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,

Nicki from Tupira Surf Club kindly sent through the latest Tupira report…. Tupira has been having a really good run lately and the feedback we’ve been getting has been great. Coming in at a very reasonable price point Tupira is a must this summer.  Looking at the swell over the next week or so PNG is about to light up if you haven’t booked a Summer escape yet you better get onto it.

The Summer sets are starting roll in – Spaces are still available so make sure you don’t miss out! Send an inquiry to info@worldsurfaris.com

Cheers WS

From Nicki himself….

Tupira Surf Club Update Last week was another great week in Tupira with our first full camp of ten guests for the season and plenty of waves to go around. I asked the group to describe the waves on their last night, the answer was ‘We surfed every day, it (the surf) ranged from two foot fun to four foot epic, how good it that, see you next year!’ The biggest fish of the season were caught, with some good size Mackerel landed as well as plenty of Red Emperor on the dinner table. Rurunut, Simbini and Tupira were the spots to surf. I have to admit I was away for the three best days last week, even on the not so good days I did see the largest amount and the deepest barrels so far this season & the sons from the three father/son duo’s pulled out some really impressive surfing. The included images are from the smaller – fun days, but there not that bad at all.

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

By Shaun Levings of World Surfaris after a recent visit to Rubio in February 2010.

If you want to escape your normal every day existence and experience a real surf adventure then Rubio Plantation Retreat is worth considering.

Your host Shane Clark (expat Hawaiian and one of the nicest guys you will meet, not too mention super keen surfer and adventurer) will pick you up from Kavieng in his Landcruiser Troop Carrier and you will drive approx. 3-4 hours to his little piece of paradise which is Rubio Island Retreat.  You will get a sore arm from waving to the friendly locals as you travel down the Boluminski Highway. 

Whilst at Rubio, you will be comfortable in your modest bungalow lodgings (with private facilities) and deck overlooking the bay and you will be well fed by the lovely local girls in the kitchen. 

On a daily basis you may surf out front at the left and right or hike over the hill to the next bay to surf a nice left (you can actually paddle from Rubio also to here).  Most days you will travel on a road trip to surf and explore this magnificent coastline.  Stopping the truck on the side of the ride and hiking 100m through a clearing in the vegetation to view the wave out front.  There are so many surf options from Rivermouths to Reef passes.  Shane knows most of them although he still hasn’t surfed them all yet.  You may get to name one however usually just name them after the nearest village.

No hardcore World-Class G-Land or Pipeline waves exist however the waves there are user friendly with good variety of lefts and rights and varying degrees of intensity from short sucky barrells to longer wally waves breaking in deep water.  One thing is 100% guaranteed is NO CROWDS !  Infact you WILL be the only surfers in the region.   With a maximum of 8 surfers at a time able to stay at Rubio and you can book the whole place out with 7 you are in for a surf adventure you will never forget.

The images below portray the surf, culture and scenery.  Bookings now open for 2010/11 season!

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

Trip Report by Shaun Levings of World Surfaris.

Mon 23 Nov: Early morning check-in with Air Niugini from Brisbane for 0930 flight to Port Moresby.  Comfortable 3 hour flight arriving in PNG around 12.30pm.  Takes over 30 mins to get through Customs and passport stamped before collecting luggage and clearing immigration.  There is an ATM machine there that should take your regular card (check with your bank in advance) so I withdrew some PNG Kina to cover my costs whilst I would be at Tupira Surf Club (best to get Kina cash in Port Moresby on arrival rather than getting in Australia as the exchange rates are better and no fees. Please note: There is a currency exchange counter at the international terminal also.)  It’s a short 200 metre walk from International to Domestic terminal where the flight to Madang departs from.  Even though I had 3 hours connection time in Port Moresby I knew that domestic check-in can be a bit of a shocker so I made my way down there to check in approx. 2hrs 15mins in advance. I’m glad I did as the queue for my flight to Madang was long and slow moving .  The air conditioning at the domestic terminal wasn’t working so I lost about a litre of sweat waiting for the next hour to get to the check-in attendant.  Finally got my boarding pass and within no time was inside the Air Niugini F28 aircraft bound for the coastal region of Madang.  A quick 1 hour scenic flight (nice to get a window seat to see the highlands and finally the coast) and we’re touching down in Madang.  Met on arrival by representative of Tupira Surf Club, collect boards and bag and load them in the truck and we’re on the North coast highway to Ulingan Bay. It’s approx 120kms of sealed road (with BIG pot-holes) from Madang to Ulingan Bay where Tupira Surf Club is located.  We only get a short period of daylight before the sunsets around 6.30pm but I can still make out the simple villages lining the highway with traditional thatched huts and the bare essentials (water tank etc.).  We dodge a couple of stray pigs on the road and locals walking home after work.   The main thing that stikes me is how lush the vegetation is due to the regular tropical downfalls that cool things off.  Massive fig trees are everywhere along with an abundance of mango trees, coconut palms, tropical ferns, pawpaw &  bannana trees etc.

