Surf camp holiday with the family

[dave137]

I've spent a lot of time on this forum and have found it a brilliant place to learn about all things longboarding. A big thanks to all the posters for sharing their knowledge which has been awesome.

Anyhow, I've been surfing for about 4 years now, pretty much all on a 9" longboard. I get out about 2-3 times a week and would class myself at the bottom end of intermediate. I'm about to plan a holiday with the family (wife + 2 kids 10-12 years old) and they've decided they all want to learn to surf.

Does anyone know of somewhere reasonably comfortable in Asia or the South Pacific (doesn't have to be too flash) where they have daily beginner lessons at a safe break as well as intermediate longboard surf spots for me? I'm not a big fan of really busy tourist locations if it can be avoided.

Any ideas would be great!

[jaffa1949]

Hi Dave, it is a fairly complicated ask! Most daily surf schools will be centered around a tourist Mecca to snare the students.

Where are you traveling from?
That may be a consideration, my initial thoughts are Heaven on the Planet resort on Lombok in Indonesia, they have a small sand break for learners and Inside Ekas is longboard wave at you level and will give you some room to up you game. Diving for your wife, no shops an off the tourist track except for those that are staying.

Possible too Raglan in New Zealand, sort of Nzeds Byron Bay but there are surf school at the main beach and then you can try Raglan for yourself.
Tonga, not really, Samoa no, Fiji no,

there are surf schools in Bali but be prepared to be swamped, same as the Gold Coast

[dave137]

Hi Jaffa, thanks for replying.

We'll be coming from Sydney. Heaven on the Planet looks good (on their website), and it seems they can provide surfing lessons by the hour which is good. Have you stayed/surfed there before?

Not sure NZ will be warm enough to get the wife into the water on a regular basis! And I take your point about Bali and the crowds. Crowds are something I would prefer to get away from if at all possible.

[jaffa1949]

Sent you a PM

[dave137]

Thanks for the PM Jaffa. Very helpful. Don't think I can PM until I've posted a little more...

[surf patrol]

(I'll change this pm setting now)

[jaffa1949]

Thanks for the PM Jaffa. Very helpful. Don't think I can PM until I've posted a little more...

No, that's true!
You can ask further questions if they are helpful for general information I'll post and if it is directly pertinent to you I'll PM.
One last thought; spend some time with your sons going over the lesson together, one of my favourite times with my children right through from primary school has been surfing with them, now with grandchildren. That bond has helped my family through some pretty heavy stuff as it is outside the cares of the world. 'ohana is the hawaiian word and it really does express the feeling of surfing with extended family.
Best thing I've done for my children is teach them to surf and understand the sea!

[surf patrol]

(try it now)