Hi All,

There isn’t actually a ‘Tupira Times’ which is a shame as lately the little surf camp in Madang Providence has a lot news I’d be interested in. Looking over their last few submissions its been pretty bloody impressive and this latest report is within keeping.

Also big shout out to Keith….

Cheers and Enjoy we at World Surfaris HQ did… Â

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi ALL,

There’s a running joke in World Surfaris HQ that before you put in for time off you have to make sure Justin will be in the office and not on a surf trip – he seems to go away a bit. In truth it’s no more than the rest of us but lets face it as the only bachelor in with the World Surfaris office he’s free to sample anyone of the dream destinations that make up our buffet. The rest of us grit our teeth and listen intently ( if perhaps jealously) to the stories and and go ‘ooooooo’ and ‘aaaaaaaa’ when he brings back the photos. Honestly who can blame him. His latest adventures took him to PNG to the Surf renowned Kaveing region (Nusa Island Retreat and Rubio Plantation). If anything most of us want to go more after hearing his recount. We got him to write it down so you would too…

ENJOY

From Justin ( the ever trekking consultant himself)

PNG 2011/2012

This is my second ever trip to PNG and my first to Kavieng in the New Ireland province. This part of New Guinea is probably the most famous surfing area in PNG with the SAPNG endorsed surf charter PNG Explorer & two camps (Nusa Island Retreat in Kavieng & Rubio Plantation Retreat in Central New Ireland).

It’s Christmas Eve and Air Niugini have told me that it’s unlikely I’ll get to Kavieng today because the flight from Sydney has been delayed and I will miss my connection from Moresby to Kavieng. I can’t complain though as Air Niugini put me up at the Gateway Hotel in Moresby and gave me a generous dinner voucher which allows me to try the local Barramundi.  After a long day at the Moresby domestic airport on Christmas day, I finally get to Kavieng in time for Christmas dinner & some cold SP Lager’s at Nusa Island Retreat.

Nusa Island Retreat is an incredible setup only a short drive & boat ride from Kavieng airport. It has been in operation since the late 90’s and is run by the Keane family (Shaun, Shannon & Nick). They have neat bungalows spread out across the calm side of Nusa Lik Island with a large undercover restauraunt/bar area at the forefront. The bar is as well-stocked as they come which is impressive considering the location. It’s definitely worth the extra for one of the four over-water bungalows which are relatively basic inside but in an amazing spot right over the water.

First morning and the swell has a bit too much East in it for the renowned spots of Pikinni’s & Nusa Lefts but Lou (Nusa Island head surf guide) has a hunch that Nago Lefts could be on. It was only 1 – 2ft but running along the reef perfectly for up to 100-150 metres and there were only 4 of us in the water. Three of us hit it again for a couple of hours by ourselves at lunch-time.

Food is definitely a big part of the experience at Nusa Island. There is a varied menu for Breakfast & lunch with the dinner buffet being the big affair. The buffet can have anything from Chili mud crab & Lobster salad to grilled pork & beef/chicken satay skewers. Fresh fish is a common menu item as the seas are filled with them. In two fishing sessions at NIR, we caught a number of Spanish Mackerel along with a few Dog-tooth Tuna & a nice green Job fish. The other boat didn’t land any but they hooked onto two Sailfish in less than one hour.

The wind doesn’t cooperate for my last session so I hit Ral the right-hander before leaving Nusa Island. Ral picks up more swell than the other breaks and there are fun 3ft waves on offer. It’s not as perfect as the other waves with a few peaks but between 5 of us in the water we each have our own peak basically. I’m sure on its day it could be a great wave.

After brekky, I farewell the Nusa Island crew and get dropped back to the jetty where I meet Shane Clarke who is the main man behind the Rubio Plantation Retreat.

Rubio Plantation Retreat is located about 3 hours drive south-east of Kavieng in the beautiful Central New Ireland province. The trip from Kavieng to Rubio along the Boluminski highway is incredible with lush mountain range vistas and countless clear freshwater streams feeding into the ocean. Rubio itself is nestled on a Cocoa plantation between two headlands with a private beach out front. The only noise you can hear is the ocean & the odd vehicle passing by. The retreat is very eco-sensitive with all power generated from solar and hydro sources. Rubio’s five bungalows are set up along the shorefront with views of the various peaks out front. The dining area is on the beach line in front of the Kitchen/Shane & Annette’s house.

The first few days at Rubio, there are two Aussie couples staying at the retreat so there are only 4 surfers in the whole camp including myself. The first morning bears howling winds & small swell so we decide to go for a drive to see more of the coastline with the chance of a wave. We check all the spots protected from the wind but the swell isn’t getting in. Shane has a hunch on Kisela which is a fair drive from the retreat but it proves to be a good call. From the beach it’s easy to see this place is more exposed to the swell with at least 2-3ft of swell. The right is the longer wave breaking for up to 50 – 100 metres as it bends around a rocky outcrop.  It wasn’t the heaviest wave but it had a ledgey take-off and some whack-able walls.