The beach at TSC

After a 2 hour drive we arrive to Tupira Surf Club set on picturesque Ulingan Bay.  I’m greeted by friendly faces & beetle nut smiles.  As I’m the only guest (actually the only white fella within coo-ee)  I’m sat down to dinner and feel like the king.  Chicken and local vegies is the fare tonight and it’s very tasty.  Simple flavours but very fresh from their own village gardens.

A couple of SP Lagers (white can) served by Terry the bar man and I’m ready to crash after a long days travel.  I can hear the surf in the background also so I’m keen to be fresh in the morning to get out there and wash off some travel dust ! 

My lodgings are very basic in the guesthouse that sleeps up to 10 guests in 5 twin bedrooms.  A bed and a mossie net is basically it but the high ceilings and the screen windows allow ventilation and even though there are no ceiling fans it’s pleasant sleeping temperature.  Pillow was a bit hard but bed comfy, generator goes off as last guest goes to bed (me) so it’s nice and quiet with the crashing of the waves lulling me off to a deep sleep.

Generator comes to life at 6am which is the perfect wake up call.  I check the surf and it’s worth a paddle.  Colac one of the local kids (nephew of Tupira Surf Club president, Al Mom) is staying in the guest house also and he’s keen for a wave.  We grab a quick coffee and a bannana, wax up, fins in and out there.  I wear reef boots as the rocks to jump clamber across to get in are a bit sharp for my soft office feet!  Colac basically runs across them barefoot.  Once in deep water it’s 1 or 2 duckdives and an easy paddle to the take-off zone.  This is as the swells pretty small at only 2-3′.  On a bigger day it would be easier to paddle out from down the bay rather than straight through the line-up as we did.  Buoyweather says the swell is NNE at 2-3′ with 10sec period and 3-5knot SSW wind.  Ideal conditions really as Tupira point works on any hint of Nth or East swell.  NNE is optimal and SSW winds are offshore.  Too lucky but wind is predicted to swing to NE later in the day so we better make the most of it.  It’s about a 3-5 min wait in between 3 wave sets so Colac and I are loving life and hooting each other as we drop into some punchy rights that run for approx 80-100m and are extremely whakable! Take off, bottom turn, hit the lip, race the section, cut back and set up for a nice racy end section that I’m told barrells on a good day.  It’s critical to get off the wave before it goes dry on the limestone bottom.  A couple of the sets are overhead and really racy.  Great fun and it’s only 2-3′ and we are basically surfing the end section of the wave.  I’ve seen photos of it at 4-6′ and it starts breaking way out round the point with a really good barrell section connecting up to where Colac and I were surfing.  On it’s day a 200m wave !

Punchy right hand point

The suns hots and it’s humid so we take breakfast of home made scones and jam, pawpaw and coffee in the dining bungalow then chill out under the fig tree for a while.

I’m here for only 2 days so not to much chilling allowed as I’ve got to suss this place out so I know what to tell the punters.  Al grabs the truck and a few of us head off on a surf check to a few known breaks.

We drive approx 15mins and bush bash for 5 mins through the local village down to Sukular point.  There is a wedgy left at 2′ but unfortunately the NE is up and it’s onshore and crumbly but you can tell it’s going to be a punchy short intense left barrell.  Some Japanese Pros surfed it in Feb 09 at 4′ and were getting big barrell according to the local chief.

