PNG surf season wrap-up: How was the season at Vanimo?

2013-14 Season at Vanimo Surf Lodge saw an early start from the northern swells that are produced from Typhoons in the Philippines and low pressure systems in the Northern Pacific with an epic 6-8 ft swell pounding our limestone reef and point breaks in October a month before we opened for the season. The swells continued throughout the season as advertised and forecast on our Facebook site ranging from 2 – 10ft consistently from November through to March.

November – December saw classic glass off days with next to no wind at all in the morning and afternoons. January through February produced plenty of 6-8ft days on the right out the front of the lodge staying offshore until just after lunch when the wind would swing and send the Left situated approximately 250m walk through the village perfect offshore and slightly larger again as it is a swell magnet. The Yako Left produced some epic sessions throughout the season but notably December and March were standouts for this wave which dredges over a limestone bottom and has been likened to a “mini Chopes”.

The lodge holds a maximum of 12 surfers and throughout the season we had a average of 4-6 visiting surfers across the 8 breaks in the area. All breaks are accessible by foot, road and also hired boat if you like to mix it up with some game fishing hauling in Spanish Mackerel and Giant Trevally in the 10kg range although you can get these right off the beach out front.

The surfers enjoyed a variety of dishes including local caught fish and vegetables. When not surfing there’s plenty of shaded areas on the beach to sit and read a book or wander to a mountain fed waterfall for a dip. At night, the surfers (girls and guys) cleared the salt water taste in their mouths with the local South Pacific Lager before a good night sleep listening to the waves before doing it all again.