Fishers Villa

Crescent Head

Surfing Competitions at Crescent Head

Crescent Head hosts three big surf contests each year: the Surf Rally in March, the Malibu Classic in May and the National Old Mal Titles in September. Each one fills the point with longboards, families and some of the best surfing in the country.

    A wave made for longboards

    Crescent Head's right-hand point break peels long and even along the headland. Longboarders have prized it since the 1960s, when it became the first stop for Sydney surfers heading north in search of the perfect wave. In 2008 the area was dedicated as a National Surfing Reserve, on Dunghutti Country, to protect that heritage.

    The contests here have a relaxed, community feel. As Malibu Club founding member Bob "Kenno" Kennerson put it: "It's always been about camaraderie; with getting a T-shirt or winning a trophy as a bonus."

    The Crescent Head Malibu Classic

    The Malibu Classic is the village's biggest surf weekend. It grew out of an interclub contest that began in 1989 between three clubs: Loggerheads, Mal de Mer and Crescent Head. The first Crescent Head Malibu Classic was held in 1994, run by the Crescent Head Malibu Club.

    The contest started small, with just six heats. It now runs more than 60 events. In 2023 it drew 236 surfers aged from 11 to 80, and added a new over-75 division. The over-70 and over-75 men's divisions filled first. As club president Roger Ferguson said, "It just proves that surfing never ever gets old."

    The Classic is held in late May, a quieter time of year, to bring visitors to the village. It works: local agents say contest weekends are often Crescent Head's busiest, and the 2026 event ran from Thursday 28 to Sunday 31 May.

    The National Old Mal Titles

    Every September the point turns back the clock. The National Old Mal Titles celebrate the golden era of surfing, with a focus on surfcraft made before 1968. Organisers describe it as Australia's oldest running longboard competition.

    There are 18 divisions, including Greenough, D-Fin, Logger and Timber boards. The 2026 Titles ran from 11 to 13 September and drew 125 surfers from across Australia. That year's event was a tribute to the late Diana Chisholm, a life member of the Disabled Surfers Association of Australia.

    The Crescent Head Surf Rally

    The Surf Rally opens the contest year in March. It is a community day at the point, with eight divisions from super groms and under-18s through to women's, open, over-50s, old mal and retro boards.

    The 14th Surf Rally was held on 14 March 2026. All proceeds, including a much-loved surfboard raffle, went to youth services in Kempsey. Emcee Fergo summed up the spirit of the day: "Don't pillage the village. Don't destroy what you have come to enjoy."

    Coming to watch

    The contests are free to watch. Find a spot on the grassy foreshore above the point, where you can see every wave from take-off to the beach. Bring a chair, a hat and something warm for the late-May mornings.

    Contest

    When it runs

    Who it's for

    Crescent Head Surf Rally

    March

    Groms to over-50s, old mal and retro boards

    Crescent Head Malibu Classic

    Late May

    Longboarders of all ages, 60+ events

    National Old Mal Titles

    September

    Pre-1968 boards and classic mal riding

    Dates change each year, so check the Crescent Head Malibu Club contest page before you book. Contest weekends are among the busiest of the year in the village, so book your accommodation early.

    Sources