There is another right just on the other side of the left and we can see another right off in the distance.  We drive 5 mins back towards Ulingan Bay and come to Medibur village.  We meet the local elders and I”m surrounded by the kids curious to see the white fella.  They don’t see many!  Out the front of the village is a nice looking right hand set up and we see a set come through at headhigh and we’re out there quick as a flash.  Tide by now is dead low so it’s kind of sketchy and dry and the winds a bit funky.  Hardy the 38 yr old caretaker at Tupira SC is a goofy footer whos only been surfing 12 months and he’s taken to surfing like a duck to water.  He gets a couple of good one as does young 18 yr old Colac who has been surfing a similar duration.  They learn on reef and point breaks so it’s a steep learning curb but they are fearless and go for it.  A few classic wipeouts and a bit of skin off every now and then but that does not deter them.  ‘Bullies Right’ we nickname this wave after the traditional name of the village, Bullisiman Village.  With 4′ of Nth swell and mid tide this place is going to go off and offer a great barrell.  It’s hollower than Tupira Point but shorter.  I must return to score this place!  Bid farewell to the kiddies after a few photos and back to Tupira SC for lunch of salad and ham rolls, fruit and juice. 

I discuss hospitality with the staff at Tupira surf club as it’s brand new to them. They are straight out of the village and catering to westerners is new to them but they seem stoked.  They are learning fast and I tell them that the guests we send here won’t be expecting 5 star service.  Just a good effort, a hearty meal and cold beer served with a smile.  They love the atmosphere at the club as they watch the surf  whilst they work or in their breaks and their kids or friends are learning to surf also on some old boards donated to Tupira Surf club c/-Andy Abel at Surfing Association of PNG (SAPNG).  The kids have been told that if they focus on their surfing they might get a spot on the Tupira Surf Club team to compete at the national titles.  That means a plane trip and none of them have been on a plane and some never even been to Madang (2 hours south).  If they do well at the nationals they could represent PNG in the South Pacific games overseas, WOW what an opportunity.  This is a youth initiative by the SAPNG that aims to keep the kids out of trouble by getting them surfing…it’s definitely working and they have the surf bug and some are showing some real natural talent.  Hopefully someday a surfer from Tupira Surf Club will be the national champion and maybe even go on the pro tour.

Now you might ask, Is it going to be crowded with local kids.  This was my question and the answer is definitely not.  The paying clients at Tupira surf club will get priority in the surf over the kids and the kids can surf at times when TSC guests are not out there.  Obviously if there is only 1 or 2 guests then they will probably enjoy surfing with the local kids as I did but they are certainly mindful of not overcrowding the condtions for the guests.  There are other breaks also they can surf.    The SAPNG management plan currently caps the maximum number of travelling surfers in the Tupira region at 15 surfers.  So there is no fear of crowding here in the near future !

Boat exploration

TSC boat

Mid afternoon we take a boat ride from Ulingan Bay (5 mins walk to boat from TSC) and we are at Bullies right within 5 mins, Sukular lefts and rights within another 3 mins and then down the coast to a few other set-ups within 15 mins max.  It’s soooooooo easy to access these other breaks by boat and Tupira Surf club is looking at getting a longboat made in the near future to transport guests to the surf.  In the meantime, Isadore (Tupira SC manager) is happy to use the speedboat (pictured) with 110hp to zip around to these breaks.  We are working out a price to include 1 boat trip per day into the standard package and it should only increase the price by about $20 per person per day (based on min. 4).  More info to follow on this.

After the boat trip we decide Tupira rights are the place to surf again and it’s glassed off for the dusk session.  It’s actually pumping and we all get our fill of racy rights before dinner.  I’m stoked as I get fully shacked on 1 wave with a view of the sunset through the tunnel

Hearty dinner and a few cold New Guinea Ice beers and I’m ready to crash after a big day. 

Wake up to 3′ Tupira rights and good conditions….quick coffee and scones…Surf 2 hours…read a book under the fig tree…chat to the locals….surf again…midday sun is HOT !!! Lunch…siesta time…entertain the local kids and I’m entertained watching the micro groms surfing in the re-form just off the beach.  Classic little bare bum piccanniny kids with great balance and ocean awareness…theres gotta be a national champ in that crop.

Future champs

 Evening glass off again and and another classic dusk session with a few of the older kids hooting and hollering.  A great vibe in the water and so refreshing.  They call me into the bigger sets with “you go white man” !   I’m grinning from ear to ear with the experience.

 My last evening was spent laughing and carrying on with the staff and a few more cold beers.  Generator off and I’m laying under my mossie net in my bunk thinking back over the last couple of days and how lucky I am to have had this experience.  As surfers we are so fortunate to travel to remote places and not just surf uncrowded tropical reefbreaks but to meet friendly locals who live simple mainly self sufficient lives and don’t have our western creature comforts yet are so happy.  We can learn a lot from these people and I love coming home to tell my kids about the experience.  I’ll take my family back to Ulingan Bay one day to go surfing with the local grommies and run around after soldier crabs…no x-boxes, computers etc. around here…just people making the most out of the natural environment.  NB. No rubbish to be seen as such compared to SE Asia. 

