Check The Surf
Surf Conditions South Pacific
Surf Conditions Legend
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| DESTINATION | level | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Note |
South Pacific |
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| Breakas Resort - Vanuatu | over 3 | Potential for quality surf..not overly consistent | ||||||||||||
| Ha'atafu Beach Resort - Tonga | over 4 | Surf All Year Summer rights and Winter Lefts | ||||||||||||
| Matanivusi Surf Resort - Fiji | over 2 | |||||||||||||
| Nagigia Island Resort - Fiji | over 2 | surf all year round | ||||||||||||
| New Caledonia Catamaran Charters | over 4 | Ultra consistent from Apr till Sep | ||||||||||||
| Ouano & Nekweta Surf Camps | over 5 | Ultra consistent April till September | ||||||||||||
| Sa'Moana Resort - Samoa | over 4 | Jun-Sep strong SE trades possible | ||||||||||||
Breakas Beach Resort
| over 3 | ||||||||||||
| Level | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Experienced Surfers will love the hollow and powerful Breaks left within short paddling distance of the resort. For the experienced Wind/Kite surfing enthusiast the lagoon offers WORLD-CLASS conditions (BYO equipment). Breakas Beach is the kite surfers’ and surfing beach of Port Vila.
Click here for Vanutau surf gallery
The Resort owner’s son, Sean, is a very accomplished Kite-Surfer and has hosted several professional kite boarders at Breakas who were extremely impressed with the lagoon and conditions.
The Resort managers brother, Ben, is a solid goofy-footer and if the left out front is working, Ben is sure to be out there before work to keep you company and is happy to pass on some local knowledge (quite often you will be the only surfer around).
World Surfaris MD, Shaun Levings was in Vanuatu with his wife in May 2005 for a romantic long weekend. Shaun went with the attitude that if he scored surf it would be a bonus. It just so happened that it was the same time period when the WCT event was being held at Cloudbreak in Fiji and the surf was 8-12’ for the event. 2 days after that SE swell hit fit Fiji, it came marching into Vanuatu at solid 6-8’ and Shaun ended up scoring 2 days of punchy lefts out the front of the resort to himself (a couple of surfs with Ben).
Reef boots are a must as it gets very shallow at low tide and you have to wade through the shallows in the lagoon to reach the surf break.
2 boards are sufficient (everyday short board mid range gun).
Any surfer going to Vanuatu should go the attitude that if you score waves it’s a bonus. The surf there is not as consistent as some other Sth Pacific destinations, however there will be times when it’s going off ! With no-one around.
There is a right hand reef pass within 5 mins walk that is a bit mellower than Breakas left and then Pango Point (long mellow right hander) is within 10 mins walk and popular with local kids (Pango surf club has been formed) and longboarders.
Haatafu Beach Resort
| over 4 | ||||||||||||
| Level | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Haatafu Beach enjoys surf year round, with two very distinct seasons. SUMMARY:
NOVEMBER TO MARCH - Most consistent time of year with North swells coming from Hawaii. PREDOMINENTLY RIGHTHANDERS. OUTER REEFS (eg. ET's) likely to break over this period as well as 3 breaks within walking/paddling distance of the resort.
APRIL AND OCTOBER - Transitional months with the change of Nth/Sth Swell seasons. Swell can be confused and not so perfect at this time.
MAY TO SEPTEMBER - Predominently Sth Swells and mainly LEFT-HANDERS out the front of the resort. Not as consistent as Summer months however very good waves can be had at this time.
Click here for Tonga surf gallery
Winter (May - September) - South Swells.
Largest winter swells generally occur from June to August. South swells originating from winter lows in the Tasman Sea and New Zealand strike the Haátafu coast, turning on five great left-handers. "The Pass", "Corners", "The Bowl", "Motels"and "Fishtraps" all within 10 minutes walk from the resort and a short paddle across the lagoon.
Summer (November - March) - North Swells.
Mainly north swells originating in North Pacific (same swells that hit Hawaii) and locally generated cyclone swells. Winds tend more NE during these months with more variable conditions during passing cyclones and summer storms.
Your choice of four right-handers and one left, all within 10 minutes walk from the resort and short paddle across the lagoon.
A chain of offshore reefs extending northwards from Haátafu beach face directly into prevailing ocean swells during the summer season offering further surfing locations for resort guests...a couple of world class spots exist. Resort boats are used to transfer guests to offshore surf spots when conditions are favorable.
