Unlike in French Polynesia, surfing wasn’t traditional amongst fishermen.. It began in Suva in the early 1980s, and then it entered the archipelago of 322 islands, starting with Mamanuca with Tavara / Namotu. Cloudbreak Syndrome refers to the way waves appear in the white water on the horizon making assessment difficult from the land. Powerful waves rise from deep waters, hitting the shallow reefs which are the most exposed to the wind, which represent the greatest problem. Balancing between boat rentals and Fiji surf spots is extremely important. Other important factors are: departure times, rotation, schedules, load capacity, engine power, rescue equipment, comfort factor and number of boats in operation. Try this new challenge, join us for a surf holiday in Fiji!
In Hideaway the rights are the only waves reachable by rowing from land but, like all the rights in the region, they rarely break and very often create strong currents in the passage of the reef. The rights only works with N winds, lefts usually handle the E trade winds, while the nearby spots require higher tides and a medium to high wave size. Pipes offers more consistent tubes than Vananui or Serua Rights. Also check out Waidroka Left, a remote jungle resort with access to a few spots, including Frigates. Ray Guinn and his family love surfing, fishing and diving and they operate 3 boats. They have a “pay to play” system with extras for boats and food. Pacific Harbor (PH) is the capital of adventure and is the starting point for Yanutha, a small island outside Frigates that hosts two surf camps. Frigates is the spot where it is possible to take the largest “measure”, both as a small and giant it sends fast and steep waves but very sensitive to the direction of the swell.
Kavadu requires an extra flight (on amazing light aircraft flights) but here you can surf uncrowded line-ups. After 45min you will land in a narrow and muddy airstrip, and then you have to take a ship that, again in 45min, passes from Vunisea to Nagigia Island.
Nagigia is home to a spectacular underwater scenery. In 2002 the village chiefs allowed surf only on Sundays. There are many spots reachable in 5min by boat. King Kong Left constantly breaks and it is reachable with a row from the ground, and it sends out big tubes up to 6.5/8ft. The excellent King Kong Right sends waves of excellent quality; for those who need waves to learn, Daku is perfection. If there is a N wind, head to Uatotoka (1h) and surf its splendid and there are easy rights. When the wind comes from the north and the west, the Great Astrilable Reef sends waves good, as in Vesi and Typhoon Alley.
Tariff per person, starting from:
| Departure | Mango Bay Resort | Club Oceanus Resort |
|---|---|---|
| Double | Double | |
| From 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 | € 357 | € 326 |
Notes
Fiji is blessed with one of the largest wave exposure on earth. The major source is the low pressure from the southwest in the Tasman Sea. Although New Zealand blocks and curves some waves, the storms provide fewer waves from South and Southeast. The height of the waves varies from 3-15ft. From March to November is an exceptional season. As there are winds from the southeast, Fiji prefers the lefts as the right are totally blown away by the winds (15-25 Kph). Summer (from December to March) is the main season for wonderful days with northern winds favoring the rights; but due to lack of waves the spots are ignored. One of the surprising factors at this latitude are the tides that reach 8ft in spring which not only hit the shallow reef but also the maneuvers of the boat.
How to get there : International flights go to Nadi, Suva is the national center. Take a taxi or an express bus to Hideaway (1h) Waidroka (2h) or PH (3h). There are daily flights from Nadi to Kavadu.
Getting around : Don’t rent a car ($ 50 / day) but use your budget for boat transfers. The duration of the voyages depends on the sea conditions. Frigates is 45min from Waidroka, 30min from Yanutha.
Accommodation and food : Penais is the most basic but also the best ($ 32 / day) while in Ratiluva you can choose between Love Shark and the 18-person dorm ($ 50 / day including good food and 1 trip a day to Frigates with Bula ). Jungle hotel (Waidroka, $ 50), beach resort (Nigigia $ 120 / night but $ 47 in group), deluxe resort (Marley Bay $ 190). Dorms cost $ 10 per night. A meal, accommodation and transportation to the spot will be between $ 50 and $ 100 per day.
Climate : Fiji has a tropical climate tempered by the ocean and trade winds. On the coast and on islands like Bega or Kavadu, the rains are weaker but expect more humidity and cloudiness. The cooler and relatively dry months from May to October provide the best weather but the waves and the winds are wilder. In July and August temperatures can drop to 18 degrees. There are peaks of cloudiness and coolness with occasional rains alternating with hot and sunny days, sometimes with a lot of humidity. The hot and wet season starts in November but the sweltering days are in winter (from January to March).
Nature and Culture : Diving is relatively cheap ($ 30 for a tank). The main extras are snorkelling, fishing and hanging from an island to an other one. The Fijian population is very friendly.
Dangers and hassles : Surfing can be scary. Be careful of strong currents and don’t crash into the reef: cuts could be very common. The best advice to resist the heat is to get wet so bring waterproof backpacks and suitable clothes.
Tips : In addition to the Viti Surf Legend in Nadi, there is also another shop in Suva called Waitu Surf Shop. Some resorts have boards for rent, and there is also a shaper on the island doing repairs, bring whatever you need.
Exchange rate 1 EUR = 1.08 USD; 1 € = 1.51 NZD; 1 EUR = 1.41 AUD
Exchange rate variations (more than 3%) will lead to an adjustment of costs. They will be communicated within 20 days of departure.
The tariff does not include
Duration: 9 days / 6 nights
from € 326 - Excluding flights
Duration: 8 days / 6 nights
from € 242 - Excluding flights
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