PNG, Caroline Islands & Solomon's

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If looking at an atlas, the Solomon Islands are northeast of Australia and southwest of Hawaii. Comprising of 992 islands, only 147 are inhabited.  As part of the Melanesian Islands that encompasses Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji, the Solomon Islands is a collection of contrasts from mysterious, deep rainforest mountains to low lying, sandy coral atolls.

Even now 70-80% of the population still lives a subsistence life in their small villages and settlements away from the main cities or urban areas. Once you get off the beaten track you will find villages that have not changed for 100’s of years.

The Solomons Islands is still relatively new to the surfing world so you will have the opportunity to be a pioneer and find breaks that have never been surfed before. If you want to surf uncrowded waves in a tropical paradise with an array of natural adventures like snorkeling, diving or hiking that is off the beaten track and experience a culture that will blow you away and take you out of your everyday comfort zone…. leave the city and crowded beaches behind and experience the Solomons.

• Toi - This is considered the premier wave by many who come to Solomons. It’s an outer right hand reef set up about 2km from the nearest land. So it’s very sensitive to wind. In the right conditions it’s a fast, powerful, right. It has barreling sections, and works well on NW to NE swells. Catches all available swell and is often bigger than other breaks in the area.
• Gnali nuts - This is a consistent left on most swell directions and sizes. It’s best with light offshore or no wind but can handle cross shore conditions. The break has two distinct peaks that sometimes connect making for a long, powerful, walling wave. On bigger swells it comes into its own. It’s a great walling wave on most tides. This wave suits all types of surfing (short board, fish and mals).
• Eidu - Is a long peaking left which at its best goes through 4 distinct bowling and then reforming sections. At mid to high tide this is an easy walling wave that can handle large swells. On small swells it can get a bit fat and higher tides can stop it breaking all together. On low tide it’s a completely different wave with ledging take offs, fast, hollow walls and a very shallow reef. Needs glassy conditions to surf on low tide. When it’s big, this is a serious wave.
• Tai - This reef passage is a real swell magnet and there is pretty much always a wave to be had on the incoming tide here even if it’s flat everywhere else. It breaks more like a beach break with shifting left and right peaks - but it is a reef and can be shallow on the inside. On a good day there can be some fun, peaky and fast waves. It’s surfable up to 4 foot, bigger than that and it becomes too unpredictable as you have to be prepared to get caught inside on this wave. Best on small days at 2-4 foot. On the inside is a magic hollow left called Beacons that breaks when the swell is up and is offshore in conditions when many other waves are blown out.
• Charlies right - A very consistent right hander that breaks on incoming tides almost every day. It’s a short, fast wave with a number of walling sections and an easy barrel. Very fun when it’s small and even when the swells up it does not get as heavy here as some other nearby breaks.
• Ngali nuts rights - Across the passage from the main left hand break at Ngali Nuts is a right. It’s a bit fickle and hard to catch in the right conditions. But when it’s clean this can be a fast wave that is fun on smaller days. Generally the left is looking better on bigger swells but there is a lot of potential to explore this wave further and get it at its best.
• Kwanala - Swell direction and wind have to be just right and when they are this right is one of the best waves in the area (N to NE swells with glassy conditions). On lower tides it can be a very hollow wave with the wall of the wave increasing as it runs down the reef. On smaller swells and at higher tide it breaks wider on the reef and is a very fun, punchy wave. There is a lot of sea life around this break.
• Billys - A magic left surfed for the first time 08/09 season. Named after Billy Bain who went with his father Rob on a trip at the end of the season.
• Piccininies - A consistent right breaking close to a very scenic village. Expect the whole village to come out and join in! A fun wave

Surfing in the Solomons is best during the wet season from November to April. This is when the waves are 3-6 ft, as the North Pacific awakens and the north facing coastlines of Maliata, Ysabel and Makira get the ground swell that is waiting to be devoured.  The waves that hit Hawaii’s coastline can be expected in the Solomons a few days later. This is not to take away from the swell that hits the southern facing islands off the Coral Sea and occasionally some waves all the way from the Tasman, these waves can be less reliable but still great quality and you will not be disappointed.

Solomons gets approximate daily temperatures of 25-30’C and high humidity but by the coast you will be welcomed with sea breezes to keep you chilled out and relaxed, here you can expect to experience cooler evenings of around 19 degrees. Luckily the Solomons are low in altitude in comparison to some of its neighbours so cyclones are not a common occurrence.