Most of the spots directly in front of the resort work on high tide only and at low tide the reef is dry. The exception being the outer reefs and outside lighthouse.
Tonga widely known as 'The Friendly Islands' is one of those special places that remains unspoiled by mankind and provides fantastic surfing and cultural opportunities.
Matanivusi Surf Resort
| over 2 | ||||||||||||
| Level | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
There is surf all year round in Fiji, but like anywhere else cannot be guaranteed. There are 2 surf seasons. One is from April to October when the low pressure systems in the Southern Hemisphere produce consistent ground swells which can get up to 8 to 10’. The cyclone season from December to April is associated with shorter swells, however the conditions could be called ‘tropical’ as it is glassy or light winds all day and extremely hot with afternoon showers. This is the time when the local breaks fire up. During the winter season, the SE trade winds which are offshore at Frigates can blow very strong (20-25knots) for up to a week at a time.
Click here for Matanivusi Fiji surf gallery
The surf which is all outer coral reef and over head high can be challenging for inexperienced surfers. For this reason surfers need to be competent and confident. Recommended surfboards would be a ‘hotdog’ short board and a larger semi-gun for the bigger days. Board shorts can be worn year round, a rashie and sunscreen are needed for sun protection and booties are optional for the reef.
Only a short boat ride from Matanivusi Surf Resort, are three right hand reef breaks that, depending on the wind, tide and swell, can offer the experience of a life time. While twenty kilometers offshore is the world famous Frigate Pass.
J’s: J's is a hollow, fast wave that breaks from 2’ to 6’. It’s best around the high tide with winds from NE to W. It needs some west in the swell to run down the reef.
Shifties: Shifties has a deep water take off making the break a ‘not too threatening’ ride. This outside point of the Barrier Reef picks up all the swell and can be double the size of J’s and Vunaniu. It is powerful and thick. When everywhere else is flat you can almost guarantee a 4 foot wave at Shifties. Also it can be surfed at all tides. Again a wind of the north quadrant is needed.
Vunaniu: Vunaniu is a short wedging right which has a bowl section at the end, usually smaller than other breaks this would be a good option for the kids. It does get good. It is best at high tide.
Frigates: Frigates is definitely a world class left that can rival Cloud break for power, size and consistency. Because of the gradual tapering of the reef it can handle all swell sizes. The SE trade winds are offshore, so when the inside waves near Matanivusi are blown out there is always the consistent Frigates. Because it’s out in the ocean, about 20 kilometers from Matanivusi, it picks up all swell. However some west in the swell can make it a bit dicey. It definitely makes the end section stand up! Frigates is accessed be a number of resorts and can get crowded. However, once the swell gets up over 10’ there is a drop in the numbers tackling the waves. A longer board is recommended to tackle the big drops and strong off shore winds.
Nagigia Island Resort - Surf Conditions
| over 2 | ||||||||||||
| Level | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
We have an expert live-in SURF GUIDE to ensure you MAXIMISE your surf-time whilst staying at Nagigia. With a choice of five breaks, there's a wave to suit everyone, even if you're a beginner.
The traditional surf season is 1st April to 31st December. The trade winds (South Easterlies) are most days of the year except in summer (hurricane season – December through to March) when there is also regularly a North Easterly wind. Most of the other famous resorts in Fiji do not work on both of these winds but Nagigia is very lucky - its reef curves nearly 270 degrees so that we have excellent breaks that work well with both winds.
Click here for Nagigia Island surf gallery
Because of our totally unobstructed exposure to the southern ocean it is very rare that we CAN GET FLAT. The months January through March are NOT AS LARGER SWELL but MANY OTHER BREAKS OPEN UP DUE TO THE WIND DIRECTION CHANGE.
We believe very much in the quality of the surfing here and the good word is really spreading.
We usually have two boats available during the day for your convenience. Boats can be available as early as 6.30am and at times during the day subject to your requirements. You will be given a guided tour of the break by boat and advised how best to paddle to/from that break to the island and what tides are best. There is also a superb right-hander ‘Uatotoka”, which is about 50 minutes away by boat. There is a charge for transfer to this distant surf break. US$20 per person, minimum 3 people.
Surfing information written by Taka Mashiko, Nagigia Island surf guide:
You will see reference to "King Kong". That is because the famous 1935 movie of King Kong was filmed underneath the mountain Nabukelevuira. This mountain is now commonly known as "King Kong Mountain" and overlooks the Nagigia Island Resort and surrounding surf breaks.