After a solid session at Kisela and the 1.5 hour drive back to Rubio, we have a veggie curry for lunch and kick back for a while before surfing out the front. We surf the right & left out the front of Rubio at least once a day during my stay. It’s not the most perfect wave but the right can run nearly all the way into the beach where the channel rip spits you back out into the line-up. The left has more power but it’s not quite as mechanical. It was one of the girls’ birthday so the kitchen girls put on a special dinner and topped it off with one of Rubio’s specialties…home-made & grown chocolate cake with coconut glaze. The desserts at Rubio are a definite highlight of my stay. Every night we are spoilt with goodies ranging from Chocolate brownies to chocolate, banana & mousse pies. All the cocoa is sourced from the plantation itself so you know exactly where it is coming from.

The next few morning sees improved conditions so we surf the swell magnet Kanapit which is a peak about 100 metres from the shore. The sets were easily overhead with short but powerful rides breaking over colourful coral. The lefts are a bit more consistent which suited me fine. The improved conditions allow us to surf Bulu in the afternoon which is a relatively recent discovery of Shane’s and a great wave. It’s a shallow right that breaks along the edge of the reef with some nice barrel sections. Bulu is nestled in a beautiful location at the bottom of a big range accessible only by a hidden road the villages use. We surf Bulu again before leaving the retreat for Kavieng and dinner and drinks at Nusa Island. We share an incredible dinner & local rums with Shaun Keane and the Nusa Island crew before retiring for the early morning flight back to Moresby.

PNG once again has stimulated my senses in a way which very few other locations do. At worst, I surfed with 4 other people which beats any good day at home. Sure there are bigger and better waves in Indo but it’s the raw and untouched vibe that will keep me coming back. The locals have so little yet are so content with what they have which is so inspiring. They are a genuine people and never try to sell you anything. Big thanks to Shaun & Shannon Keane at Nusa Island and to Shane Clarke at Rubio for looking after me. I will definitely be coming back to both places in the near future.

The following are some of the pics Justin got of the trip….. Apparently he was too’busy’ to get too much more.

Cheers

WS

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi all,

So we’ve been ranting and raving a bit about East Java Wave Palace for a while now.  Admist our banging of pots and pans you may have gleamed a few facts the number 1. being that the place is awesome. Awesome like Christmas on steroids but with Coconuts, Surf and cocktails instead of screaming kids and wrapping paper. Awesome in the true sense of the word as in ‘Awe inspiring’ – not like “Wow, that Chicken Nugget was awesome, may I have another?”

This is the place that you dreamed of when going through gromhood.

A few have found this out for themselves take the latest Testimonial to come through for example….. and we’ve included some pics because some of us still dream like groms and they help.

Enjoy WS:)

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 post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi all,

Nicki from Tupira Surf Club, PNG has sent through the latest and its been an amazing couple of weeks over there. With another swell hitting this week it looks like Summer 2011/2012 is going to be a standout. The smart money is on a late season so if you’ve got a chance to get over there then make the most of it send an enquiry (info@worldsurfaris.com) and pack your bag - because it’s on!!!

Enjoy the pretty pics we sure did Â

From Nicki @ Tupira

Tupira surf camp update

One more week in the camp and seven fun days in the water. There have been good waves every morning, most days we’ve had little wind in the afternoon, so three to four sessions per day were the norm for our visiting professional surfer Shimpei Horiguchi and his crew of friends. The surf was mostly three-foot with one day in the four-foot range. The boys surfed out front every day but we also rode a few lefts at Sakula and Tavulte to mix it up.

Look out for the next update as the charts show what could be our second big swell of the season.

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi All,

January is nearly over, I’m not sure where it went but it went very quickly. Now we find ourselves staring at the dawn of February a meager one month from the beginning of the Indian Ocean Season. The big puddle to the West is about to wake up and send line after line north to the scattered tropical archipelago’s. In short Indo and the Maldives are about to light up .

If you haven’t thought about it  and are now thinking WTF February already? I gotta get onto this well then Togat Nusa Retreat’s latest special  might just be your saving grace..

The fantastic host duo (John and Ainsley Ocean) are throwing a percentage off their regular cost’s to get you into some March swell.

There are two trips up for grabs;

1. 10 nights 18-28 Mar For Only $2,408pp

2. 7 nights 29 Mar – 05 Apr Only $1,800pp

Includes:

Bungalow Accomodation, all meals, snacks, some drinks, speed boat transfers to/from Padang, surf tranfers,  fishing tours, snorkeling and loads more.

Why Bother – Togat Nusa is a paradise found nestled on its own Island adjacent to the left hander Scarecrows. The surf is good, the sun is shinning, the food amazing and your hosts are wonderful.  Have a look at the web page and make up your own mind – Click here

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi all,
So Nicki from Tupira sent through the latest Swell report recently. We’ve been having some great feedback from Tupira lately and after a few hiccups last year the place is glowing. At such a low price point its really represents tremendous value. Read the fantastic feedback by clicking here

For the latest from Nicki at Tupira read on and enjoy the pretty pics

Cheers

WS

Tupria Surf club Blog UPDATE

Another great week at Tupria with 3-4 foot surf everyday but one, in the 2 foot range. No need to say much other than the guests had a great time. Huge wave counts with no crowds and 31deg water, epic.

