april-2011

Photo: A.Marks / bluesnapper.com.au
Take a surf trip to
Indonesia’s Panaitan
Island for some unique
sights and wicked surfi ng
WORDS CHRIS FRIEND
Arriving
in bustling Jakarta
could bewilder even
the most seasoned surf-seeking traveller.
However, beyond the pulsating Indonesian
capital lies a region rich with world-class
surfi ng destinations.
A two-hour drive from central Jakarta lies
the sleepy marina town of Anyer, the gateway
to West-Javanese surfi ng heaven. The small,
traditional Javanese fi shing village expels
aromas of sizzling satays and echoes of local
banter from streetside seafood markets.
Fishermen offl oading long-boats fi lled with
fi shing supplies dominate the harbour.
They barely notice eight Australian surfers
embarking on Just Dreaming, a 50-foot cutterrigged
ketch, operated by The Surf Travel
Company, which organises surf tours to the
region’s hidden gem: Panaitan Island.
Panaitan Island lies off the western tip of Java
in the Sunda Strait, the sea that links Java and
Sumatra. As part of the World Heritage-listed
Ujung Kulon National Park, Panaitan Island is as
abundant in wildlife as it is in the rolling waves
that surround its reefs. The view from the boat
moored in Panaitan Bay is a surfer’s dream:
peeling waves break against backdrops of
luscious, unspoiled jungle. Local monkeys and
deer dot the beach.
Panaitan is one of the emerging surfi ng
locations in the wave-rich Indonesian
archipelago. Most famous for its relentless,
heaving tubes known as Apocalypse and One
Palm, the island also boasts a wide range of
options to cater to all levels of surfers.
Tour guide and avid surfer Australian Ham
Blackett knows the diversity of the Panaitan
region. “Groups touring the area are really
surprised by the complete range of set-ups,” he
explains. “You can be surfi ng the six- to eightfoot
One Palm, getting the best barrels of your
life on one day; and small playful two- to threefoot
Illusions the next.”
One Palm Point is the break that put Panaitan
Island on the map. It’s a truly world-class wave,
marked by a single sentinel palm that stands
proudly on the tip of the point. Waves break
over the perfectly formed, yet dangerously
shallow reef — creating a picture-perfect
top-to-bottom barrel. One Palm is for the
experienced surfer, and you can expect to lose
skin on the reef if you happen to wipe out.
If the name isn’t enough to scare you
away, the sheer sound of its bone-crushing
power will; Apocalypse is a right-hand barrel
that entices the thrill-seeking surfer. It’s an
extremely fast, hollow wave, which draws the
swell in from deep water onto a shallow reef to
create an unforgettable tube-riding experience
of thick, gaping barrels.
Flying Surfboards
You can travel with your surfboards
when you fl y Jetstar.
When you book:
Check the aircraft you’ll be fl ying on
at Jetstar.com.
For Jetstar fl ights operated by an A320,
A321 or B737 aircraft, your surfboard
(including the surfboard bag) must be
under 1.9m, and for the A330, it must be
under 2.77m.
Before you arrive at the airport:
Your surfboard must be placed in an
appropriate surfboard bag.
Your surfboard fi ns must be in an
enclosed compartment in the surfboard
bag or taped to the board.
At the airport:
Check in 3 hours prior to departure for
a fl ight departing from an international
terminal. Or 2 hours prior to departure for a
fl ight departing from a domestic terminal.
Check in your surfboard as oversized item.
Cost:
Surfboards don’t cost any extra — as long
as they fi t within your fare’s total luggage
allowance. E.g. On a JetSaver fare, fl ying on
an A320 aircraft from Perth to Jakarta, your
total checked-in luggage, including bags and
your surfboard, must not exceed 20kg. If
your surfboard causes your entire checkedin
luggage to be above 20kg, excess baggage
charges apply.
For the humbler surfer, there are also plenty
of gentler options that provide just as much
fun. Napalms is the most popular break at
Panaitan, providing both smooth barrels, as
well as soft, playful sections — thanks to the
deep channel that runs parallel to the reef.
Illusions is a great right-hander set-up, which
works best on a low tide. We lose hours in the
fun of Illusion’s playful waves, only retreating
back to the boat for a delicious meal of nasi
goreng (Indonesian fried rice).
Just Dreaming, our boat, is a premier model
touring the West Javanese region. The 50-foot
sailboat comfortably sleeps up to eight surfers
in the air-conditioned cabin.
After a day’s surfi ng, the boat’s deck is the
perfect place to pull up a chair and sip a cold
beer as the sun sets gently over the sea. The
ADRENALINE
SURFING JAVA
APRIL 2011 31