Surfing Waves

Ok, so I am trying to plan a trip to get out of the states for a few months..
I am dealing with some issues within my family that is just very frustrating so I want to try and take some time away because I feel like I am going to have a nervous break down any minute.

I am thinking a few places.. some I would kill to goto for a few months.. but some I know would be very affordable for a few months..

So far my list is as follows:

Costa Rica
Australia - Secret Harbour/Perth Area
Bali
Sayulita Mexico
Puerto Rico

also looking for more ideas.. maybe something not so common but has a nice tropical-ish atmosphere with decent waves? I am not looking for waves double overhead. I would like some nice 3-6ft average surf..

thanks for any suggestions guys!!

West Australia? Noooo
East coast. So much more choice.
Summer coming up, lots of NTH East summer swells, followed by big southerly changes.
Byron Bay. You can go there and blend in, live on 2 minute noodles for 6 months and find some cheap share accom, or better still just buy a cheap jap van to live in for a while, and get around.

Better still!
www.sumatransurfvoyages.com
10 days will feel like a month.... Matt will help you out.

^^wow way cool! I will check that out.

I have a huge interest in moving to the Perth area which is why I was thinking that area. but it really doesn't matter as long as I am going somewhere.

After looking at Byron Bay on google maps, it makes complete sense why it would be better.. breaking from the fiji island area.
Australia is one country I want to goto more than any other country so this sounds like it may work. Depending on how cheap I can find housing.

Have a look at Gisborne or Taranaki in New Zealand

ok cool. Always wanted to go there too.

Does anyone have any idea of where I could stay for a month or more? At least a month would be best.. maybe a hostel or something in Au or NZ?

I can't find any online in byron bay area.

here we go:
http://www.byron-bay.com/bunkhouse/index.html

anyone have information about this place? Good? Bad?

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserRe ... Wales.html


depends how much time you plan on staying there and it's only one review.

try here:

http://www.hostelworld.com/findabed.php ... Australia&

thats what I used for my trip

If you want somewhere cheap and not too far I'd look into Cabo San Lucas at the southern tip of Baja in Mexico. I've never been there but have heard its a good uncrowded spot with warm water, I'm not sure how advanced of a spot it is but I'm pretty new to surfing so I'm sure it wouldn't matter for me but if you're really good then maybe its not the best place.

greg@hoodatsurfco wrote:maybe a hostel or something in Au or NZ?

www.backpack.co.nz/

I've heard great things about this site:

www.bbh.co.nz

Depending on how much cash you can spare, in NZ for a month, I'd look at hiring a cheap car and using a tent, or getting a cheap camper rental for a month. Something like wickedcampers or spaceships.

You can get a lot more quality waves if you're mobile, and free camping in NZ is easy.

Taranaki is sick, if you don't mind reefs. Gisborne is sick if you like beachies. Mickey Dora disappeared there for a while.

If your on a limited budget make sure you check out www.couchsurfing.com

My buddy went to NZ for a month last year and just camped the whole time and stayed in a hotel the last night.
He went with 2,000 US dollars and spent it all.. but mainly because he had it to spend.. and went drinking a lot. I don't mind reefs.. although I can't say that from experience.. I have only surfed flat rock reef before.. so not quite the same/dangerous.

And to California Guy.. I am not a highly skilled surfer.. I mean I can surf.. but I am no irons brothers haha.. really on a rating of 1-10, 10 being Kelly slater I am probably a 5... which isn't too shabby I guess.


thanks for all the ideas/thoughts/resources guys.. keep em coming!

If you have ever been to a surf destination and loved it I would love to hear about that too.. I am highly considering costa rica or panama just because its so damn cheap.. both in staying there.. and in flying there.. but if I camp out where ever I go.. it will be cheap either way.

I've loved surfing loads of places.

Costa Rica would have to be one of the best, closely followed by the West Coast of France in the Summer - think babe of the day thread all over the place but for real, with great waves, great food, great culture and cheap booze - it's a nice hassle free trip too.

NZ is great, never been to Oz but Indo, Fiji, Tahiti, they're all good in different ways. Maybe you should just get a round the world ticket and surf everywhere?

Ireland is good too, not exactly tropical, but it's got great waves, great people, interesting place to visit.

I wanna goto Ireland one day.. but for the sake of this trip I want it to have a tropical vibe to it.. for the sake of something different. All my beaches have an ireland feel to them.. green rolling hills.. fog almost every day... cold water hehe.

Costa Rica is high up on my list.. as its only about 500 bucks round trip to get there and back..

I am also considering Sayulita Mexico as its about half that price for round trip and cheap food.. housing.. etc etc. and the surf there isn't epic by any means.. but it is certainly fun. and thats all I really want.. tropical...with fun surf.

RJD wrote:If your on a limited budget make sure you check out www.couchsurfing.com

this is the greatest site I have ever seen... THANKS so much for this!!

I'm interested in the idea of what greg is doing too, I'm wondering if anyone who has traveled to these places has been able to get a job and work while there, if I were to ever go somewhere for a while I would want to work part of the time since I don't have any money saved up.. are there any places where its cheap to live but they have Americanized resorts nearby that would hire an American to work for a few months?

^^Good question... that would be very cool.

Oz, NZ and Europe all have working holiday visa schemes, which allow you to work of periods of time.

Google the immigration websites for those countries. I know in NZ, it's easy enough to get for someone under 30, and it allows you to stay in a job for up to 3 months, and stay for a year in total. There's loads of work about, fruit picking, construction, stuff like that.

Again for Australia you can get a working holiday visa if your under 30, and work for the whole period but cant work for the same employer fo rmore than 6 months.

^^that is very cool.
I will have to look into that.

How hard is it to get the working holiday visa?