Longboard surftrip suggestion (Jaffa?)

[312T4]

Hi guys,

it's been a while, how is it going?

I ask Jaffa because of his experience, but everyone is welcome!

I'm thinking about a surf trip with few mates next year (feb-may) for our 40th birthdays!
We are later in life beginners and ride longboards. Not total beginner but somewhere after that.

Do you think is there a nice place somewhere in the pacific area where we can surf without being smashed by nasty waves?
or just go to Noosa?

Thanks guys, much appreciated
3

[jaffa1949]

I'm honoured with the request!
Here are my current thoughts for a more reliable surf friendly spot , but is not the Pacific Ocean. I would suggest Heaven on the Planet,on Lombok Indonesia, they have facilities to accommodate a group and Inside Ekas is a user friendly wave ( left) and if like on the Memorial Muzza swell, from the big Indian Ocean low there are breaks further into the bay.
Outside Ekas is a Sunset beach ( Hawaiian type wave) not an intermediate wave at all.
Prices are reasonable and the wave itself is down a long flight of stairs, and a medium paddle out or an entry through a keyhole in the reef.
There are easy waves accessible from surf camps at Gerupuk and along from Kuta Lombok but I don't know what they are like.
Travel to get there east coast Australia , fly to Bali then fly across to Lombok.
Garuda fly Longboards free but you need to ensure that the Bali lombok connecting flights can carry longboards.
There is an inter island ferry from Padang Bai ( Bali) to Lembah (Lombok) a big vehicular one takes about three hours and is a very interesting cultural experience.
there are fast ferries to the north part of Lombok ( one exploded recently) and are fast but a little sketchy and you need to make transport arrangements with wherever you are going to stay.
I'm heading off to heaven on the planet in September as the easieer wave and cheaper cost will kinder to my knees and wallet. I'll keep you posted.

[dtc]

Jaffas suggestion sounds perfect

Somewhere more expensive, I imagine, and perhaps might require a bit more skill, but which offers surfing, diving, and fishing etc. is Nusa Island in PNG. One of my friends went for his 40th a few years ago, but I haven't been. He thought it was great, apart from the waves becoming 'boring' by about day 5 because they were just sheer perfection...over and over.

NSW South Coast perhaps isn't as exotic, but has a lot of surfing options and is far less crowded than N NSW or Qld area. Mostly beachies tho. Not exotic! But you can rent a big house right on the beach.

Around 1770 in Qld has a soft wave that works sometimes and day trips out to Heron Island for a bit of entertainment

Or Noosa, Byron, etc

Or even Hawaii?

But Lombok looks great

[jaffa1949]

Jaffas suggestion sounds perfect

NSW South Coast perhaps isn't as exotic, but has a lot of surfing options and is far less crowded than N NSW or Qld area. Mostly beachies tho. Not exotic! But you can rent a big house right on the beach.

Some nice spots down in Jaffa territory just do it outside school holidays . From Kiama to Narooma at least!

[Aqualife]

Hi there,
I have been to both - Jaffa's suggestion in Lombok and also Nusa Island in PNG. In fact, when I was on Nusa Island, there were 7 guys there from Sydney on a "man only' holiday - they were all on longboards and none of them were any good but they had lots of fun. Nusa Island would be my choice for a group of friends, depends how many you guys are - my mates just rented the place out last year and there were 10 of them. I stayed there a few times and we were max. 9 guests at busiest time. You will have to go before the end of April to score any waves though. May is out because nothing breaks then. The waves never get over 4 foot and are just perfect. You stay on this private island in huts and then take dinghies out to the breaks, maximum number of people on a wave is 6 and you rotate. You can't really do better than that.

Lombok would be my choice if you were to go end of March to May but not Feb/early March due to dirty ocean and rainy season. Some don't find it too bad but I don't think it's ideal.

The "Pacific" is a big place. I have surfed in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Easter Island, Vanuatu and New Caledonia and Hawaii.
Apart from Hawaii and some outer Fijian islands, none are beginner friendly.

I have lived in Noosa for 9 years - just be careful you miss the Longboard Festival in March - skip the entire month - it's mayhem, just google your dates, also skip school holiday over Easter.

Depends on what kind of holiday you want, how much cash you have, narrow it down and I am sure between us we can help!

[312T4]

Thanks guys this is awesome!

