The best places for surfers to stay are the dedicated surfing camps, particularly in Santa Isabel, all of which package accommodation, boats, meals and most importantly of all, easy access to those all-important surf breaks. And the jewel in the surfing crown is Papatura Island Retreat located on Papatura Island.
Papatura Island Retreat is without doubt one of the best surfing set-ups to be found anywhere in the South Pacific. Managed by Australian expats Pete and Margie Blanche and their children, the resort sits on a beautiful sandy beach facing the main island of Santa Isabel, and is protected from the ocean winds.
On the seaward side of the island several good surf breaks, rights and lefts, lie just minutes away – Anchovies, PTs, Kummas, Zolis, Donuts and Tarzans, the latter offering a perfect a-frame with barrels going in both directions, a true surfer’s dream.
Getting to Papatura Island is an adventure in itself and well worth the effort. Solomon Airlines operates regular Twin Otter flights from Honiara to Suavanao Airfield and the resort lies a short five minute boat ride away.
Best of all, Papatura Island Retreat limits the number of board riders to a maximum of 14 at any one time – so with more than 20 different breaks to choose from, surfers are guaranteed an uncrowded surf, a rare commodity in these days of ever-growing numbers of board raiders in ever more crowded waves in an ever more crowded world.