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi all,

With Summer in full swing we’ve been getting some great surf reports. This latest Cherry comes in from Tupira Surf Club from the last two weeks and yep you guessed it its been another couple of great weeks.

Super reasonable rates and some spaces are still available so if you’re in you better get it sorted if not 2012-2013 looks good but prime spaces are already getting look- ins.

Happy Friday all, have a great weekend with plenty of Surf.

Cheers & Enjoy

WS

From Nicki of Tupira Himself

Tupira Surf Club  Christmas and New Year Update

Christmas was not such a cracker with small 1-2 foot waves for almost the whole week with a nice new swell arriving for new years day (their last) to let the guests see the potential of what could have been.

The following week was much improved with consistent 2-3 foot surf with one day around 4 foot. Not so many fish around and the afternoon winds were well above average, lucky Tupira is offshore almost every morning and most evenings.

The New Year is only getting better at Tupira. The second week of the year was pumping with nothing under 3 foot and two short swells between 4-5 foot. I cannot believe I just left for a couple of days to stay in town as the forecast is looking really good and there are only four guests in camp. Lucky they’re fit and frothing as there will be many good waves to be had.

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi All,

Well it’s definitely summer. You can tell because we are getting regular and wonderful reports from the Northern facing breaks. This latest jewel comes in from our very wonderful guide Amy Kotch currently taking care of your every surf need in the Caroline islands at Pohnpei Surf Club. I don’t know about you but I could do with some uncrowded reef perfection this summer.

Enjoy the pics and if you feel inspired then send an email to info@worldsurfaris.com

Cheers

WS:)

It’s been another fun week of waves for our World Surfaris guests at Pohnpei Surf club! While it’s not been epic it has been a whole lot of fun. We have been enjoying a good run of mid-sized N-NW swell with moderate winds, clear skies, and no crowds  – the perfect way to start the New Year and burn off the excesses of Christmas! Today the swell has backed off slightly but the forecast is looking really good with a couple of substantial storms lining up to deliver back to back swells over the next week or so. Good times at PSC!!

See you soon!

Amy Kotch

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi All,

Justin one of our consultants has recently returned from a PNG Christmas. He came back with a few good yarns and a tonne of images. Staying at Nusa Island Retreat and Rubio he scored some great waves.

Captain Andrew Rigby (Captain Undies) of the PNG Explorer was also able to catch up and he had great dinner onboard with all the crew including their new chef (also Andy’s sister and a very skilled chef) Justin puts it down as one of the highlights of the trip.

Captain Undies also handed over some pics and a small blog see,  below and enjoy

PS- The PNG Explorer has some availability left for 2012 and looking ahead into 2013 it’s getting full. This is one trip that should be on your bucket list a real ‘must do’.

WS

Christmas update for 11/12 season by Captain Underpants

Just about to kick off the sixth trip for the 11/12 season bonanza of uncrowded perfection in a remote part of the world thats actually really easy to access, weird isn’t it! The Legendary PNG Explorer and her crew have been roving around the PNG outer islands giving the term “taking the piss” a new meaning. Pumping empty waves, more yellow fin tuna than one can poke a stick at, awesome food and of coarse the coldest beer in PNG.

We got really lucky for trip five this season when Danni Gitsham an Australian Doctors International volunteer joined us. Danni has been working with ADI doing clinics around New Ireland Province to treat people who cannot access proper medical attention. In Particular Danni ran a clinic at Ungalik Island where she treated 54 people diagnosing three cases of diabetes, saved one lady’s life by treating a severe abdominal infection, diagnosed and supplied the correct antibiotics for all kinds of things. A truly amazing person.

Another point worth noting is just when you think every wave has been discovered another pops up! Can you believe this! Check out the images below. PNG Explorer and her crew has found that many waves in PNG now were running out of names. If anyone has any suggestions please send them in!

All the best for the new year.

Captain Underpants

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.

Hi All,

Before the big Christmas New Year break I hit up Amy Kotch for a Pohnpei Surf Club report. The pics came in with the below report, apparently the surf wasn’t that great but then you compare it to your local and you’ll begin to wonder if perhaps our beloved guides are being a bit swell spoiled.

“I know I said that it hasn’t been very good by P-Pass standards, and that I didn’t have much to report on, but I have just been sorting and deleting photo’s from the last few weeks and realize that even though it’s not been perfect we have still been surfing most days. Consider also that the most crowded day was five guys and girls in the water and that the vibe in the lineup and in the camp has been great…. Maybe this is worthy of a report!?!?”

Enjoy the pics

Cheers

WS

This post comes from World Surfaris, the leading adventure surfing holidays company. Want to Surf Maldives or Surf Indonesia then talk to us.