Four teenagers from Brewarrina in far west NSW have spent a week enjoying life in on the Beaches as part of the Northern Beaches Council Youth Exchange Program.

Council CEO Mark Ferguson said the program, now in its seventeenth year, aims to promote friendship and understanding between beach and bush communities.

The four young Aboriginal people, aged 13 to 15, travelled more than 800 kilometres and enjoyed a packed itinerary: learning to surf, meeting lifeguards, visiting Luna Park, riding the Manly ferry, visiting Koori Radio station and shopping up a storm.

“This is a fantastic partnership with Brewarrina Shire Council which gives four to six young people a taste of a different kind of life for a week,” Mr Ferguson said.

“For some of the teenagers on this trip, it was their first time on a plane, first time on a ferry and first time in a city the size of Sydney.

“Programs like this are a great way to promote respect and understanding across different cultures and ways of life.

“They have all had an incredible week and I know they will have many stories to share with friends and families back home.”

Mr Ferguson said Northern Beaches teenagers would soon have the opportunity to apply be part of the exchange to Brewarrina in April as part of 2018 National Youth Week celebrations.