Indonesia

A guide to Indonesia

Indonesia is well known as the Numero Uno, Primo Head Honcho of surf destinations. Indonesia, is home to what seems like an infinite amount of perfect waves, an incredibly wide and consistent swell window with predictable weather patterns; that’s the combo right there.

Our team have spent many months trawling this wave rich region and want to provide a guide to Indonesia with you, our customers in mind. Whether it be for ensuring you get barrelled of your nut with your mates, keeping you safe or simply helping you surf within your limits, our team are here 24/7 to help you out.

Indonesia is best broken down in two ways, by region and/or by season.

Indonesia Region’s –

Indonesia is an archipelago made up of over 13,000 islands situated between the Indian and Pacific oceans. We have chosen to split Indonesia down into 4 Regions based on common travel routes and weather patterns.

North Sumatra and the Mentawais – 

A tropical paradise with waves of perfection!

The Mentawai are petty much the Holy grail of surf trips and the star player in the Indonesia scene with pretty much the best waves in the world.

The Mentawai Islands and North Sumatra are parked in the North Indian Ocean off main land Indonesia (Sumatra) where Long range ground swells travel miles and unload in a tropical paradise full of amazing people, waves for all levels, palms and coconuts aplenty. The Southern Hemisphere Winter has more frequent and larger waves. During Summer months the area remains similarly consistent but with less intense swells. If you are an absolute charger then large peak season swells and heaving 8-10 footers will be your dream, however if you love hanging with your mates, sinking a few beers, and scoring perfect mid-size points and reefs, then do not count out shoulder season or the summer period.

Travelling to the Mentawai’s is fairly straight forward but does require some organisation, usually involving a night’s stay in Padang on the way in and out of the Mentawai’s. Padang is mainly a transition town to the Mentawai’s but you can find a handful of good value hotels, restaurants and bars if that’s what you’re after.

South Sumatra and Java –

Sand, reef, palm trees and a whole lot of adventure.

Often not as talked about as Mentawai or Bali, South Sumatra and Java have ridiculously good waves and heaps of unique travel experiences waiting for you! Driving through Sumatra or Java on a scooter will definitely give you the true Indonesia experience, even in this day and age.

South Sumatra has some of the squarest barrels you have ever seen, friendly beach breaks, and points genuinely peel for days. Sumatra and the area of Krui give you a glimpse at what traditional Indonesia is all about. Surrounded by cozy villages, rice paddies and unique local architecture you’ll find yourself miles away from the high tempo hustle and bustle of daily life.

Java has it all; from Batu Karas, perfect for longboarders, beginners and intermediates, to G-land and Panitian point, perfect for the hellman. It’s also full of great hikes and picturesque national parks. Java should be on everybody’s bucket list.

Bali –

The comfort of home and barrels for days.

Heard of Bali? Sure you have, Indonesia’s central tourism hub. However, this place has waves, oh my, does it have waves. If you know when and where, you can still surf amazing points, river-mouths, reef breaks and beachies. It’s also an epic place to get your yoga on, dine out in style, and hang with the family. Let us know what you are after; Bali no doubt has it and we have a pretty good handle on what’s going on!

Lombok, Sumbawa and Rote –

Off the beaten track, adventure awaits.

East of Bali, far less crowded and still offering a glimpse of the untouched Indonesia we all dream of.  We have some great operators in this region and if you are looking for a true getaway with ridiculously good waves, then look no further.

Bombing around Lombok on a scooter, Boat tripping through Sumbawa or keen to recluse in Rote, ask our team – we are well seasoned in all the above!

The Dry Season

The dry season in Indonesia typically runs from April to September. The shoulder season can show variable conditions, yet still have light winds and good quality swells.

During the dry season, SE trade winds generally kick in during the late morning, offering offshore winds for a lot of Indonesia’s most reknowned setups.

Dry season in Indonesia also happens to be winter in the southern hemisphere which is where things get interesting. Winter in the Southern Hemisphere produces consitant, long range ground swells off the bottom tip of South Africa hurtling strong ocean energy towards Western Austalia and the Indian Ocean.

This time of the year, the Mentawais in the far North can expect light to no winds whereas the southern islands of Indonesia although very consistent can still have some effect from the storms.

​Dry season is typically dry believe it or not and it may not rain for months, leaving the landscape brown and barren. The south of Indonesia is more typically effected by these weather patterns where as the North of Indonesia, the Mentawai’s, Banyak’s and Sumatra can still be very tropical and green.

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The Wet Season

The wet season in Indonesia typically runs from October to March. Again shoulder season can have light winds, variable conditions and although not as large as the dry season swells, more exposed breaks can still offer pumping waves!

The wet season does involve monsoons, which usually means strong rain in the afternoons and occasionally prolonged wet periods.

Charters are always a good option during the Monsoon season as road access in certain areas of Indonesia can become tricky, whereas charters can still get you to the best lineups.

​Regions Some regions are often better than others this time of year and typically we would recommend the Mentawai’s by charter, Aceh, Central Java, The East coast of Bali, and Rote.

Expect to surf less of the more well-known breaks as these get their notoriety from the Dry season swells whereas wet season often produce’s lesser known, yet still quality swell magnets