Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

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Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby benjl » Thu Jun 11, 2015 3:36 am

Hey guys

After our house fire, the gf and I decided we should use some of our left over settlement to go on a holiday.
While I would love to go back to Bali, my gf is not interested and in the end we settled on Nadi, Fiji.

I had a breif search and found some surfing companies there!

Does anyone have any tips of experience of surfing around this island or whether there is any swell there?
I'm just debating whether to go to the effort of taking some boards over with me or flagging it.

We're going in mid Dec for 5 nights so i'm hoping to just get a quality couple of days in if the surf is good (looking for 1-5ft ish and no sketchy reefs if possible.)

Any help or feedback would be great before we book the flights and baggage~!

Cheers :D
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby dtc » Thu Jun 11, 2015 8:39 am

There is no surf at Nadi. Basically Fiji main island (Viti Levu) is almost totally surrounded by a reef . So inside the reef (the island) there is no surf; outside the reef there is lots of surf...but its a reef break

There are, however, some beach breaks on Viti Levu, such as Natadola beach, which is about 1hr or so from Nadi driving. I think there is a gap in the outer reef so some swell comes through. I'm not sure if December is a good time though. There are a (very) few outside reefs that are deepish or more like point breaks, so ok even if you aren't too advanced; but most of the reefs are pretty advanced (and require boat trips).

Its probably easiest just to hook up with a surf company - getting to a wave on your own might be hard or at least will require car hire (and they can help find the best spots for your level). Whether you want to take your own board or use their stuff I dont know; but since you are going with your gf and chances are you will only get one surf day, maybe just bite the bullet and hire a board - esp in Dec when its not surf season and you may not get to use the board at all

Certainly you wont be sitting in your hotel and think 'I'll just pop down to the beach for a bit of a surf'. The beach around Nadi is black volcanic sand, swampy/coral covered ocean floor and no surf whatsoever (actually, Im not even sure if Nadi has a beach - you might need to get to Denaru Island).

Also, where are you planning to stay in Nadi? Its been a few years since I was there, but its not the most attractive of towns...there are some resorts around (eg Denaru) which are pretty nice and Nadi is the hopping off place for the Mananuca Islands (many of which have resorts on them, or there are islands for day trippers). So there are plenty of things to do, the town itself not so much. Its not dirty or dangerous or anything, just nothing much to see. Viti Levu is pretty much a resort island - inside the resorts is luxury and all the rest; outside the resorts its surprisingly not very touristy. Although that may have changed since I was there.

If you wanted to maximise your surfing (keeping in mind Dec is not surf season) and wanted somewhere not too advanced, you could try one of the resorts at Natadola beach; otherwise you will need to travel a bit.
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby jaffa1949 » Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:42 am

Nada, nada and nada to Nadi, the town downright ugly compared to just about any resort, basically into type hotels with a swimming pool!

There are reasonable resort islands where you can snorkel and snuggle, and they often have swimming pools.
You can head out to the coral coast, there are some reef breaks there Hideaways is one, Sigatoka river mouth is on the way, it is a beach break.
Paradise island has access to outer reef surf breaks.
Momi shell cove has access out to Namotu and some less heavy breaks. Forget cloud break unless you are a pro, but good to go and see!

Why not check what your girlfriend has booked and what it offers.
If she didn't like Bali , understandable, see won't like the pushing ss of Indian traders on the streets , she is setting herself up for a pretty sad time. Resorts however can be really good!
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby benjl » Thu Jun 11, 2015 10:25 am

Thanks for the responses guys, I don't know a lot about Fiji so it was really useful feedback.

