Swell size for the whole group rarely gets below waist or shoulder high during June and July, and consistent (weekly) overhead ground swells are common. Like most of the South Pacific (Fiji, Samoa, Rarotonga, New Caledonia) it is often the wind that is the problem. In the Vavau Group the breaks face a number of directions, and have various exposures to wind and swell. As an oceanographer I was excited to find a, group wide, consistency of good waves (i.e. most days, for at least one of the breaks in the group, conditions are good). The goal was to figure out the best way of being able to take advantage of the variety of breaks. Having a fast, safe boat allows the hunting down of the optimum waves each day.
Here is a list of some of the waves in the group;
A) Left and right peak adjacent uninhabited island, fun reef waves up to head high, slabs when overhead, exposed facing WSW. A very good, consistent wave
B) Left peeling around an uninhabited island, short bowl sections ,holds size
C) Left and right peak on wide barrier reef, semi swell sheltered, facing S. A good fun wave can be wind affected.
D) Left and right peak on wide barrier reef, semi swell sheltered, facing W. A good consistent sucky wave.
E) Left peeling along a reef, swell sheltered, facing WNW. A fun walled up wave.
F) Right peeling around an island, faces SE, often is wind affected, very point break like. An exceptional coral “point” wave.
G) Left bowling over various reefs around an island, faces SW. Various sections that change through the tides and swell heights. A good wave the has its moments
H) Various wind swell peaks on a flat reef, faces E. A backup spot to surf junky trade wind swell.
I) Left hander tucked against an island that needs light winds and clean NE-SE swell, faces E. More of a summer N swell spot that can have its moments with E swells
J) Right hander tucked against an island cliff, faces E. A backup spot that always has something.
(Break A)First two waves of the youtube video “Surf Tonga Outer Islands” are of a peak that faces WSW and is offshore in the easterly trade winds. This spot is in a very open, exposed location and picks up any swell from the west to south and is very fun in the waist to shoulder high range, then gets very sucky from head high up, and then turns quite “backless” when the swells are overhead. This is the same peak seen from a couple of angles in the video at 0:48-1:48. Above head high this is a very hollow wave on both the left and right.
When the swell at this exposed break gets to head high or above there is another break in the group (30 minutes by our fast boat) that will be half the size and a mellower option also offshore in the trade easterlies (Break E).
When the swell at this exposed break gets to head high or above there is another break in the group (30 minutes by our fast boat) that will be half the size and a mellower option also offshore in the trade easterlies (Break E).
(Break B) The last two waves show me getting caught inside by large set on a left that faces the trades and peels around the side of an amazing uninhabited island. The island rarely sees visitors as the reef is without a navigable pass and the island is not suitable for yacht mooring. Slipping over the reef on boards and walking around the island is an amazing experience as the bird life is deafening and abundant. The coral gardens in the lagoon are equally untouched and spectacular.
(Break F)The right that is shown peeling around an island (with a rider doing a couple of turns) is considered the best wave in the group. This wave has been compared to a “coral Angourie” and has more of a “point” feel about it. Unfortunately this wave faces directly into the predominate trade winds and can be blown out for long periods of time. Any possibility of light or offshore winds can be anticipated through wind models and can provide the opportunity, with the fast boat, to get this break at its best.
There is a left (Break G) on the other side of the island that has got a number of sections and is offshore in the trades, check the youtube video “Tonga Surf island left Vavau Group” for a couple of waves at this spot I captured on my phone recently.
(Break D) A two fingered reef that faces W and has good swell exposure to the S and W but offshore in the trades. Very shallow and sucky, this wave consistently produces challenging barrels. With no crowds there is the opportunity to have “a dig” at a classic coral reef peak.
The variety of waves in the group allows for the ability to head to more sheltered or more exposed breaks, depending on the type waves the tour would like to surf.
The boat and skipper are available all day and sufficient fuel has been budgeted so that hunting down the type of waves that the tour would like to hit, is simple and hassle free. There is limit of 6 surfing guests each week and it is unlikely that we will see other surfers.With the lack of crowds and consistently fun warm coral reef waves being available there will be ample opportunities to push your surfing, however it is possible to find the mellowest waves each day also!
