Nias Island
Overview of the Nias
Nias is a large island located in North Sumatra about 100km from the mainland of all the sumatran offshore islands Nias is the most populated and access is easy via plane or ferry. Apart from the waves nias also has a few things of interest to general tourist such as the traditional villages and stone jumping, the Nias people also have a history as being warriors.
The Waves
Nias is home to the world famous right hand point of Lagundri bay, there are also other waves although for the size of the island there is a lack of quality reefs, with much of the coast being poor quality beach breaks, most of the other reefs generally need more swell than lagundri bay.
Crowd wise
Due to Lagundri bay Nias, being one of the best right handers in the world, Lagundri bay is generally has a crowd almost all year round with visiting surfers and a number of locals surfers all wanting a piece of the action, other surf spots in Nias are more hit and miss.
Lagundri bay/The Point- Not
the longest but definitely one of the most perfect
right's in the world, ever since it's discovery in
the 1970's Nias has been a popular surfing
destination for thousands of surfers around the
world.
The set up is
picture perfect a large bay, a backdrop of coconut
palms and a perfect right peeling of the point, there is even
a small flat water channel (keyhole) that lets you paddle
right into the take off zone, often without even getting
your hair wet.
The wave itself
line's up in a nice long wall, with a fairly easy
take off, that lets you set up and then get a nice
barrel, come out and either get a few turns in or
sometimes if your lucky the wave let you get a second
barrel before the wave backs of in deeper water.
Another thing that
makes Nias such a great wave is unlike most hollow
Indonesian reef breaks the waves even at low tide,
break in fairly deep water and the reef is never much of a
worry.
Effects of earthquake 2005 on waves in area-
In 2005 Nias was badly affected by an earthquake
that ruined many waves in the area, however in a
freak of nature, the Point at Lagundri bay,
actually improved.
Before
the quake-Nias was a world class right with an
almond shaped barrel, however it needed
a solid
swell to break, and when smaller only broke on a mellow
inside piece of reef known as "kiddies land"
Post quake- The reef
has risen a few feet, leaving much of the reef high
and dry, however the good news is with this change
the wave quality actually improved instead of an almond barrel
the barrel is even more hollow and round, even breaking as
a perfect barrel at just a few feet, and still holding
and breaking perfectly, although somewhat heavier
even on the largest swells. Also of note is the wave
seems to be a bit longer with often a second barrel
section that appears towards the end of the wave.
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Sadly however other waves in the area were effected in a negative way (see below)
Indicators- Before
the quake this was a hollow and heavy right for
experts only located further up the point, now this
wave is only for the crazy or true hell men.
The Machine- Located
inside Lagundri bay, sadly once again a wave that
has been negatively affected by the quake, before
the quake it was a quality left
breaking on big swells in a machine like fashion,
now however word is it rarely breaks at all requiring
even larger swells, higher tides and when breaking
is nowhere near the quality it once was.
Rock stars-A short
hollow right breaking over shallow reef and ending on
totally dry reef, located in front of a village with
a crowd watching your every move, hence the name
"rock stars"
Afulu- A quality
left, with a variety of sections including some
barrels, wave has also changed since quake.
Other waves- The
above spots are the more well known one's, with half a
dozen lesser known spots left and rights, reefs and
beachie's, of varying quality from fun to super
heavy.
Nias island surf camps/resorts
Generally there is only budget
accommodation available at Nias with many
losmens/home stays located at Lagundri bay/So rake,
price range from about $5 to $50 with the cheaper end
not including meals while the more expensive options
generally include meals and sometimes extras such as
transport and laundry.
There is a huge number of basic losmens, and you can either book ahead or turn up and shop around
#prices are per person per night and include meals unless otherwise stated.
Nias key hole surf camp- Located on the point ($55 pp pn) www.niaskeyholesurfcamp.com
Shady Palm beach- Located on the point (About$25 to $30 pp pn) www.shadypalmnias.com
Oichoda surfstay- Located on the point ($ 25 to $30 pp pn), transport and tours also available. www.niasoichodasurfcamp.com/
Aloha surf camp- Located on inside the point. www.nias-accommodation.com
Jamburae lodge- Located on inside of the point ($33 to $38pp pn) www.surfingnias.com
Double H surf camp- ($35 a room 4-5 people meals extra) www.surfcamp-nias.com
Nias lodge-Location unknown(4-8 guest) www.niaslodge.com
Sanali losmen- locate halfway up pt $15-$20 a room, meals extra www.sanalilosmen.jimdo.com
Arico losmen- Located halfway up point $30 US ppn includes meals www.niassurf.com
Sunrise guest rooms and surf camp- located on pt $5-$15 per night, meals extra www.niassurfsunrise.com
Raffiel’s losmen-located on inside of the point www.niassurfcamp.com
Lilys Nias surf camp- www.lilysnias.com
Serius Losmen- Located on the point, contact"Tangkius" on mobile phone +6281397191842
JJ's losman- 5 min from the break. contact: jjslosman@hotmail.com or +6281396498173
Kristov losmen-in front of keyhole, :kristov_wau@yahoo.com call in this number +6281265282009
Other losmens include, Morris
losmen, Eddy's losmen, Peeruba losmen, Toho surf,
Barriga losmen,Warkop losmen,Yohanes, Michelle, Eddy
and Sun beach losmens.
# If you have a friend who has a
losmen at Lagundri/Sorake Nias or contact details and
would like us to put it up here, send us an E-mail
and we will post it here.
Charter boats that focus on the Nias
Due to Nias having limited surf
spots with Lagundri bay the main focus, Nias is
only visited as part of a charter boat trip that
takes in the other Islands North and South such as
the Banyaks and The telo's.
before
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