Surfing
Waves on Efate Island
Vanuatu is an archipelago of 83 islands stretching across 1,000 km of the South Pacific between New Caledonia and Fiji.
One would expect the surfing options to be limitless across this island nation but it isn’t the case unfortunately. New Caledonia lies south west of Vanuatu and blocks all of the main south west directed swell from getting to Vanuatu. The main swell source in this region.
Only Vanuatu islands that lie north or south of the blocking range from New Caledonia receive enough swell to have formed reefs creating rideable waves. Islands way up north then have the added problem of being further away from the southern ocean swell source and hence only very large and well directed swells get into the northern islands of Vanuatu.
Thankfully the island that Eratap is situated on (Efate Island) sits south enough to capture swell coming under the bottom of New Caledonia. It does not receive pure south west swell but any swell with a majority of south in it will pour into Eratap. This New Caledonia swell shadow means Eratap’s waves do not have the consistency or size of those in Fiji or New Caledonia itself. This is actually a good thing. For starters it means nature can allow waves to break close to shore and long boat trips over the horizon to distant reef passes are not required in Vanuatu.
At Eratap all our waves can be seen from the breakfast table and perhaps best of all, the lack of consistency has meant Vanuatu has uncrowded surf.
You will likely be surfing by yourself or at most 3 or 4 others. The waves are not consequential but provide enough power with excellent shape to be super fun.
There are waves to suit short boarders, long boarders, body boarders and even some terrific reef waves for kids. The resort has learn to surf boards of various sizes, mini mals and body boards but does not have short boards so please bring your favourite stick!
Island Rights (The Island)
Arguably Vanuatu’s best and most consistent wave. We are very fortunate to have this right hander so close to the resort. It requires a short 5 minute boat trip out to the island from the resort. It picks up a lot of swell and can be ridden when the swell is small. It can also handle the onshore quite well so long as the wind is not above 10 knots. The wave faces SE and so is blown out when the SE trade winds blow strong. It is a small reef and cannot handle large swells. It loves a small (3 to 4 foot) long period south swell with light winds. Best ridden 2 to 3 hours each side of high tide but in the summer months (when low tides are higher), it can be ridden all day. A steep wave with multiple sections, barrels on offer.
Restaurant Left
This is a super fun wave and on its day provides the perfect canvas for all levels. Of all our waves this wave handles the trade winds the best. This wave faces SW so the trade winds are cross shore on the face. It is tucked in a little more on the reef and so needs more swell to break. This does mean it can handle larger swells better. Best surfed 2 to 3 hours either side of high tide but when swells are clean and 3 foot plus it can be ridden at all tides. You can paddle to this wave from the restaurant beach or get the Resorts boat to drop you out there and paddle back in after your surf.
Ulus
This left sits right up at the top of the long southern reef that protects Eratap – the other end of the reef to restaurant lefts. On its day this is Eratap’s best wave and can handle the most swell. It is fickle however and so less surfed than the other breaks. To break well it needs a good clean long period swell with plenty of East in it. This helps the wave wrap down the reef and can provide the longest wave at Eratap with multiple sections for turns and barrels. Can be surfed from 2 foot to 8 foot if conditions are right. Best surfed 2 to 3 hours either side of high tide, doesn’t like a super high tide.
Villa 8 left
Breaking in front of Villa 8, 9 and 10. This is a fun, short but well shaped wave, ideal for all levels. It only breaks when the swell is large and the high tide is high. It needs the big tide because it is a shallow reef and to ensure more swell can get over the outer cyclone reef allowing energy to feed into this wave. It never gets above 3 foot but it is completely offshore in the trade winds, probably the only wave in Vanuatu to be so.
When is the best time of year for surfing?
This is a very difficult question to answer. We have had fantastic surf every month of the year and flat spells every month of the year. Generally the summer months (Nov to Apr) have less wind and so any swell that does come along is usually clean. The reefs around Eratap and throughout Vanuatu do not cope well with strong trade winds and these are more likely to occur during the winter months. That being said there is usually more swell during winter than summer. So to sum up the better months are probably from January to July.