Fiji conjures dreams of crystal clear waters, pristine reef breaks and all the ingredients for that dreamy once-in-a-lifetime surf trip. However, Fiji is notoriously pricey and tricky to navigate, so here’s everything you need to know about surfing in Fiji.
Overview
- Perfect waves
- Spot variety
- Tropical paradise
- Crowds
- Expensive
- Boat-only access
Table of Contents
Best Time of Year
The best time of year to go surfing in Fiji is between April and October. This is when solid south swells wrap into the various reef breaks around Tavarua and Namotu. Outside of this season, you might score the odd off-season swell, but it’s not a reliable time to visit.
Best Surf Spots in Fiji
While there are dozens of wicked surf breaks around Fiji, many of them lesser-known, here are the most famous breaks, which are mostly focused around the Mamanuca Islands and the famous island resorts of Tavarua and Namotu.
Cloudbreak
Cloudbreak is Fiji’s surfing jewel and one of the best waves on the planet. A freight training left-hand tube with multiple sections capable of handling any size. On a normal day, the place is a perfect left with sections for tubes and long drawn-out, open-face carves. The WSL has recently chosen Cloudbreak as the venue for the WSL Finals in 2025.
Restaurants
Breaking off Tavarua Island, Restaurants is another world-class left-hander. Super shallow, super hollow but on its’ day, a break that offers hundreds of metres of hollow left. Just watch the reef, as it’s razor sharp and because the water is so clear, you can see the coral heads race under you as you ride waves. Needs a solid swell to wrap around the island before it really gets going. Read about the discovery of Restaurants in Barbarian Days.
Wilkes
Wilkes is a high-performance right-hander, with fun walls for turns and the odd tube section. Breaking next to a deep channel, the waves are powerful and can be sectiony.
Swimming Pools
Another perfect right that needs a little swell to get going. But another perfect reef pass to add to the near-endless list of perfect reef breaks in this area.
Tavarua Rights
Breaking off Tavarua, on the opposite side to Restaurants is Tavarua Rightr, or Tavi Rights. This is a fun right-hander for turns and one of the mellower breaks in the area. The wave breaks in deeper water here, so it can feel a great respite from the shallower, more intense breaks.
Namotu Left
Peeling down the side of Namotu Island, Namotu Left is a consistent, long wally left, with sections for tubes and turns. It breaks directly across the channel from Wilkes Right.
How to Get There?
To get to Fiji, fly into Nadi International. You can find direct flights from LAX, Sydney and Auckland. If you’re coming from the UK, connect through one of these cities. To get to the waves (Cloudbreak, Restaurants, etc), you’ll need to take a boat from Nadi harbour out to your resort or island.
Getting Around
Fiji is all about the boats, to get from Nadi to where the waves are, you’ll need a boat transfer and I’d suggest arranging this via your accommodation. Depending on where you stay, you’ll also need boat transfers out to the various surf breaks, which will change depending on the conditions on the day. During my trip, boats to the waves, cost around $35usd per surf.
Where to Stay?
To make the most out of surfing in Fiji, I’d recommend staying on Tavarua or Nomotu. These island resorts are plush and have everything you need for scoring waves in the area, no matter what the conditions.
Alternatively, stay on Malolo Island. This is where I stayed during my Fiji surf trip and while it’s certainly not one of the world’s cheapest surf destinations, you can find accommodation here for a fraction of Tavarua’s nightly rate.
Funky Fish Resort
If you’re looking for a relatively budget-friendly surf accommodation in Fiji, this one’s for you! Funky Fish Resort has private cabana-style huts, for around $80 per night, they offer packages that include food also, whereas boat trips out to the surrounding surf breaks are extra. $35usd per trip).
Tips for Surfing in Fiji
Access
One of the annoying aspects of surfing in Fiji is the access, which isn’t so much a problem if you’re staying at a good resort, but if you’re travelling on a budget, paying $35 per surf, twice a day for the duration of your trip, adds up quickly, making Fiji one of the most expensive surf destinations on earth.
Crowds
As you’d expect for somewhere as renowned as Fiji, most of the breaks here are very crowded. So don’t expect to be surfing alone. That said, there are windows when the tide is slightly wrong or the wind comes around when you can get waves with thinner crowds. Plus, there are so many breaks, and waves to go around, you’ll always get waves.
Reef
The reefs in Fiji are sharp and alive! Cloudbreak and Restaurants are incredibly shallow and break over razor-sharp coral. The inside section at Cloudbreak isn’t called Shish Kebabs for anything. Be super careful when it comes to the bottom here.
Fiji Travel Information
Flight Times:
- LAX – NAN: 10h 50m
- SYD – NAN: 3h 40m
- AKL – NAN: 2h 50m
Visa: 1-month visa on arrival
Currency: Fijian Dollar
Language: Fijian & English
Fiji Surf Trip - Cost Breakdown
- 1 x week at Funky Fish Resort: $500
- 1 x week daily boat trips: $245
Total = $745
Final Words
Fiji is one of those top surf destinations that could just gift you the wave of your life in the most pristine setting imaginable. Yes, it comes with the cost, crowds and some seriously sharp reef breaks, but going surfing in Fiji is a bucket list trip for any surfer. For more info on Fiji, please comment down below.