Nagigia Island Resort has 5 surf breaks, depending upon wind direction, tide and swell. Nagigia Island is situated on the northern part of the outer reef (just off Cape Washington) that curves around almost 270 degrees, picking up wind and swell from many different directions. The trade winds (South Easterlies) are most days of the year except in the summer season (December through to March) when there is regularly also a north Easterly wind. The different wind angle makes different breaks offshore.
The Nagigia Island outer reef is more exposed to swells than any other resort in Fiji and often has surf even when other surf resorts do not. The large King Kong mountain near the Nagigia reef also has a moderating effect on the wind at the King Kong Left break so that we are still operating when other resorts are blown out.
King Kong Left: This is a 40 metre long wave that has a take-off in deep water that I have lot of fun surfing. Of course, you can deep charge into barrels and more barrels on some days but most days are also rideable by the average surfer and a lot of fun. This break works most tides but is least surfed at low tide, as the water is shallower then. This break is also the most consistent in the area as the trade winds are offshore and it is very rare for the surf to ever be too small to surf.
King Kong Right: This is often 6ft plus face height and on most days, the size is more. This is an exciting very fast tube for the more advanced rider. The trade winds are on shore for this break but the summer wind (North Easterly) is offshore. Best early morning before the trade winds start or late afternoon if the trade winds die down.
The Bombi: 10 minutes from Nagigia Island Resort by boat and can be seen from the resort deck. This break has not been surfed yet and probably needs tow in.
Middle Daku: Daku is the Fijian name for this beautiful sandy beach. In the middle of the beach, 60 metres from the sand, is a coral break. It breaks both right and left but the right is generally better. The trade winds are on shore/across this break but the summer wind (North Easterly) is directly offshore. Best early morning before the trade winds start. Best at high tide.
Beginner Daku: Works a couple hours either side of high tide and is an ideal friendly area for beginners. Very soft small break most days, which has nice little reforms for white water, take-offs inside. At Beginner Daku, the predominant trade wind (South East) is onshore. So the best time is early morning before the wind gets up if tide is favourable. Even when the wind is onshore, this is still a fun friendly break. Suits long boards and loose short boards. Nagigia has a unique reef set up. It is blessed with a full spectrum of wave types, tricky to find in elsewhere in Fiji. If you want another break, you are lucky that around here, depending upon
weather and tide, there are some other breaks.
You are advised to bring at least 2 surfboards. Please have them in a single board bag for their protection when travelling. No more than 3 surfboards per surfboard bag. Rubber booties are essential.
New Caledonia Catamaran Charters
| over 4 | ||||||||||||
| Level | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
New Caledonia has over 200 reef passes. Each one is a potential surf break in the right conditions. Normally for our charters we visit the most consistent we know of. There are approximately 10 breaks within 8 hours sailing from the most southerly to the most northerly.
Click here for New Caledonia Charter surf gallery
Froggie: Short left that works from 1m to 3m.
Skatepark: Long fast left that can start at the take off point at only 0.5m and grows as it swings down the reef to a solid 2m "skate park". Not for the faint hearted.
Light House: Fast, long, barrelling right-hander. Can get very shallow.
Dumbe: Left long fast barrel. When big the take off reminds me of small Teahupoo in Tahiti. Dredging from below sea level. Right long steady wall, can get barrelled and can be a race to keep up. Works in big swell on low tide.
Isie: Incredibly fast Right hand barrel. No time to think just go!!! Finishes in shallow water. - Booties recommended.
Ouano
| over 5 | ||||||||||||
| Level | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Our pride and joy. When working this wave has three sections that link up. Takeoff outside and pull in for a short tube, race the wall with time for one reo before cutting back to line up for the second gaping barrel, come out and crack off two three more reos before racing into the third tube section and finish the wave with a few more reos before your legs collapse in from fatigue.
Click here for New Caledonia camps surf gallery
Love this wave, usually not much current. Ouano doing its stuff !!
Surfing at Ouano is exclusively on coral reef. The break is located in a channel of the barrier reef, about ten km off shore and these can only be accessed by boat. The ride is worthwhile as the Ouano pass offers world class surfing. Jayak surfari speed boat service will take you out to the spot in 20 minutes. The boat takes you out to the left every day but on those rare days that the surf quality is not there the boat captain may decide to take you to other spots.
