Surf & Sail Charters

"When it comes to surfing, PNG now holds the mantle once held by Bali in the 60’s as a secret surfing Nirvana – a stunning setting for endless waves which roll through unridden, just begging for surfers." -  Chris Ord - Get Lost Magazine

Think about it: up at 6am, hop in the outboard, ferry out to one of the numerous breaks – if one isn’t pumping, another around the corner will be – surf ‘til your stomach hurts, back to base for a gourmet brekky, then back out for another few hours.

And so the days pass by in a blur of sets with more barrel waves than you could ever imagine in one session. Yes, it is that good.

Nusa Island off Kavieng on New Ireland is a favoured spot as is Vanimo on the north-west coast of mainland PNG. And with nearly 600 islands to explore you’d be mad not to hop a boat to discover your own south seas paradise.

We came to Papua New Guinea initially, in search of just that – undiscovered waves going unridden. Sick and tired of hassling for waves, totally over the cold water of Victoria in Australia’s south, and wanting to find our own secret spots we came to New Ireland and headed out to find waves away from the already well-known spots around Kavieng township.

And we found them, plenty of them.

Easily accessible, with heaps of variety, and open to the north-west swells that hit the area from November through to April. We were so convinced that the area had such great potential for discovering even more waves, we decided to bring our yacht to New Ireland, and continue the search.

Tiki Tu has been based in Kavieng since 2004, and we have been lucky to have pioneered some great surfing locations. Adam, your skipper, has been surfing for over 35 years and is the best person to take you surfing to the breaks in this area, many of which he found and named.

We take you away from the Kavieng Reefs, where there is a Surf Management Plan in place which limits the number of visiting surfers to 20 per day.

This plan is administered by the Kavieng Surf Club, and you can obtain a copy from www.newirelandtourism.org.pg/surfing.htm. This quota system is fantastic for promoting uncrowded conditions, and the quota does book out quite a fair way in advance.

Where we take you to, there are no other surfers, and no other boats, therefore NO CROWDS, just you and your mates.

The coasts of Lavongai (New Hanover) and its outer islands has proved to be the most reliable area with lots of great waves and still more yet to be found and ridden. We’re still finding more breaks on each trip, and many of our guests have been “the first” to surf these waves – a very rare experience in the overcrowded world elsewhere.

The areas we frequent have no other surf tourist operators, no other surf boats, and no surf camps – just uncrowded reefs and points, most with an excellent anchorage nearby or right next to the break.

New Ireland’s east coast also has many great well-known, but still mostly unridden waves, and the island chain offshore has huge potential. Waves have already been found on Tabar, Tatau, Simberi, Feni, Lihir and many other islands.

Our swell season from November through April is pretty consistent, with very few flat spells, however it is true that we don’t get quite the consistence and size as say the Mentawais do, but you don’t have to contend with dozens of other boats turning up to spoil the experience.

Guests aboard Tiki Tu are often surprised to discover that PNG has an indigenous form of surfing, practiced long before the arrival of the white skins and modern surfboards. Surf craft are usually discarded and reshaped pieces of outrigger canoe hulls and ridden either lying down or sometimes standing up.

Crew are blown away by the stoke and the spirit the local kids have for surfing. This is perhaps the most pure form of surfing experience available left on the planet. We suggest you see it while you still can.

We have established excellent relationships with all the island communities which we visit. The South Pacific reputation of hospitality or Aloha spirit is not only still alive, but often overwhelming to newcomers. On arrival at some destinations, flotillas of canoes come out from the shore to welcome the new visitors. And there is always an audience cheering you on when you are out surfing.

The spot that we visit most has loads of breaks over a relatively small area, hosting three rights and a very long, fast and hollow left, locally known as Malili, and is very similar to Tavarua. Vala Vala is a right point/reef without coral and is a great hotdog wave. The same spot has a left and right A-frame peak named Gas Chambers, as it spits in both directions. Very short but sweet tube.

Lavongai north coast has more great reef passes between the offshore islands. Don’t bother trying to find these spots on a map though, as the entire area is literally uncharted. Strange but true.

Winds in the area are generally light and variable, so an offshore wind can usually be found, and most spots are surfable on all tides, but better around high water.

After several surfing trips to other Pacific island countries – Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands, Philippines and Vanuatu – we believe that New Ireland has better surf more often than most Pacific destinations.

The best thing about cruising this area is the real possibility of finding that virgin wave. If you’re not the first person ever to have surfed it, you will certainly feel like you are.

Inclusions

• Return Airport Transfers
• All meals
• Bed linen
• Use of Mask & Snorkels
• Use of Fishing Gear
• All island fees

Maximum 4 guests per charters

Meals
All meals are freshly prepared, and take advantage of what this tropical island region has to offer - fresh fruit and vegetables and an abundance of fish and shellfish. Of course, if you have any special
requests then we can normally accommodate them. When making your booking, you will be asked to complete a form regarding the catering for your specific charter. We are here to ensure that all aspects of your trip are just right, and everyone knows what an important part food is to your overall satisfaction. Danielle has over 10 years experience in restaurants in Melbourne, and cooking is one of her great pleasures.

Special Diets
For any dietary needs please advise at the time of booking. Given our location, we have only a limited supply of products for special diets such as Gluten, Wheat or Lactose intolerant, so it is suggested to contact us directly to see what we can get for you.

Vegetarians can easily be catered for.

What to bing

• Swimmers
• Toiletries
• Light cotton clothing
• Beach Towel
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Flippers (if you like to use them)
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Camera
• BYO Alcohol and soft drinks (or we can arrange to purchase for you). No glass, cans only.
  Your favourite music ……all in a small, soft bag which can be stowed away during your stay on board.

Surfers

• Reef Booties, absolutely essential
• Rash Vest, for sun protection mainly
• Surfboards (maximum 3 boards per person)
  

This is a true surfing frontier.

Travel Agents Enquiry Here