East Java Wave Palace

"Had the best time staying at Istanaombak… crazy hollow left and right wave palace, you could not draw a better set-up! hanging in the camp which is literally on the sand was unreal, beautiful coastline and some awesome local cuisine… so much fun."
Kieren Perrow 

Hey Rod,

      Know this testimonial has been late coming mate but as they say "better late than never" & in your case "the best is always worth waiting for !!" as has occurred at your paradise - Istana Ombak Java. Having travelled, lived & surfed extensively throughout Indonesia since the 1980s and experienced some ultra magic places throughout the Indonesian archipelago during my time- Rod's 'Istana Ombak –Wave Palace' environmentally conscious hideaway completely took me by surprise. Not easy after a quarter of a century of Indo hustle ! Istana Ombak is in a word "unique", so close to everything Java has to offer but yet so far removed, so far away in time. You want surf, scenery and serenity, a hassle free holiday then utopia can be yours when you spend some time hangin out here. Rod has created a comfortable low key haven for a limited number of surfers / family & friends who wish to experience the joys & simplicity of an earlier time to which people sort an Indo escape. No hassles no hawkers no shopping !! Just great fresh food, friendly locals, coldest beer & a whole lotta fun.While the surf was the initial attraction for me I returned with my wife to find that there were far more hidden treasures to be had in this remote green cool space of Java. I dare not deliver on these here but digress and allow you to discover the romance that Rods reveals if you ever have the pleasure in visiting this diverse and unique area of Rod's world in Java. Oh yeh – the sunsets you'll die for ! Terima kasih banyak Pak Rod untuk Istana Ombak – looking forward to our next sojourn…
Bergos xx
 
This is where you've always dreamed of.Luxury accomodation,hollow right,hollow left,both consistant and in view from you room.You need not paddle out because the current will take you to the take of zone.When not surfing relax watching the waves while eating gourmet breakfast or lobster and drinking beers. Life is not tough here and non surfing partners love it.Say no more..I'll be going back for thirds.        
Pelican Pete knox
 
Hi Rod,
Thanks for the recent trip to your island paradise. There is always a wave with some true gems on offer and the while being supper chilled and relaxed in star digs the food on hand anytime you want it is truely amazing. Thanks again to you and all the team for making our holiday one to remember, we will be back definatley.... Cheers mate.Tim Blankenstein
Indoecosurf is one of the most Idyllic locations I've visited in Indonesia. The resort is situated in a beautiful bay within spitting distance of some epic and uncrowded waves. The accommodation's are luxurious and comfortable. The food is absolutely delicious and the beers are always frosty cold. Great place for families, romantic getaways or simply cruising with the boys. Rod is a consummate host and his staff are friendly and efficient. I wish I could live there permanently :-) Gerhard Engelbrecht
 
This is the place to go. You dream about a bay like this when you are a grom. Perfect left and rights in front of your doorstep and the most picturesque white sand beach. Bring your wives , girlfriends even your mistress they will all love it. See you guys back there soon. Brad Masters Photographer
 
Just had acouple of Days filming for the latest Go-Pro Cameras Promo Clip at resort,wow is an amazing place,great waves,food & staff top shelf,wish could hang out longer but for sure I'll be back,do yourself a favour. Taylor Steel -Poor Speciman Productions
 
Best spot to just relax and eat sick food. Surf pumps all throughout the day with no one out defiantly coming back next year.Taylor Sidney
Awesome place. Phenomenal barrels. Highly recommended for hassle free intense waves... the place pumps!! Great place to take your missus too, if you must...Simon Perrow
Had such and epic trip 10 days of perfect barrels, great food and ice cold bintangs in such an amazing place. Cant wait to get back there next year. Luke Cooper CNC Shapes
 
Great food epic staff.. Booked for my birthday next may .. Who's coming?? James Wood
 
Had a month up there offshore everyday,never got under 3foot,good fishing, fresh sashimi,lobster, mudcrab an array of fish caught in the boat.Uncrowded az.Unreal staff couldnt help more ,coldest binnies in Indo ,farrkn grouse joint back there in a heart beat. Jimmy Kennedy
 
One of the best indo trips ive done,Uncrowded great food great waves. Definetly one of the nicer places to stay in indo cant wait till you put the pool in so i can have a couple of bintangs in it. Cant wait to get back there and get pitted. Evan Mcgregor
Nice location ,best place for surfer to hang out,,and good angle for cameramen ,and the room clean,toilet very exclusive and I like that you used natural roof for the resort,it look very artistik,,,GREAT..Made Switra 
 
I have now been to Wave Palace (IstanaOmbak) resort three times now & have found it to be a great adventure with good uncrowded surf, great food, good fishing & the staff at the resort very friendly & helpful. The resort provides very comfortable accommodation right in front of the break in which you are mesmerised with the sheer beauty of the place & the waves. I think it is the whole experience of the place that makes this one of the most enjoyable holidays. Terry Chandler,Lennox Head
Have had 2 trips to the camp, first one i spent my 50th birthday with some close mates and camped in tents on the beach. Went back again the next year and stayed in luxury accomodation. On both trips the food was superb, standout local fresh seafood and never ran out of ice cold beer. A standout cocktail night. The waves not for everyone but a true challenge for the advanced surfer. It has that feeling of bali in the early 70s. For the guys looking for a place to take your girlfriends or wives, this trip will put you in the good books. Steve blacky wilson
 
I have been to the camp/resort twice now & going back next year,I have seen it evolve from a cool camp to an amazing resort still keeping the special vibe,great waves,food & staff & the traditional javanese massage was rejuvinating !!! a special place one of my favorites on the planet. Shane Flemming,Uladulla
 