Ouano - The Left: Ouano left is the most consistent surf spot in New Caledonia. It can be ridden from 2-15 feet with various swell directions (from South-West to South-East). The trade winds are off shore for this break so it can handle up to 15 knots of south-easterly winds. The 300m long break, can offer day-to-day variety from big barrels or playful long lines wrapping around the reef. It can be good on any tide but it is usually best with the upcoming tide. On the good days, three sections connect, making it a great ride, with slow cut back material sections between speedy barrel sections.
Ouano – The Right: .Ouano right is a fast wave with a great barrel section but it is less consistent and shorter than the left. This break is just across the pass from the left, about 5 minutes by speedboat. It is a good option with south-west swell direction from 4 to 10 feet, and no wind.
Nekweta - The Left: 15 Minutes away, a radical wave which works with south east to south west swells, it can be ridden up to eight feet. You will be highly impressed by the clarity of the water and the coral beneath. Turtles and mantra are often around.
Nekweta - The Right: Just 5 minutes away from Nekweta Surf Camp, a very consistent and fun wave, works with all swells from south east to west, can be surfed up to ten feet. A dugong often comes to say hello to the surfers.
Tenia: Loves a big swell. There are three breaks two lefts and a right. The left at the pass is the go. I have surfed this at a solid 3m and was shitting myself. I have also grovelled at 0.5m here. A great consistent spot with a beautiful island nearby.
Sa'moana Resort
| over 4 | ||||||||||||
| Level | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Upolu Island on Samoa has the potential to offer surf all year round, subject to swell and wind conditions.
There is a vast variety of surf within proximity of Sa'Moana Resort. Surfers must be of intermediate level or higher to safely enjoy the array of reef-breaks
Click here for Samoa surf gallery
Samoa has several surf seasons outlined as follows:
May to September
The most consistent swells come from way down in the southern ocean and intensify before exploding on Upolu Island's south shore during the May to September season. During this period the SE trade-winds that are the prevalent in the Sth Pacific can have an impact on some of breaks that are more exposed to the wind, whilst other breaks are un-affected eg.
Boulders is protected by the headland and Devils Is. is off-shore in SE winds. At times the SE trades can be VERY strong and there MAY be times when conditions are not ideal (un-safe) for boat travel to the surf breaks. On these occasions the surf-guides will do all possible to track you down some surf by vehicle access (even travelling to the North Coast where the breaks will be smaller in size but not wind-affected). During the peak Sth swell months (May-Sep) there will be days when there is very little wind and conditions will be perfect.
Upolu Island's south shore breaks include
Village Lefts A down the line left-hander within walking distance from Sa'Moana resort, can get very good.
Resorts Right and left peaks set up out front of the resort, breaks similar to a beach break, except on reef
Wackas: Hence the name, a very fun playful left, great for surfers of all ability and craft.
Barras: A perfect right hand set up breaking on shallow reef. Starts off small, growing into the barrel of your life.
Devils Island: A freight train left on an outer reef can produce long, insane barrels.
Inside Siumu: A short fun left with wackable walls.
Pebbles: Super round left that horse shoes almost to 90 degrees off a wedge, offshore in SE trades. Out the back is a much longer mellow left, big walls, big turns
Coconuts: An incredibly hollow and sometime intimidating right-hander. Has been compared to HT's in the Mentawais.
Outside Siumu: Longer and bowlier than inside, in the right swell direction, can be all time
Boulders: A classic left-hand point break. , Very powerful and protected in the SE trades. Can hold up to 15ft
There are a couple of other SECRET spots not mentioned above that Sa’Moana guest can surf ALONE when conditions are appropriate. 2 breaks in particular (known as Y Tops & Spot X) offer mindless perfection at times and are regularly sampled by lucky Sa’Moana guests.
It is common to encounter other surfers when surfing at the better known breaks (easily accessible) of Boulders, Coconuts, Devils Is. & Siumu/s, however conditions could rarely be described as crowded, however at the lesser known spots (difficult to access) you will usually just surf with other Sa’Moana guests.
February to April & October
During the months of Feb/Mar/April & October, the Sth Shore breaks can get VERY good with glassy, clean conditions due to lack of wind factor at this time. South West swells (generally not as large as May-Sep months) are common over this period, being the favoured swell direction of some of the right-handers on the Sth Coast eg. the world-class set-up of Coconuts. During this same period the North Shore of Upolu can often have good waves also due to Nth Swells pushing down from Hawaii.
