Papua New Guinea Surf Travel Guide
Papua New Guinea (PNG) offers you an amazing surf trip to an unexplored, remote land. The waves are uncrowded and the culture experience is nothing like you’ve experienced before. There is only one PNG surf charter, and just a handful of surf camps located in PNG, all adhering to the local Surf Association (SAPNG) surfer limits to keep the waves absolutely empty.
Most of the PNG surf spots are located on the Pacific North Coast near the towns of Vanimo, Wewak, Madang and Kavieng and are quickly becoming known for being uncrowded, challenging and, on their day, perfect. Scroll down to learn more about Perfect Wave’s Papua New Guinea surf trips.
PNG surf season is November to April.
Quick Facts
Quality reefbreaks and
rivermouth waves
Guaranteed uncrowded waves as limited numbers of surfers allowed in any surfing region
Small to mid size waves good for all levels.
Untouched and unexplored.
Best surf spots in Papua New Guinea
The waves around Kavieng, and east coast New Ireland Province have had the most exposure to swells but more and more waves are being discovered each season. In the far west of PNG, Vanimo surf breaks are easy to access by foot or a short paddle if you stay nearby and the range of waves is for all levels. The size and direction of surf breaks in the area means that the rights are generally good during the mornings and th lefts turn on with the afternoon westerly breezes giving you a plenty of choice of surf all day.
PNG Surf charter, the PNG Explorer, is increasingly popular as a way of accessing an uncountable number of breaks on offer throughout the PNG archipelago. Waves off the Islands of St Matthias, the east coast group of islands of New Ireland, and to the Admiralty Islands to the far North West of Kavieng.
Surfing Association in Papua New Guinea, which Perfect Wave is an official and preferred member of, has a surf management plan that ensures every surfing dollar is contributing to sustainable tourism and that controls the number of surfers to keep the waves uncrowded.
Best Surf Breaks in PNG
Pikinini
Kavieng Area
Extremely fast, heavy barrelling, very shallow right-hand coral reef break that can peel for up to 200m. Works best on a low to mid-tide, with a west to north-west swell direction. A mini Kirra. Reef boots are a must.
Nusa Lefts (Karanas)
Kavieng Area
Situated across the harbour from Pikinini, Nusa Left is a fast breaking, very reliable barrelling left-hander that jacks up out of deep water, with a very shallow end section. It works best on mid to low-tide with a westerly swell direction and an easterly wind. Keep an eye on the outside Bommie, as this can also be ridden on the right conditions.
Nago Island Left
Kavieng Area
This picturesque little island’s left-hander is a bit of a wave magnet and very consistent. A great hotdog, fun wave that has a nice tubing inside wall section. Likes low to mid-tide as it can be a bit fat and break too close to the inside ledge on high tide. It does not like too much swell, but can still be fun on a light onshore. This is one of the most surfed breaks in the area.
Nago Island Right
Kavieng Area
The right-hander on the other side of the island has a very fast, long wall. It likes a mid to low tide, is a little inconsistent, but a great ride when it’s on. Keep an eye on this break when the swell comes up.
Ral Island
Kavieng Area
A small, uninhabited island situated further out to sea. A great place to go if there is no swell anywhere else, Ral attracts more swell than the other breaks in the region. Best surfed on small, clean swells, the right-hander can at times be peaky like a beach break, and sometimes can line up like a point break. The left is not as consistent as the right, but worth checking. Both waves pack a bit of punch once the wave height gets bigger. Ral can also handle more surfers than most of the other breaks.
Rubio Right
New Ireland East Coast
A super fun wave on small to medium ENE swells. Fast walls and occasional barrel race in to a channel at the base of a cliff. Occasional Lefts are shorter and end on shallow reef.
Kanons
New Ireland East Coast
Hollow A-Frame offering thick barrels before rolling off into deep water. Take off behind the peak for a deeper tube. Lefts or rights are better depending on swell direction. Best in small to medium swells
Bulu
New Ireland East Coast
Fast right coral reef-point break. Multiple barrel sections. Watch the local kids riding their ‘splinter’ wooden boards.
The Slab (Korongai)
The right hander is very photogenic, very hollow on both left and right plus this is definitely a more challenging wave. No bottom turns required take off in the barrel and get spat out into the channel. No more said.
Lido Point or Vanimo Right
Vanimo
A peeling right hander that can break up to 200 metres and handles up to 8ft and is super consistent during the summer months. A wide limestone reef offers a combination of walls and barrels over multiple sections
Lido Left
Vanimo
Is 10 minutes walk through the village to the other side of the peninsula. Actually 3 separate lefts, all offshore in afternoon breezes
Yako
Vanimo
Hollow left, like a mini Teohupoo from 2- 6 foot
Waromo
Vanimo
Short drive to the west of Vanimo and offer more forgiving lefts over a broad limestone platform
Papua New Guinea Surf Season
The surf season in PNG is from November to April when North Pacific groundswells and NE Trade swells send consistent pulses of swell between 3 to 6ft and conditions are generally glassy. Early morning is best to take advantage of the offshore winds, but the multidirectional nature of the reefs ensures that there is usually an offshore option.
Attractions in PNG
PNG has a stunning array of marine species just waiting to be discovered. With barrier reefs, coral walls, fringing reefs and sea grass beds along with spectacular World War II wrecks, scuba diving in PNG reveals treats around every corner.Papua New Guinea is also perfect for the nature enthusiast and outdoor adventurer. There are many treks to choose from in the highlands and lowlands where you can also spot birds-of-paradise. Sing Sing is an incredible cultural experience and its best to hike on the many forest trails with a qualified guide. A visit to the National Botanical Gardens and the National Museum is also recommended if on a stopover in the capital Port Moresby.
The Country
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is an adventurer’s playground with thick tropical jungles, high mountain ranges and spectacular scuba diving.
Located near the equator, Papua New Guinea is a hot and humid country and largely covered in dense tropical rainforest. These conditions also give way to extremely fertile land and amazing land and marine animal biodiversity. Only 7 million people call PNG their home, but this consists of 850 different tribes and more than 800 languages that are spoken.
Coastal plains, flooded delta regions, and mangrove swamps are found next to sandy beaches making it one of the most unique environments on earth. PNG is not only renowned for its surf, but also the spectacular diving, offering those looking for more than just surf a playground of WWII wreck dives and an amazing array of sea life.
Getting There
Fly to Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby (POM) directly from Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Bali, or Japan. Land transport infrastructure is poor so you will have to take connecting flights on local carriers like Air Niugini to other destinations in Papua New Guinea.
Travel Information
Time Zone
UTC+10:00
Currency
PGK
Calling code
+675
Electric
240V – Plug type I