Seeking suggestions for first surfari.

[Glamarama]

gday

4 mates and i are celebrating our 40th next year and thinking of doing it with a surfari. It will be out first overseas surfing specific holiday.

looking for suggestions?

'intermediate plus a little' surfing ability
either land camp or charter
7 nights plus 1 day/night on either side for travel time.
anytime from June to October

any suggestions/recommendations will be very welcome

many Thanks in advance

[alakaboo]

Straddie.

Don't go to Tonga.

Budget?

[Glamarama]

Cheers a

Where is straddie?

Budget wise we have room. Say $5000 per person

Cheers.

[Nick Carroll]

Telo Island Lodge.

400m south of the Equator, between the Mentawais and Nias. Lots of user friendly uncrowded waves in the immediate vicinity; a couple of special waves when there's a real swell. Pretty comfy and safe, good guides, great for a pack of grown ups releasing their Inner Child. Should fit in the budget for that time span.

[Glamarama]

Thank you very much.

That is one that hasn't come up on my google search. Checking it out.

[alakaboo]

Was sort of joking about Straddie (Stradbroke Is, Qld)
But I do believe the main thing that will benefit you (anyone wanting to improve their surfing) is time in the water. You could go somewhere with consistent swell like the sth coast (either side of the country) and save $4k and just surf your brains out.
I'd go OS if I had the option, though.

I'll probably go to the Solomons for my next surf safari.

Tonga is shallow and very wind-sensitive for the offshore breaks.

[ctd]

Nusa Island. Fairly basic but doesnt take too long to get there (a bit of hassle but its pretty close to Australia).

[Lolo]

With that sort of budget I'd be ringing Tavarua or Namotu to see if they can slot you in any time during that timeframe.

You're only looking at 3 grand or so for an all-inclusive week on Namotu including airfares. Pretty much the best place on earth for a surf trip, plus the fishing is all-time too if you're into that sort of thing. I've done 10 years in a row now to Fiji and will keep going back for the forseeable future.

Tavarua costs a bit more and nowhere near as laid back, but still an awesome place to stay.

Telo's are great too if you can handle the commute. WIth a 7+1 day time frame it might be a bit too far. Costs a fair bit more than Fiji too.

[The Mighty Sunbird]

Pasta Point, Maldives.
Surf and eat. It's unreal.
Don't leave it too late in your time frame as the new resort at Sultans/Honkys I'm told will be up by the end of next year, so you can't surf them any more from Pasta.
Actually, how about the new resort at Sultans/Honkys.

[Glamarama]

thank you all for the suggestions.

im going to look into fiji as that was high on the list due to the shorter travel time.

yeah maldives was an option. the missus canned it. 'your not going with your mates, where you should be taking me'. the alternative she gave me was she will come with as will the other guys missuses and they can lay around on the resort will we surf. umm no thanks.

ala

south coast! geez. see you at the farm next weekend!