Destination | Best Surf Spots Worldwide
Got the travel itch? Why not turn your trip into a wave-cation by hitting all the best surf spots from around the world.
Royden Bryson
Royden Bryson, pictured above, is a professional world ranking surfer. The featherweight, goofy-footer with the smooth flamboyant style was given the title of Lord (along with$20 000) when he won the O’Neill Scotland Highland Pro many moons ago.
Here, Lord Fauntle-roy presents his bucket list of best surf spots around the world for you to travel, surf and destroy.
Supertubes, South Africa
It’s one of the longest right-hand point breaks in the world, and is relatively consistent through winter too. They have the annual WCT Billabong Pro there every year, so head up there in July if you want to see it ridden from Boneyards to The Point.
G-Land, Indonesia
The longest, best-shaped reef in the world. Quicksilver used to have a contest there but the political situation put a stop to that. Still, check it out.
Superbank, Australia
This is a man-made sandbar. There’s a pump at the top of the point that pumps sand down the beach. The waves were always there, but they started pumping sand a few years ago and now it’s even better. It’s very crowded though.
Teahupoo, Tahiti
I think they only discovered this wave about a decade ago. It’s definitely one of the most dangerous breaks in the world. The sharp, shallow reef has live coral that’s so sharp just running your hand over it will cut you. That said, Tahiti is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Pipeline, Hawaii
Probably the most famous break in the world, Oahu’s North Shore is a surf mecca, which hosted the first professional surf contest ever. It’s as intense as Tahiti, and also very shallow, but breaks just 50m from the beach, making it perfect for spectators. Crowds are an issue.
Cloud Nine, Phillipines
The exceptional right-hand barrel was discovered by photographer/traveller John Callahan. I first went there when I was 21 and it was just so perfect and uncrowded and pristine. It also had the most delicious assortment of fruit I’d ever tasted.
Skeleton Bay, Namibia
This is a semi-secret spot that I surfed for the first time this year. Corey Lopez was one of the first pros to surf it. It’s probably one of the longest waves in the world; 2.2km start to finish. It’s intensely barren and if you don’t have a local connection you won’t find it. The water is cold, there’s a massive seal colony around the corner, it’s in a desert, and overall it’s pretty unininviting. Beautiful wave, though.
Hossegar, France
This incredible beachbreak should be avoided in summer when the whole of Europe descends upon it. This is also the time when there are the most parties, the best-looking girls, and it’s so warm that you can sleep on the beach. So summer is not entirely a bad option either.
Tavarua, Fiji
A big-wave spot that will hold up as much swell as there is resulting in thunderous left hand barrels. The problem with this spot is that it’s very expensive – about $365 a day. Only so many people are allowed onto the island at any given time, so crowds are rare.
Porto Escondido, Mexico
I haven’t actually surfed this spot yet, but it’s definitely one that I will try get to next year between the contests. It’s a wave that I’ve watched since I was a kid. An intense, hard-breaking beach break with lots of waves around it. Definitely a good place to go exploring.