Surf’s up in Sydney Olympic Park, with the much-anticipated URBNSURF Sydney now officially open to the public.
Waves have started pumping out west from today, with the 3.6-hectare site now ready to host over 1,000 daily visitors, seven days a week.
The park features a Surf Academy, a leisure swimming pool, a skate pad, a Rip Curl retail store, a health and wellness center.
The park has been designed to offer an inclusive way to experience the sport of surfing, from expert to beginner wave settings and everything in between.
The world-class Wavegarden technology ensures members, guests and those trying surfing for the first time will be able to experience perfect waves all year-round with a one-hour session providing up to 12 perfect waves for each guest.
Damon Tudor, CEO of URBNSURF, expressed his excitement about the park officially opening its doors.
“It’s a huge moment for the URBNSURF team, our shareholders and our strategic partners who have been involved in helping us bring our dream for URBNSURF Sydney to fruition,” he said.
“Finally seeing the gates open and the wave machine pumping is a feeling like no other.
“Just like Melbourne, URBNSURF Sydney offers the perfect surfing conditions that cater for high performance athletes and advanced surfers through to people trying surfing for the first time. We’re extremely proud to be celebrating this achievement and we are stoked to see our customers ripping it up in the lagoon.”
Visitors to URBNSURF will also find Sandy’s, the state’s first-ever inland surf-side eatery, offering a blend of coastal cuisine and laid-back vibes.
Following Sandy’s, the highly anticipated RAFI URBNSURF is slated to open its doors this winter, promising an elevated dining experience with panoramic views of the lagoon and park.
Applejack Co-Founder Ben Carroll said together with URBNSURF they’re crafting an inclusive destination that adds to the vibrant and growing western Sydney community.
“As you enter the surf park, you’ll be greeted by our all-day laid-back eatery, Sandy’s, embodying Australian beach culture with food, drinks, and vibes from sunup to sundown for surfers and spectators,” he added.
“A few weeks after the official park opening, we’ll announce the launch of RAFI URBNSURF, our second site for our iconic hatted restaurant in North Sydney.
“RAFI URBNSURF Sydney offers a premium dining experience, blending sophistication with a coastal feel. Led by Chef Matias Cillóniz, our menu celebrates local produce and sustainability, with à la carte and banquet options perfect for groups.”
The NSW Office of Sport provided $1 million to URBNSURF Sydney through the Greater Cities Sport Facility Fund towards the development of the $2.2 million URBNSURF Surfing Centre of Excellence.
Over the next two decades, URBNSURF Sydney is projected to contribute a net economic benefit of $250 million to the Sydney Olympic Park area.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.