Yes, I know that the Pacific is a big place but if you tell me that is mostly expert level that's already a good thing to keep in mind.
We could be 3 to 5 guys. Im not sure if the ladies will come. Hopefully not, I admit, because things wil get complicated in a sec!
North NSW is great but I can drive there with 3 days available. We'd like the oversea adventure!
Noosa.. I surf there every second time, and if it's big in the Gold Coast. Actually last year -2014- during the festival I had great sessions at TT with a decent crowd level! (I think many were aviodiing the place)

So, yes, I will expplore Jaffa's suggestions(thanks a lot), which find thumbs up also from you all and start spreading the message. Since it's a special occasion the budget is good.
Also, Aqualife, you mentioned Hawaii and some Fiji island. Are you able to be more specific? Hawaii is not exactly an adventure, but specially with ladies we can park them in a nice hotel and still have fun. Do you refer to Waikiki or there are other friednly spots? The reef is not a big deal as far as the waves don't chew people. Actually is Waikiki a dull place or can it be fun?

Thanks a lot guys.
(I made some more progress since that video I posted. I'm cutting back and playing a bit on the face.. I'm s o stocked!)

[Aqualife]

Hi,
OK, Nusa Island I wouldn't take females who are not surfers - you can walk around the island and there is nothing to do but snorkel and chill out. It' very remote and paradise but also quite basic - no air con, beautiful huts and mozzie nets and food is served in an open hut, you can play pool, play the guitar, listen to some music and chill in a hammock. The weekly trip across the channel to the main island to a restaurant is the absolute highlight.

Fiji - Namutu Island - longboarders outnumber shortboarders, it's a pricey resort but well worth it, suitable for anyone.

Hawaii -
Big Island - unsuitable for learners, only 1-2 waves to learn on for beginners in Kona and 1 in Hilo, the rest is hard to access and difficult to surf generally - not recommended
Molokai - going there this year for the first time, but remote and not very touristy, so probably not for first timers
Kauai - small island, easy to get around and plenty of longboard spots, quiet and very pretty and a lot more laid back than Oahu
Maui - the "whitest" island (lots of mainlanders move here and it feels less Hawaiian than the other islands), big resorts, lots of honeymooners and families, something for everyone, plenty of longboard waves, the most popular island after Oahu - a little like Byron Bay on the North shore there - organic cafes/hippies, yoga retreats etc
Oahu - busy but Waikiki can be a whole lot of fun and the waves are straight out in front of the hotels, plenty to do for non-surfing partners
If you go with females , the non surfing kind, they'd probably be happiest on Oahu or Maui. Unless they are the chilled out beachy non shopping nature loving kind, then Kauai is good too.

Decisions, decisions....

I would always choose Hawaii but then again, I have pretty much been everywhere else.

[312T4]

Thanks again!

This is going to take a lot of thinking!

[jaffa1949]

Serious question how many hours on a Plane could you tolerate with your friends??
A good plus is the New Guinea set out from Brisbane so the journey is shorter.
Spoke to a guy who went there in the peak time said there were some great lefts and particularly long right called Long Long ( wonder why).
The fishing and diving is great too and a real cultural experience.Surfing on a vibrant live coral reef is something very special.
All the New Guinea surf camps also put a large portion of their fees back into the local community and they limit the number of surfers so early booking for groups is a must , but well worth it as no crowds.

You are the crowd you take with you because early enough you can book the entire camp for your group

Just an add on Nusa Island Retreat surf season is November to April so February/March is your best bet.

[312T4]

Hi Jaffa,
we are keen to fly whereever! Seriously, I think up to 10-12 hours is still manageable..
Thank you again to all
we need to start planning..

[jaffa1949]

Think of the when, firstly, (getting guys organised is like herding cats), suggestions will then be available.
My Lombok trip draws nearer.
Every thing I can think of is max six hours and tropical.
Even got thoughts on Taiwan.
keep talking

[leinosaur]

 Unless they are the chilled out beachy non shopping nature loving kind, then Kauai is good too.

Hey that's the kind I got and she wants to go to Hawaii . . . What's the best time of year for Kauai then, longboard fashion?

Also, who knows the North Atlantic? I fly out of Boston or NYC so Caribbean and European spots are the least expensive. Puerto Rico is a Christmas destination for the Quebec crew, I hear, and further East I have read Portugal catches any swell, and is smaller but still fairly consistent in summer; but what about France or Spain? I'm good with those languages but haven't worked with Portuguese . . . Somewhere between french and Spanish with " -ao" at the end of every word, it looks like. Someplace to let kids and wife surf a bit but also occupy them (non shopping unless for food) so dad can surf more than a bit. . . . .