim, Ski, Ironman, Ironwoman and team events. With 7,000 valuable Series points on offer, the competition promises thrilling racing as the sport's biggest names battle for crucial points in the 2026/27 championship standings.
Headlining the men's field is defending Ironman champion Ethan Callaghan, who returns to Rainbow Beach looking to repeat last year's victory. He will face fierce competition from established stars Matt Bevilacqua, Charlie Verco and Joel Piper, alongside exciting young guns including Dan Sutton, just a few of the talented athletes set to line up across the weekend.
The women's field is equally impressive, with defending Ironwoman champion Hannah Sculley returning to defend her title against a formidable lineup featuring Lana Rogers, Lizzie Welborn, Dakota Luke, Dom Stitt, Brode Trinca and Kaitlin Rees, among many other leading competitors.
The race arena takes shape on Rainbow Beach.
With some of the biggest names in professional surf sports competing across the weekend, the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Bonny Hills 7,000 is shaping up to be a spectacular showcase of elite athleticism, fierce rivalries and world-class ocean racing.
The excitement will continue on Sunday 1 November, when the Race One World Youth Championships bring the next generation of surf sports stars to Rainbow Beach, giving young athletes the opportunity to compete for world titles on the same stage as their sporting heroes.
Ironman and Ironwoman heats begin at 2:00pm on Friday 30 October. Saturday's racing will build towards the elite finals package, broadcast live from 1:00pm AEDT on Saturday 31 October on the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series YouTube and Facebook channels.
The live broadcast will showcase both the racing and the coastal landscapes of the Port Macquarie region, bringing the natural scenery of the Mid North Coast to audiences across Australia and beyond.
Supported by strategic partner Visit Port Macquarie, the event will welcome athletes, families and supporters to the region, providing opportunities to explore its beaches, hospitality, local businesses and attractions.
"Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is proud to support the return of the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series to Bonny Hills, bringing some of the world's best surf sports athletes to our region for what promises to be another fantastic weekend of competition," Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor Adam Roberts said.
"Events of this nature reinforce our region's reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events, while showcasing our spectacular coastline to an international audience.
"We're incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to host events of this calibre in our own backyard, and I encourage our community to come along and show their support."
Welcoming the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series back to Bonny Hills.
The next generation takes centre stage
On Sunday 1 November, the Race One World Youth Championships will begin at 9:00am AEDT, with talented Under 11 to Under 14 athletes competing for world titles on the same beach as their sporting heroes. Nine Race One boards will be awarded as prizes, and every Under 11 to Under 14 surf race winner will receive a Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series prize pack.
Under 17 Board, Ski, Swim and Iron winners will also earn a Race One Ticket, giving them a place in the Open Final to race against the sport's elite.
Council, partners, lifesavers and local nippers at the event launch.
The youth championships will bring emerging athletes, clubs and families together for a celebration of surf sports, adding to the weekend's community atmosphere.
The Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Bonny Hills 7,000 and the Race One World Youth Championships are free for spectators across all three days, with locals and visitors encouraged to come to Rainbow Beach and experience the racing firsthand.
Flags from competing nations fly over Rainbow Beach.
Event details
Event: Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Bonny Hills 7,000
Location: Rainbow Beach, Bonny Hills, NSW (Wauchope Bonny Hills SLSC)
Dates: Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026
- Friday 30 October | 3:00pm: Ironman and Ironwoman heats
- Saturday 31 October | 7:30am: Board, Swim, Ski and team event heats
- Saturday 31 October | 1:00pm: Elite finals, live on YouTube and Facebook
- Sunday 1 November | 9:00am: Race One World Youth Championships
All times NSW local time (AEDT). | Spectator entry: FREE
Event information: worldoceanseries.com/pages/port-macquarie-7000
The Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series extends a huge thank you to its major partners, Shaw and Partners Financial Services, Race One Surf Craft, JAYD Swimwear, Surf Life Saving Queensland, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and Visit Port Macquarie, and to host club Wauchope Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club, for their valued support in bringing world-class surf sports to Bonny Hills and helping inspire the next generation of athletes.
About the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series
The Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series is the home of professional surf sports, bringing together the world's best Swim, Board, Ski, Ironman and Ironwoman athletes across an international calendar of events.
Since its inception in 2011 the Series has delivered more than 160 events, awarded over $3.5 million in prize money, hosted more than 60 live broadcasts and recorded over 42,000 race entries, with athletes representing 10 nations. Its international events span Australia, Great Britain, France, New Zealand and the United States of America.
Media contact
Ben Cochrane | Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series
ben@worldoceanseries.com | 0432 295 256 | www.worldoceanseries.com