Early morning departure from Tupira Surf Club and I bid farewell to Keneka (kitchen manager), Terry the barman, Isadore the camp manager, Hardy (caretaker) and his 2 boys plus other staff who help behind the scenes.  Photos all round and I’m presented with a Bilum bag handmade by the local village sewers.  It’s a traditional carry bag woven and decorated with shells and vibrant colours.  I’m honoured to receive it.

Tupira Surf Club staff

Thanks for having me guys, keep smiling and this white man will be be back.

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

We started of the season real early with a couple of solid swells in Sept and early Oct.

Then we had flat spell for a week with was perfect for snorkelling and adventuring! Just when we were ready to sacrifice a surfboard to the surf gods we got another solid swell.

This is the 4th day now and it is still good – Early November

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

Be among the first International surfers to experience this surf rich area. Andrew Abel SAPNG boosts that the Turpira Surf Club has access to up to five uncrowded breaks and Ulingan Bay is one of the most consistent swell magnets in Papua New Guinea.

Tupira Surf Club, Ulingan Bay is located approximately 180 kilometres north of Madang Town and approx. a 2 hour scenic drive from Madang Airport  by sealed road along the beautiful north coast of Madang.

Tupira Surf Club under the vision and guidance of our SAPNG Patron Justice Nicholas Kirriwom and the President of  Surf Association PNG Mr Andrew Abel and was established in 2008. Tupira has rapidly transformed from an idea into a living breathing entity. Tupira can proudly claim to be Madang Provinces first and only surf club in existence and now officially affiliated to SAPNG.

MORE INFO

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

Check out the itineraries for these awesome adventures now doing 2 x Manus Island trips.

Sample itinerary for 10 night charter on board PNG Explorer for islands of New Ireland.

(Note: Itineraries for these trips are not rigid, we are flexible according to wind and swell conditions, also group preference and guide recommendations.)

Day 1

The evening flight into Kavieng Airport lands just before sunset, when you will be met by your hosts Andrew and Jude. From the airport it is just a short 10 minute drive through Kavieng town to the harbour to board the PNG Explorer.

 With bags unloaded, and cabins assigned we will convene for some refreshments (a nice cold SP!) and a welcome and safety talk by your skipper Andrew. Followed by your first delicious dinner of fresh fish or lobster. Then it’s just time to relax into to your first night aboard. We will start steaming for our first surf break in the early hours of the morning.

Day 2

Depending on the swell and weather conditions your skipper/surf guide will take you to where the surf is at its best. This may be at our first surf break on sunrise otherwise we will have a further short steam for our next option. During any daylight steaming this is an ideal opportunity to troll a lure. The fishing is fantastic and with our huge selection of lures and two game rods you are likely to hook up several times. Or jump into the dory and speed off to check breaks as the “PNG Explorer” steams on to her next safe anchorage.

Back on board for lunch then a chance to rest or check out the nearby reef and its treasures with a mask and snorkel. Alternatively, jump back into the speedboat to check out the local breaks. A sunset fish with a beer is hopefully a fruitful affair, topped off with some cultural singing and dancing with a traditionally prepared local meal on the island.

Days 3-8

Each day will vary according to the current conditions and forecast (every day we get an up-to-date swell and weather report). Your skipper will take you to islands with the best surf whilst allowing ample opportunity for fishing for that night’s dinner!

 On anchor, take time to explore the islands, to make friends and appreciate the unique environment & culture of PNG. Witness a traditional ceremony performed to summon the big seas … and hopefully more surf for us!

Days 9-10

Enjoy the final day at whatever island we may be located at. In the evening we will commence our journey back to Kavieng. Alternatively, it may be only a short steam back to town so we will pull up anchor and start steaming early on Day 10. Either way, we will allow plenty of time in Kavieng to check in for your flight back to Port Moresby.

Sample itinerary for 10 night charter on board PNG Explorer for islands of New Ireland and Manus

This itinerary is as is for Trip 8 and for Trip 9 in reverse i.e. fly into Manus and fly out of Kavieng

(Note: Itineraries for these trips are not rigid, we are flexible according to wind and swell conditions, also group preference and guide recommendations.)

Day 1

The evening flight into Kavieng Airport lands just before sunset, when you will be met by your hosts Andrew and Jude. From the airport it’s just a short 10 minute drive through Kavieng town to the harbour to board the PNG Explorer.

