Newcastle offers surfers plenty of world-class surf breaks, as recognised by the city's annual Surfest competition and the declaration of Merewether Beach as a National Surfing Reserve in 2009. But a lot of these breaks are known only by way of 'surf vernacular'. So what, and where, are these secret locations? Here's a guide.

Our daily surf reports are quite possibly something you don't pay close attention to - unless you're a surfer.

But if you do catch them, you'll often hear Dave Anderson referring to what might sound like a long and mysterious list of secret locations: Poggo's, The Groper, Shark Alley, The Cowrie Hole and the mysterious Point X.

1233's Carol Duncan knew perhaps a handful of them but decided that a deeper understanding of Newcastle surf vernacular was required and headed to the beachs with Dave to put a place to the names.

"There's five beaches and basically 29 recognised surf breaks that locals, or Novocastrians, love to call our own." said Dave.

Outside surf culture, however, most of us would have no idea of the names of those 29 breaks.

Dave is a lifelong surfer and board-maker himself so has a very intimate knowledge and understanding of our local beaches and their qualities for surfing. Indeed, Newcastle's beaches are very well-known amongst the international surfing community, many of whom flock here each year for the international Surfest competition.

One of the locations Dave refers to most days is 'Pogo's'. Dave says that the break gets its name from a local businessman, "He was a printer, I believe in Darby Street. He had the house on the corner of Coane and John Streets and he actually used to let us use his hose to hose ourselves down after we'd had a surf,"

"We even had a board club there, the Pogo's Boardriders, many years ago."

Enjoy the four parts of Carol's interviews with Dave and see if you can resist the urge to go for a paddle!



View 5 Beaches 29 Breaks in a larger map

Here's Dave's list of breaks, although he says there's quite a few more 'unofficial' ones.

The Harbour

The WedgeThe SpitIndo'sThe ReefNobbys BankThe GroperCowrie HoleFlat RockNewcastle PointShark AlleyDivider RockSouth NewcastleSusan GilmorePoint ImpossibleGoondiwindiBar ReefBar BeachSouth BarThe CliffDixon ParkPogo'sMerewetherThe RocksThe LadiesThe BombieSailors RockThe RacetrackPoint X