Aussie surfing legend Mick Fanning has opened the doors to his local Surf Life Saving Club on the Gold Coast with an exclusive overnight summer stay in partnership with Airbnb to promote water safety.

Lucky guests will have the opportunity to stay at Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club, overlooking the Gold Coast surf break near where Fanning honed his craft and be able to join him for a surfing session.

“I am really excited to host guests on the beautiful Gold Coast and near the surf break where my passion for surfing started and then became my career,” Fanning said.

“As an Airbnb host and to mark this important work with Surf Life Saving, I hope to encourage people to enjoy our beaches and waterways safely and to complete the online training now available from Surf Life Saving Australia.”

As Aussies prepare to hit the beaches this summer, Airbnb partnered with Surf Life Saving Australia for the beach safety campaign to educate both Australians and travellers who visit our 12,000 beaches.

Last summer, 134 lives were lost, averaging at least one drowning per day. Older adults were particularly at risk, being 39 per cent of deaths and 27 per cent of victims were people born overseas. There have already been six deaths in Australian waters since 1 December.

Fanning’s iconic Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club will host the exclusive, one-off stay on Airbnb as part of the campaign.

Fanning’s love for the water extends beyond surfing with water safety always top of mind as he and his young family spend much of their time on beaches around Australia – including the Gold Coast’s Palm Beach – and across the globe.

The stay, bookable for a family or group of four people at the surf club, will include a surf session with Mick, a sunset barbecue, a personalised shopping trip to Fanning’s local Rip Curl store and the opportunity to stay in the stunning surf club overlooking the breaks where Fanning developed his world champion surf skills.

“I stay in homes on Airbnb all over the world and love how these stays have given my family and I a unique way to explore amazing places and the best beaches nearby while also getting to know the locations and the people who live there,” he said.

The news follows Surf Life Saving Australia launching Beach Passport, a new virtual and free course that provides a fun way for the public to gain basic water safety awareness and stay safe at the beach.

Airbnb Country Manager Susan Wheeldon said Airbnb has an important role to play when it comes to educating both domestic and international travellers on water safety.

“Coastal getaways are always popular, with an over 35 per cent growth in local and international visitors last summer opting to stay in beachfront listings. Airbnb wants to play our part to keep people safe while they enjoy our pristine beaches and waterways.

“Staying in a home on Airbnb means you can enjoy a pool in your backyard or find secluded beaches and hidden swimming spots. Often that means you may not have in-depth understanding of water safety or be unfamiliar with the local conditions.

“It’s important to remember not all beaches are patrolled and not all the time, so swimming can be a risk for both domestic and overseas visitors.

“We want to ensure everyone can enjoy the water and our coastline safely and return home to loved ones. That’s why we are partnering with Surf Life Saving Australia to ensure our guests have access to practical information and resources to help them enjoy the water safely this summer.”

John Brennan, head of commercial at Surf Life Saving Australia said Airbnb’s support will assist the organisation’s mission to educate as many people as possible over the summer.

“Surf Life Saving is thrilled to be partnering with Airbnb to help deliver valuable water safety education to those visiting our beautiful coastlines.

“Whether it’s educating oneself on the conditions or potential hazards of the local beaches where they are staying, or completing Surf Life Saving’s new ‘Beach Passport’ online educational tool, we look forward to working together to strive towards the ever-important mission of zero preventable deaths in Australian waters.”

This ultimate and one time only summer stay takes place from Friday 24 January to Monday 27 January 2025. The three-night stay can be booked for just $7* for a group of four guests.

The stay will be available to book HERE on Wednesday 18 December at 10am AEST and will include:

● A loft style converted Surf Life Saving Clubhouse overlooking Palm Beach;

● An up-close look at Mick’s impressive display of memorabilia and competition surfboards;

● A surfing session with Mick at Palm Beach;

● A sunset barbecue;

● A shopping spree at Mick’s local Rip Curl store with Mick on hand to offer advice on the best surf-ready gear.