November to January
The Summer is when the north shore of Upolu is at its best. North swells originating in Alaska travel via Hawaii and hit Samoa's north shore approximately 3 to 5 days after hitting Oahu (Hawaii).
Upolu’s north shore breaks include:
Tiavea Bay: A series of breaks on offer in this incredible bay.
1. A "Sunset” style right-hand peak that provides heavy tubes, can hold huge swell, has been seen at 15ft plus.
2. A rivermouth with lefts and rights breaking of a peak, not as critical as some waves, great for doing turns.
Fagaloa Bay: A series of points, not dissimilar to Noosa - needs exact swell direction. (very difficult to access without boat and rarely surfed for this reason).
Solo Solo: Three separate, medium length hollow right-handers breaking on shallow coral reef stretching over 400m, all varying in difficulty. Swell magnet and offshore in most winds Laulii: Right hand point break also offshore in most winds. Playful, medium length wave, which will barrel when it gets bigger. Needs a big swell.
Dragons Breath: This wave is world class, possibly the best set up on Upolu Island. 10 min out from Apia, approx 15 min paddle out, can hold huge swell. The right hander has big open barrels you can drive a car through, breaks very similar to Pipeline, The left off the other side is longer 150m-200m, fast really hollow tubes, has three separate sections, with this perfection always comes a price, experienced surfers only.
Pudding Rock: Short playful right-hander (featured on front cover of Surf Adventures).
Waterfalls: Another short, fun right hander, 1 min from pudding rock, Unlike other breaks best at low tide Once again many more unnamed breaks exist on Upolu's north shore. During ‘Summer’, SW swells can also occur giving Sa’Moana guests the opportunity to sample some Sth Coast breaks also (usually very glassy conditions on the Sth Coast over Summer).
PAY AS YOU GO SURFING TOUR (A$60 per person)
Sa'Moana Resort no longer offers a pre-paid surfing package and surf trips are purchased directly on a pay as you go basis. This offers great flexibility for example if you are travelling with a family or with your non surfing partner you may opt not to take a trip on a particular day or if surf conditions are poor and the 'expert' surf-guides call a 'NO SURF DAY'. World Surfaris clients have a 'Guaranteed space on the trips if you pre-advise us in advance you will be surfing. Surf trips are weather, swell and tide dependent and operate with a min. of 2 people.
Sa'Moana Resort offers its surfing guests, maximum 15 surfers, access to the World Class reef breaks on Upolu's rugged South coast via choice of its 2 power boats, both boats offering seating beneath a canopy for protection during rain squalls and heavy sun. The boats are moored in a lagoon only 20 minutes drive from the resort, which provides better logistics and even more convenient access to the breaks than ever before. Please note the boat can only be launched 3 hours each side of high tide as it is too shallow at low tide. An average surf trip duration is 4-6 hours duration taking into account travelling time.
Surf 1 is a 28ft monohull with plenty of shade and powered by 2 x 75hps Yamaha’s, she can accommodate max. 8 surfers 2 guides.
Surf 2 is a 34ft twin hull with plenty of shade and powered by 2 x 85hp Yamaha’s, she can accommodate max. 15 surfers 2 guides.
Both surf vessels also offer excellent platforms for snorkeling and game-fishing (separate excursions available at extra cost.)
Surf 1 and Surf 2 - Approx. Times to breaks by boat from the lagoon (in good sea conditions). Obviously these times will be increased during bad weather.
* Add 20 minutes vehicle travel from resort to lagoon.
- Spot X, Y-Tops- 35 mins
- Pebbles – 10 min
- Barras – 15 min
- Wackas – 15 min
- Coconuts/Siumu - 20 mins
- Boulders - 25 mins
- The Island - 35 mins
The North shore breaks can only be accessed by vehicle (2 x current model Toyota Hi-Ace vans) -minimum 1 hours travel time. These vehicles are ideal for exploring the North and East coasts of Upolu during summertime north swells or during periods of unfavourable winds for the south shore breaks.
Sa'Moana Resort employ 2 full time Australian surf guides who have intimate knowledge of all Samoan surf breaks and are very capable all round 'water-persons '. The guide’s main focus is to ensure Sa'Moana guests safety and maximum surf-time.
Surfing in Samoa is a relatively new tourism market. Independent surf adventurers have sampled Samoa’s offerings of world class reef breaks over the years, however unlike several of it's higher profile Polynesian neighbours, Samoa is still pretty much a new frontier as far as surf travel destinations go. At this stage Samoa has less than a handful of local surfers.