All activities / Surfing / Mamanuca Islands
Surfing in Mamanuca Islands
A chain of small islands off Nadi on Viti Levu's western edge, fringed by world-class reef-pass surf breaks, the most famous of which is the long left-hand wave of Cloudbreak.
Why here
Cloudbreak is one of the best waves on earth, a long left hand reef pass that peels off the edge of the Mamanuca chain and can hold anything from a playful head high wall to a twenty foot barrel. For decades it was the private preserve of two tiny island surf camps, Tavarua and Namotu, until Fiji opened its reef breaks to everyone in 2010. The two islands still sit closest to the action and time their boats to the tides, and around Cloudbreak lies a rack of world class breaks: the hollow Namotu Lefts, the racy Restaurants in front of Tavarua, Wilkes Pass and Tavarua Rights. Swell marches in from the Southern Ocean on the southeast trades, so the surf is most consistent in the dry season, and the reef demands respect and at least solid intermediate skills on the bigger days.
Best months
The prime swell season runs with the southeast trades from about April to October, when Cloudbreak and Restaurants fire most consistently. These are shallow reef breaks that break with size and power, best suited to confident intermediate and advanced surfers, though the resorts also run beginners at gentler spots like Kiddieland and the Namotu Lefts on smaller days. Boats are tide timed, so a day is planned around the reef and the wind rather than the clock.
Getting there & around
The Mamanuca islands sit off Nadi, reached by a short boat transfer from Denarau marina, so access from the international airport is quick. Tavarua and Namotu are all inclusive surf resorts booked as multi night packages, with boat access to Cloudbreak included, and day trips to the break are also possible from the mainland with local boat operators. Book resort weeks well ahead, as bed numbers are small.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
Namotu Island Resort
OutfitterNamotu Island Resort occupies a small island beside the same Mamanuca reef passes and is the closest base to Cloudbreak, about ten minutes away by boat. Its surf package includes unlimited use of the resort boats, so guests can chase Cloudbreak, the hollow barrels of Namotu Lefts and nearby Wilkes and Restaurants as conditions shift through the day. Beyond surfing the island runs kitesurfing, foiling, stand up paddling, diving and sport fishing from its own beach.
Tavarua Island Resort
OutfitterTavarua Island Resort opened in 1983 when American surfers Dave Clark and Scott Funk secured rights to the reef passes off a twenty nine acre heart shaped island five miles off Viti Levu. It pioneered the luxury surf camp and long held exclusive access to Cloudbreak and Restaurants until Fiji opened the breaks in 2010. Guests ride Cloudbreak, one of the best left hand reef barrels on the planet, along with Restaurants and Tavarua Rights, on four scheduled surf boats a day.