What more can be said about a place nicknamed The Wave Palace...This is the best kept secret in Indo but the word is spreading like wild fire and it is no wonder with the quality of waves, comfort and service that Wave Palace has to offer. From the moment our plane touched the ground we were treated to luxury living with an extremely compfortable airconditioned drive thru the jungle to Istanombak (The Wave Palace). On arrival we were greeted with smiles that didnt fade the whole time we were there. The place is amazing with 6 star accomodation that caters to every type of traveler. The bay has the types of wave out the front that you used to draw in school books. A long punchy left at one end that can offer a a long walled rippable wave or a Teahopoo style barrel of your life. 100 meters opposite is a fun barreling right with a wall to smash or throw the fins. Both waves handle small swells and big heavy thick slabs for the hell chargers with back wheels of steel. The remotneness of these waves assure you that you will have the joint pretty much to only you and your mates guarenteeing the waves of your life. When out of the water there are no shortage of thing to do or see in either in the crystal blue water or the surrounding jungle. And if you just want to relax and wath the mechanical waves out the front there are plenty of places to kick back relax and enjoy the surrounds. Rod and the crew will make sure you never go without stocking the coldest Bintangs in Indo that never run out (trust me I tried!) and Miss Wyn who keeps the 5 star food coming the whole trip. Each night you can kick back enjoy the freshly caught seafood and check out the pics and videos of the days thrills and spills all while listening to the local musos rock the night away. IstanaOmbak is an extremely addictive place that keeps you dreaming about the waves long after you get home. This is the reason people keep going back and is quikly becoming the next hotspot on the global surfing map. Do ya self a favour and give rod a call, ya wont regret it. Quality and good times guarenteed. Widdel Danger Latta
I'd just like to say a sincere thank you for my recent trip to your fantastic new eco surf resort at Istanaombak!
It was an amazing experience in Java from pick up to drop off at Jogjakarta Airport and I can honestly say there wasn't one facet of the trip I didn't enjoy! The surf set up has so much potential and what really impressed me was the variety and options no matter the wind and swell direction within a short trip by either one of your boats or courtesy of your driver (on hand at all times) with of course the jewels in the crown no doubt the quality left & right hand waves straight in front of your resort.
I know you were putting on the finishing touches to the accommodation when I was there but the bungalows were already so nice and it was a luxury to have hot showers and ensuite bathrooms. Special mention must also go to your friendly staff not only were they helpful and reliable but the food was delicious especially the lobster, mud crab & sushumi (which seemed to be on tap) in that unique indo style with everything fresh & straight from the sea.
I thought the weather was ideal with that cooling breeze (it seemed less humid than Bali) and I personally didn't see a mozzie. The water temp must have been 25 or 26c and just in front was great for swimming and snorkelling when you just want a quick cool off. Not forgetting the 'sunset tour' in your boat with a bit of fishing and sight seeing along that part of the spectacular Javanese coastline.
You must be really proud of the way you are developing your resort while doing it in a way that is sensitive to the environment, and helping the local people and their economy at the same time. You could see how the locals were always pleased to see us all and there was a genuine respect for you and what you are putting back into their community.
Rod you’re a great host mate and special mention must be made that even under great 'demand' the beer was always icy cold and never ran out. I look forward to my next stay and hopefully will be able to bring the family, as I reckon they will love it!
Wishing you every success with your venture.
Greg Spray
RNLI Divisional Lifeguard Manager - Cornwall
Return to the Wave Palace
The trade-winds had started to blow, clearing the rain clouds and marking the start of the dry across the Indonesian archipelago. Though early in the season, storms were already brewing far over the horizon in the Oceans lower latitudes, their distant fury tempered to ruler lines by the Indian Oceans vast expanse.
We had been watching from afar, scanning the internet models for the tell tale bands or red and orange that translated to azure swell-lines stacked to the horizon and fanned by the trades. The first such blobs of the 2011 season promised a solid six-to-eight foot southwest swell with light trades in Java. Phone calls were made, bags packed and I flew out to Bali to meet my brother Stephen and photographer, Bradley Masters.
We arrived late at night and caught the first flight to Java early the next morning. Our driver Mas Aris was there to meet us. In another life Mas Aris must have been a race car driver. He was weaving in and out of traffic like he was trying to beat his personal best time. It was a white-knuckled ride, but he turned a three hour drive into a two hour dash.
When we arrived at the ISTANAOMBAK resort a pleasant surprise awaited us‚ creature comforts. My last visit four years ago had been a different affair, and after doing time in a tent with no running water, toilets or power, the comfortable rooms, toilets, friendly staff and running hot showers were a welcome relief from the lush Javanese jungle that surrounds the resort, right down to the water's edge.
The resort owner, Rod Steele, brought me here on that first trip. Since then he's been working to build the only resort in the area, employing local labour and helping the community to grow with a percentage of his profits going to the families of this small village. This has made for a really safe resort, supportive and happy community.
Rod has named the resort "ISTANAOMBAK" which means 'wave palace'.
It's fitting. When i was a little kid I would draw bays identical to this one; a perfect right at one end and a perfect left on the other with a small channel in-between. It's a salubrious setup for any surfer.
We went for a swell, and a big one at that. It never got under four foot and on the biggest day there were the odd ten-foot bombs pushing through. There were never more then four people out at once and most of the time it was just my brother Stephen and me trading waves. Sometimes with Stephen on the right and me on the left, both of us would get spat out into the channel on the same wave. All time.
Indonesia is getting crowded these days. It's hard to find empty lineups. This was Rod's motivation for establishing Indoecosurf's small-capacity resort far from Bali's crowds. Oh, and as it picks up more swell than many more poplular spots, you are pretty much guaranteed to score waves in one of Indonesia's most scenic locations.
Anthony Walsh
April 2011