Where are you going to stand up paddle this winter?
Just a wave... Bali style...
It's a trend common with most water sports. Kiteboarders do it every year in search of wind, surfer do it to escape the cold and small waves, and stand up paddlers are no different. The yearly 'surfari' is fast becoming the norm for aussie paddlers, with places like Bali, Indonesia and the other South Pacific islands beginning to market SUP specific tours and trips. The forums are a buzz with great pictures from overseas already, and winter hasn't even started yet!
So what are the options, where can you go and what should you expect to pay?
To be honest - you can go anywhere you want, the checklist should include going north, but not too far north. There should be warm water, some waves and of course blue sparkling water. Flights should preferably be cheap, plentiful and no more than a few hours away.
Bali fits the bill pretty nicely. It's the age old surf spot that was once a mecca for surfers. Now, it's pretty touristy and you've really gotta watch out for the cons and cops who're after a bribe. Flights are pretty cheap from Perth, they'll set you back around $500 return. The East coast is a little more exxy, about $700 return.
Indo is a little more laid back, less touristy but still pretty commercial. It's been getting a great wrap lately with some epic footage. A lot of guys are getting around on yachts to places like the Mentawais. Having a boat is the best way to get around the islands, and it means you can anchor just off the break, jump off and hit the waves. Flights are about $700 to Denpasar. You can get a boat, taxi or scooter from there...
But what if you want to get away from it all? Cloudbreak in Fiji has just been opened up to the public in the last few years. This epic spot is a bit more pricey than the rest of Fiji but the waves on offer are world class. You'll have to share it with kiteboarders in the afternoons, but that's part of the fun. Again, flights are between $500 and $700 to Nadi (which is pronounced Nandi to avoid embarrassment on arrival).
Those are just a few of the more popular spots, there's tons of uncharted (at least to you) reef breaks, beachies and once in a lifetime spots out there. So book some tickets and get on it! Ask for some travel advise in the Seabreeze.com.au Forums, or share your travel pics with everyone and make them green!

