2025 National Gathering - ‘Living Water’
The 43rd CSA National Gathering will be held from Thursday 17th April through to Monday 21st April 2025 at the Coffs Coast Adventure Centre, on the North Coast of NSW.
The conference theme Living Water is based of John 4:13-14. ‘Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
THE ACCOMMODATION
The Coffs Coast Adventure Centre’s dormitory style accommodation will fit approximately 130 people in gender specific dorms. Each room has bunk beds with their own bathroom facilities, balcony and reverse cycle air conditioning. In addition the site has capacity for 200 campers. The site will be hiring in portable hot showers and toilet facilities for use in the camping area. The camping area will be all non-powered.
Special Info for Camping/FAQ’s
Q. Will the camping area have access to drinking water or do campers need to bring their own? Yes, the site will provide filtered drinking water for the campsite but it is also recommended to bring your own. There will also be bore water available in the washing up area but this will need to be boiled for cooking, washing up etc. Campers need to bring everything they need for this.
Q. Can people have their own fires and bring their own fire pits/wood? Yes, people can bring their own raised/contained fire pits, as long as they are elevated up off the ground. People will need to bring their own fire wood. People will need to exercise safety measures and ensure all fires are out if their campsite is unattended and the fire is out when going to bed at night.
Q. Will campers have access to power? No, Unfortunately there wont be access to power at the camp site.
Q. Will campers have a covered/communal area/washing up facilities or access to hot water incase of bad weather? There will be some gazebos set up with a washing up station and there will be access to bore water. Campers will need to bring their own camping equipment to boil water and cook ect.
Q. What will the facilities be like? The site will be hiring in portal hot showers and toilet facilities that will be located in the one area and communal for all campers use.
THE MEALS
As this is a smaller site, the site will cater for a maximum of 200 people so get in quick to secure your accommodation and meal tickets! Please note if you book a ticket with meals, no dinner is provided on the Thursday evening of arrival to the site, and no lunch is provided on the Monday of departure.
THE MEETINGS
We will be using the adjacent Coffs Harbour Christian School auditorium for our main group meetings. Locations can be seen in the site map below.
THE TICKETS
Early Bird Tickets are open NOW and close 5pm 30th January 2025. All other Registrations close and all tickets must be paid in full six weeks prior to the event as requested by the venue, prior to 5pm Wednesday 5th March 2025.
Dorm + Catered, 135 spots available. (We will have a few teachers style rooms that are located in Block E on the map below that could be suitable for a couple travelling with an infant under 2 years old. This is a house with seperate rooms and shared bathroom facilities. If you are interested in this please let the office know on [email protected] and we will see if we can cater for this.)
Camping + Catered, only 65 spots available. (Most suitable option for families due to the gender specific dorms.)
Camping + Self-catered, 135 spots available (Also suitable option for families), and
Day Visitors.
FAMILIES: The site does not have high chairs or portacots so please bring your own if needed for the dining area/accommodation if needed.
THE WORSHIP
We are excited and privileged to announce that ONE BODY WORSHIP will be our worship band at this year’s National Gathering!!
ONE BODY WORSHIP is a band that exists to create and lead people into an atmosphere of worship, passion and praise towards JESUS.
The team is made of of 10 young adults from the northern beaches of Sydney. They all share the same heart and vision of uniting God’s people as ONE through worship no matter what denomination, age, race, culture or people group.
THE SPEAKERS
Jamie and Janie Coyle from the Sunshine Coast, QLD will be the Christian Surfers Australia National Gathering 2025 speakers! You can check out some of Jamies amazing story below. We cannot wait to delve deeper into God’s word together!
THE MaPS
THE packing
DORM ACCOMMODATION: You will need to bring ALL bedding suitable for a single bed (beds will be bunk beds): Fitted and flat sheet, pillow, and sleeping bag.
CAMPING ACCOMMODATION: BYO all camping gear including drinking water (the site will provide filtered drinking water but it is recommended to bring your own). Elevated/off the ground fire pit and your own fire wood.
2 x Towels: Beach, Bath Towel.
Clothes, shoes, hat, sunnies, rain jacket.
Surf Gear: Surfboard, swimmers/wetsuit, surfboard wax, sunscreen, zinc.
Bible: Pen & notebook.
Phone Charger.
Toiletries.
Drink Bottle.
Any personal medication.
THE schedule
Please note this may be subject to change.
THE Directions
Coffs Coast Adventure Centre: 226 Bonville Station Rd, Bonville NSW, Australia
The Surfing!
Afternoons at National Gathering include free time for those keen to check out some epic surf spots with new friends!
Remember to always be respectful to the local surfing community!
This website has some helpful info on surf spots on the Coffs Coast.
https://www.coffscoast.com.au/article/riding-waves-for-days-a-surfing-odyssey-on-the-coffs-coast/
Christian Surfers Australia National Gathering
The Christian Surfers National Gathering is held every year over the Easter period. The conference is held in a different location each year and attracts from two to three hundred participants.
The highlight of the conference is the Easter Sunday dawn paddle out. A paddle out is a traditional Hawaiian tribute to honor the life and legacy of a person who has passed away, particularly within the surfing community. It involves surfers paddling out to sea to form a circle, share memories, and sometimes spread the ashes of the deceased.
Christian Surfers paddle out on Easter Sunday to remember and reflect on the death of Jesus. The ceremony is simple, a short talk from a respected elder in the Christian Surfers community, Amazing Grace is sung, and the surfers paddle out, forming the shape of a cross in the water.
After a minute’s silence is held to reflect, the surfers shout, ‘He has risen’, this is a powerful moment for all involved as they splash the water and celebrate that Jesus died but then he rose again to life.
After the paddle out we often have some participants deciding to be baptised, this is always a special time to witness and a celebration for all.
Steve Bailey, Christian Surfers National Director, has been participating in Christian Surfers Paddle outs for the past 30 years. According to Steve “Christian Surfers is not big on traditions but this is a really important one that we as a mission, family and as surfers culturally remember that Christ rose three days after being crucified. It brings us together and builds unity of purpose and connection. It is such a unique experience to be a part of that words just don't cover.”
PAST National Gathering Highlights
Video credit to Jordy Relf. Drone footage credit Caloundra Surf Photography.
EVENT PARTNERS
Thank you to our generous partners who help to make National Gathering possible. We are currently looking for Partners for this event in the form of either cash or product based sponsorships. Please contact [email protected] for more information.