 With bags unloaded, and cabins assigned we will convene for some refreshments (a nice cold SP!) and a welcome and safety talk by your skipper Andrew. Followed, by your first delicious dinner of fresh fish or lobster. Then it’s just time to relax into to your first night aboard. We will start steaming for our first surf break in the early hours of the morning.

Day 2

Depending on the swell and weather conditions your skipper/surf guide will take you to where the surf is at its best. This may be at our first surf break on sunrise otherwise we will have a further short steam for our next option. During any daylight steaming this is an ideal opportunity to troll a lure. The fishing is fantastic and with our huge selection of lures and two game rods you are likely to hook up several times. Or jump into the dory and speed off to check breaks as the “PNG Explorer” steams on to her next safe anchorage.

Back on board for lunch then a chance to rest or check out the nearby reef and its treasures with a mask and snorkel. Alternatively, jump back into the speedboat to check out the local breaks. A sunset fish with a beer is hopefully a fruitful affair, topped off with some cultural singing and dancing with a traditionally prepared local meal on the island.

Days 3-5

Depending on the swell and weather conditions, we will make our way towards West Harbour in New Hanover. Your skipper will ensure you are in the water where conditions are at their best, not forgetting having ample opportunity for fishing for that night’s dinner!

On anchor, take time to explore the islands, to make friends and appreciate the unique environment & culture of New Hanover.  

Days 6-9

We will depart in the very early morning from New Hanover for an overnight steam to Rambutyo Island, Admirality Islands. Spending these days exploring this area for new surf breaks.

Day 10

Departing early in the morning for Hayne Harbour on Manus Island in plenty of time to check in for your midday flight for Port Moresby.

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

26^th Jan 2009

I’m sitting here on Exo in the Harbour at Kavieng with a nice glass of red reflecting back on the season to date. Firstly I’d like to thank all the crew we have had onboard this season for a pumping adventurous third season.

To date, this season was a little slower off the blocks to start but once it kicked it has been more consistent than last year with good size and wave periods, making almost all breaks do their thing.

There’s one new discovery for the season, I won’t say where but we found it at one foot on a flat day. It looks like a new long wally point you’d see in a surf mag. It’s not in one of the most accessible places, but easy for us on a fine day. We did surf it but the mysterious right didn’t score a name. I hope next time it will be pumping and demand a name by its own way of liquid formation. I’m getting goose bumps just thinking about it!!

The highlights…..well there’s been plenty. From the 125kg’s of Dog tooth tuna in two hours to the pumping arvo sessions at Malilli and stepping into a slab or ten at Korangai.

I have to mention two fishos of surfers we have had onboard, Ren, who is a freak at hooking up. I have a little chuckle to myself every time I think about all the arvo fishing sessions, that guy really knows his stuff. Then there’s Mark the Merimbula surfer/fisho who nailed a 26kg Mack!! It’s the biggest I’ve seen on Exo. It was hooked in thirty seconds after the lure hit the water. Classic!!

My full hat taking off moment goes to Bruce for the first lot of stitches ever to be done at sea on Exo. Thankfully for Bruce I didn’t have to do the job myself!

Another highlight goes out to the Sydney “betel” nut boys who gave it fair crack up the river at Ungalik, Been scrubbing the red shit off the boat ever since!! Cheers boys.

Thank-you to all that have joined us on this season to date, Jude and I truly enjoy all the good times with the new friends we meet and hang with. Look forward to meeting you on the next adventure and lukim yu bihain wantaim crew bilong Exo.

Cheers

Andrew

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

Whilst November produced better fishing than waves, December was a turn around and Kavieng enjoyed cracker waves proving that Santa must be a surfer.

Remiss to call size, it would be fair to say the reefs that handled it were offering quality double & triple overhead wave faces.  Rather than just the size, it was the volume of water or thickness of the swell at 17 second intervals – they had push and punch that made getting caught on the inside more that a little hairy & scary with 6 knots of sweep across the inside reef shallows – a gentle reminder of a cheese grater.

Most all breaks worked at some stage or another, dependant on the size of the swell.  Nusa Lefts was the consistently clean option and hard to beat.  Some were looing at back reefs for smaller wave options affording a little more ” fun value”

Next swell should be on our doorstep around 6th January.  The cuts are finally starting to heal and we’re hoping 2009 kicks off as strongly as 2008 finished up.  Other than that, fish are coming back on the bite and life is good in paradise.

Lukim Yu sampela taim.

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