The place we were looking to stay was 'the anchorage' in lautoku?
Part of the package included some day trips to plantation island and the markets etc?
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby jaffa1949 » Thu Jun 11, 2015 10:44 am

I hope I'm wrong but I think you'll need good luck! :shock:
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby benjl » Thu Jun 11, 2015 8:51 pm

Please clarify Jaffa? The package is from a well known travel agency so i would've thought it to be ok?
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby jaffa1949 » Fri Jun 12, 2015 1:05 am

Benjl , brochures like surf board ads only say the place is good beautiful and everything you would want.
I often check Tripadvisor about any hotel, resort etc I am thinking about.
I know from travel i Fiji the beaches around Lautoka are pretty crap and the hotels are also not that high end either. Trip advisor showed quite a lot of complaints re attitude of staff and general facilities. They did mention the place is moderately clean.
Remember travel gents get free trips to review places but in the end they get their money from giving you a product!
I could be wrong about the Anchorage, but it is in my opinion a pretty daggy end of town.
I would think too that if your partner was dissatisfied with Bali, remember that Fiji is still a third world country outside the resorts. and the islands are where the seas, beaches and friendliness of the Fijian people is at their best.
Remember too that Fiji has had a number of military coups to change government, it usually doesn't interfere with tourists as they are pretty much the sole source of income to the country.
The Fijian Indians however seem to think every tourist is a potential cash sheep ( as opposed to a cash cow) and need to be fleeced.
Have your scam radar on, I'm used to Bali scams but the scams in Fiji leave Bali scams for dead. :shock:
I really hope I haven't made it feel to nasty , but if it is better than I have painted then all is well :lol:
I had a look at Google earth and you are right on the mouth river with a black sand beach and a bit removed from town so it is likely my picture is not quite applicable :D :D
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby benjl » Fri Jun 12, 2015 1:31 am

Hey Jaffa

Thanks for your advice, yeah I also read up on trip advisor etc too although I think it had around an average of 4/5 stars for reviews so thought it might be ok. I didn't realise or know that the beach was going to be rocky and average though!

I've got until Monday to decide as i've put the booking on hold but alternatively what is Samoa like? Any particular areas to go to? We were also looking at that a few weeks back but no good packages have come up recently.
Might have to go back to drawing board and see what's around!

It would be an absolute bummer to have gone through all the stress of our house stuff and then go through a miserable holiday experience!

Cheers
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby benjl » Fri Jun 12, 2015 4:06 am

Hey Dtc / Jaffa

I found a package to this place in Viti Levu? It says it's in Sigatoka?
Do you reckon this would be a better area to be in for both beach/holiday and surf?

http://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/Hotel_Revi ... _Levu.html
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby jaffa1949 » Fri Jun 12, 2015 4:43 am

That one i can personally recommend! My wife and I have been there!
Right on the beach and great views, very nice we had a beach front Bure.
My wife was very happy with it and she has high criteria for resorts to meet.
There is a small right hand reef break just down the beach a bit , not consistent, but it can be nice, no beach breaks as such except at Sigatoka on the way back to Nadi.
I think you would be in the good books with this one. :D
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby dtc » Fri Jun 12, 2015 8:55 am

Ive only ever stayed in resorts on one of the Mamanuca islands, never stayed at the Coral coast, although I did once spend 10 days driving around Viti Levu (the then single unpaved road full of logging trucks between Raki Raki and Suva was a, um, memorable drive...) so can tell you all about the small unresort towns (and Suva). However, my sister stayed at Hideaway and had a great time - although she was encumbered by some young kids, so what makes a great stay for her isn't the same as for you (I think the hideway is fairly 'family friendly'). She also claims the 'Outrigger' is better - but looking on line its twice the price, so ...

But I'm pretty sure, particularly given Jaffa's recommendation, that its a better choice than the other one and will be great relaxation. The only downside is that its a bit of a drive from Nadi (maybe an hour), so if you do want to go on a day trip out to an island then there is that further drive. But its not exactly an arduous effort, I'm sure there is a regular bus to pick you up and drive you door to door.

