PNG boat trip recommendations

Might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the PNG Explorer is the only boat working the area.

Have been on the Explorer. Pricey yes,
more expensive than when I went hence preventing another trip as yet.

I could barely state how good it is though. If you want uncrowded waves (I mean letting perfect sets go, can barely remember your best barrel you had so many) then this is the spot.

Land before time up there. Waves for all your crew from rippers to someone cruising on a mal. Fishing and food to die for. Lots of other fun extra curricula things going on too.

Some golden moments solitude?

a bunch of kneelo stayed in a camp on Nusa island a couple of years back...they had a great time. very jealous i didn't get in on the trip.

https://www.nusaislandretreat.com/

I stayed at Nusa Island. Great place, even better if you score a swell but I didn't. Fun little waves but not what you travel for. That said if you did score a swell there are heaps of reefs around that would be great and seriously uncrowded.

damn...it all looked so good from the vids and pics at Nusa. i guess the kneelo crew were very lucky and scored good waves. must be really frustrating to travel that far and pay that much and have no swell. it's for these reasons that i have real trouble committing to an OS trip and just end up at bendalong or seal rocks.

Hey God,

If you want a different option, one that involves a bit more gumption but a bit less money, then scope Airbnb for Kavieng. There are a number of places, ranging from the cheap ($35 per night) to the relatively lavish ($63 per night), the latter being an easy walking distance from Picaninis. It's also a short paddle across to Nusa Island Lefts.

You'll have to clear some hurdles. The first being to register with SAPNG and pay taxes for surfing the region (keep in mind you'll be funneled towards the surf camps), then find good, cheap food to eat, and lastly some method of transport should you want to head down the east coast for more swell.

Without a boat the surf options are a bit more limited but it's an alternative to the camps.

blindboy.........Yeah mate. Golden hour fishing for Tuna and subsequent sashimi washed down with a golden beer. Plenty of those moments in the surf as well. I'd have to say just as many good things out of surf as there was in.

I've heard similar stories about Kavieng. Supposedly amazing set up but need a decent swell for it all to light up. Heading that bit further out on the boat makes your changes of scoring much better. Undies the skipper reckons most trips always score between 3-6' waves. One of the best parts about the place is it in the doldrums, meaning lots of glass offs.

7K??? I thought it was about 6 from the east coast. That is a lot. Plenty of other uncrowded places around Oz and the world for much cheaper.

Nusa is great for chilling out with absolutely no dramas and there is something to surf just about every day. The boat trip seems to deliver much better waves. Kavieng seemed relatively cool but you would want to keep your wits about you. Didn’t hear of any violence against tourists but plenty amongst the locals. There are spots along the coast but might be hard to find without a guide.

Stayed to Nusa Island. Our group surfed 2 / 3 times a day for the entire time we were there. Must have been lucky because most days the waves were like twice as big or more than shown on that clip from the Perfect Wave. Picaninis and Long Longs didn't work while we were there nor did Nusa Lefts but what setups!. Exclusively surfed Ral Island Nago Lefts. As the expat AU guy that organised the boats each day would say "its fickle". Know guys that have stayed there many times and never seen Picaninis or Long Longs work, one trip they didn't surf much at all, only a hand full of times. People have lots of theories, go early out of season or go late to score but its very different season to season.

My trip cost around $5000 based on flights to/from Brisbane plus 2 nights accommodation/food/airport transfers plus the trip costs. All tour costs are ex Brisbane.

Food excellent and local staff so friendly but Australian people that run the place hit the bar each night until very late meaning there was lots of noise in camp and then the bar staff needed to be ferried back to Kavieng after midnight (boat starting up under your room more or less) and sleep is difficult anyway with no aircon and extremely hot/humid nights.

We heard a local was bashed to death a day or so after we left and then the local police needed to stay on the island to clam things down except they got pissed in the bar each night and started fighting amongst themselves.

Staying in an a Airbnb in Kavieng? Good luck with that, most reliable surf is via the resort and Kavieng is a frontier town.

The boat is meant to be all time, it was in port when we were there, looks a fantastic setup and I reckon it delivers what Nusa Resort promises. If I were travelling that way again it would be on the boat.