Banyak Islands

Treasure Island (Treasures) Pulau Bankaru

Seriously, this is why we travel far and wide as surfers! When Treasures is firing it is an unbelievable sight and incredible wave to surf. A long hollow right that pumps down the line almost parallel to the shoreline and close to the shallow reef. If you take off at the top of the point and maintain your speed, you can manage to navigate 3 - 4 distinct barrel sections.

The Bay Of Plenty (Pulau Tuangku)

The Bay is the most populated surfing area of the Banyaks, due to the close proximity of 3 excellent breaks that suit a wide range of surfers. The availability of land accommodation and being targeted by operating charter boats means at times you need to be patient to avoid a crowd. Generally there is a really good vibe in the area and you can still manage to get great waves with a few guys out.

Gunters/Joysticks, Bay Of Plenty

This right hander is so much fun and very rewarding. At head high the beautiful outer peak offers an easy take-off allowing time to bottom turn and line up some turns. On the best waves, usually the sets, the aim is to drive along the wall through the mid part and link to the inside section, here there is another take-off zone on a raised kink in the reef. This section offers an awesome barrel that bowls along for 30m or so, ending on a shallow patch of reef.

Dindos, Toy Town, Inside Left, Bay Of Plenty

Across the channel in paddling distance from Gunters there is a left on the inside of the bay they call Dindos. Once the swell gets up and Gunters becomes more challenging, this break offers a safe, shreddable ride that is fun for all levels of surfers. There can be a bit of current in here so continual paddling up the reef is required to hold the peak, you can often get caught when the sets come and have to race out and wide. The wall on this wave holds its height and shape making it incredibly rippable and fun.

Lolok Point, Bay Of Plenty

This left hand point break is on the outer tip of the bay and catches most of the swell. The wave is heavy and pretty dangerous, suiting the more advanced surfer or fearless charger. In saying that the wave pumps. I have seen good surfers, mainly goofy footers, getting long heavy barrels on the outer section then lining up the inside for more tube time. It is a long wave that follows the contour of the bay as the swell wraps in. There are a couple of shallow sections with coral heads which boil up not far from the pitching lip, so it is best to surf it on larger swells to gain some distance from the reef. I play it pretty safe out here, mainly flirt with the barrel sections and go to turns just to be safe.

Turtles

Turtles is about 30 minutes from Treasures on Pulau Bangkaru, named for the prevalence of Green Sea Turtles, Leatherbacks and Hawksbill Turtles that choose their nesting sites along the shore of this beautiful white sandy beach and targeted when the swell isn’t getting into Treasures or the Bay of Plenty. This is a really fun wave. It can get uneven and a bit wobbly at times but it offers peaks and sections that can bring a smile to a boat load of guests. The wave is pretty soft and consequence free, only one little rocky outcrop near the shore that can catch the unaware surfer by surprise. The peak lurches up and generally tapers off pretty quick, but the good ones on the set have a wall that pushes wide and offers up two steeper sections that run all the way to a shore break on the inside.

Cobras

Between Treasures and Turtles on Pulau Bankaru. When Cobras is on, this wave can provide the best left-hand barrels in the Banyaks. Known for being heavy and hollow, this is for the more advanced surfer. The barrel can line up for the entire wave but it needs a perfect swell angle, size and winds to bring it all together. When the swell starts to drop it is really fun and manageable at around head height.

The Lizards Nest

Lizards is a fickle beast of a wave. The charter boat needs to make the commitment of missing a surf session of pumping waves at other breaks just to check it, and more often than not missing out. This wave is not suited to surfers unable to ride long barrels, with no other option but to get flogged. Even watching your mates surf it would be very exciting if you are generous enough to spectate, but to surf it when pumping is possibly the highlight of surfing in the Banyaks. The take off is sucky and challenging, the bottom of the wave can draw below sea level, but once you set your line, pulling in safely in the barrel it is awesome and exhilarating. If the wave sections off or you fall and get caught inside the reef, I hope you are wearing booties. It can be an absolute hassle and can take 30 minutes to get back out through the lagoon.

Pulau Babi

When the swell drops to almost nothing on Bangkaru and Tuangku, Babi Island is the ultimate swell magnet and has a few great surf options for you and your mates. It is good out there, not the best waves in the Banyaks, but my favourite location! The most popular break has a lovely peak with a left barrel take-off with a short wall, while the right has the same barrel potential from take-off, then runs off down the line, great for turns or to hunt another barrel section. With a few other reef breaks and slabs, Babi island is full of surprises and unexpected pumping surf sessions, a great way to spend a couple of days waiting for a new swell. Probably the best fishing in the Banyaks, with heaps of trolling and spear fishing options if you're keen.

Other Breaks

There are a few more awesome breaks dotted around the province, the best being a series of left handers that break along an isolated stretch of coast. There are other slabs and coves that open up when the swells are bigger or from certain directions.