Don't get too excited about the beaches. The beach/sand itself is nice, but the ocean floor is usually reef/coral and at low tide it will only be a few inches deep probably. But its great for snorkelling and maybe a bit of sailing or whatever (tip: wear a rash vest when snorkelling - so many people suffering from 'snorkel back', as I called it - totally sunburnt for the 1/2 of the back that is out of the water, with the stomach side still bright white)

As I said before, in the resort you have all the pools and recreational activities and cocktails etc. Leave the resort and there isn't much - a few small markets, a few touristy shops. Not like Bali, for example; Fiji is pretty much still an agrarian society without much in the way of monuments or temples (although I did go on an interesting history excursion, with the headhunter sacrifice rocks and so forth). But if you are happy relaxing at a resort, and do some day trips to an island or hop on a dive boat for an afternoon to an outer reef, its very enjoyable.

I've always found buying the meal package to be worthwhile - perhaps the food gets a bit same same after a week and it might be cheaper buying individual meals, perhaps; but its not like you are surrounded by restaurants outside the resorts so you probably will eat at the resort anyway; and having paid for the food upfront you can pig out without worrying about the budget!

As to other choices, a friend of mine loves the Cook Islands, but they might be a bit harder to get to (and more expensive?). Fiji will be the best for a short break, however
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby benjl » Mon Jun 15, 2015 4:15 am

Thanks heaps for the feedback guys, i've got two enquiries lodged now for hideaways and also the sofitel on Denarau island. Will run them past the gf tonight and then book!

Also your comment about the 'Snorkel Back' made me laugh so much! :lol: :lol:
I made that same rookie mistake in Thailand a couple of years ago- did a half day snorkelling trip and had probably the worst sunburn on my back that i've ever had! haha :oops: :oops: :oops:
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby jaffa1949 » Tue Jun 30, 2015 12:05 am

Well Benjl where are you going to end up? :lol:
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby benjl » Sat Dec 12, 2015 6:09 am

Hey guys! So I ended up at the Sofitel in Denarau and contemplating taking one of the uber expensive half day surf tours ($160!!).

I was sceptical about going to the planned breaks like cloud break and such but I just read the report and it said 1.4m and getting smaller. I did bigger waves on my wide-tailed dominator last weekend!

Has anyone done of these tours or have any tips or suggestions?
I didn't bring any gear aside from some booties so I'm also a little nervous about borrowing their gear on these breaks.

The plan is cloud break, swimming pools, Wilkes, restaurant, Tavares rights, Namotu lefts etc or which ever one is offering the best offering.

Thanks guys
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby jaffa1949 » Sat Dec 12, 2015 7:29 am

Of those the most challenge for anything other than size is Restaurants on the back of Tavarua, full throttle barrel and a hungry reef, take your down line left hand speed game! All the others are longboard friendly ( more so anyway) so better options. Cloud break hmmm was too big and seriously side shore when I was there , so I opted out! Weird though , a reef in the middle of the ocean with the Fijian mainland right on the horizon, high tide the reef is not visible except for the wave!
Guess you'll see when you get there! Have fun :lol:
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby benjl » Sat Dec 12, 2015 9:13 am

Sounds like I might just have to bite the bullet and do the half day trip, hire some gear and hope I get first barrel that doesn't consume me :-) it's only looking to be 1-1.2m over the next 2 days so pretty small for all of them i would imagine
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby Big H » Sat Dec 12, 2015 12:49 pm

Monday AM looks OK...you'll have the tide as well so a little buffer from the reef....

http://magicseaweed.com/Tavarua-Cloudbr ... eport/669/
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby benjl » Sun Dec 13, 2015 12:20 am

Time to go book it in tomorrow!!
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby benjl » Sun Dec 13, 2015 7:16 am

Ended up costing $210 for half a day trip (no coaching, just being dropped to the spots) so fingers crossed its worth it!

They asked what I normally ride and I said something between 6'1 - 6'4 that's not too thin or narrow would be good?
They reckon it will be about 3ft tomorrow
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Re: Surfing in Fiji / Nadi?

Postby 312T4 » Mon Dec 21, 2015 2:55 am

Please, now you have to update us!! :)
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