The World Rally Championship is to return to Australia and it will held in northern New South Wales from 2009.

The region will host the event from September 3-6 every second year until 2017 in the new deal with New Zealand providing the venue in alternate years.

It will be the first WRC event held in Australia since it was raced in Perth in 2006 and will be the first time it is held on the Australian east coast.

"Hosting the World Rally Championship - the highest profile four-wheeled motor sport championship after Formula One - on a regular basis in Regional New South Wales will drive tourism, create jobs and deliver major economic benefits to the community," Events NSW chief Geoff Parmenter said.

The 12-round WRC includes events throughout Europe, South America and Asia.