Vanimo Village Reef, Papua New Guinea
Also within 20 km of Vanimo
- Vanimo Reef Surf spot · 2 km from Vanimo
- Vanimo, Twin Rocks Reef Surf spot · 3.3 km from Vanimo
Watch this spot We email you when Vanimo Village Reef is worth the trip.
About Vanimo Village Reef
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces N (20°), so it takes swell from the N. The wind blows offshore from the S (200°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea is about 29°C in February, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 30°C in January, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best month is usually December, with about 6 good days in 7; in June, July and August, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Vanimo, 3.7 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot.
Water about 30°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 38 h 15 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to DJJ, changing at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK).
See flights ORD → DJJ · Skyscanner from about £755 returnAdGetting there. 1 h 45 from the airport to Vanimo Village Reef.
Accommodation.
Stay in VanimoAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Vanimo (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Vanimo 6 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 3 places to stay · where Vanimo Village Reef stays
Places to stay in Vanimo · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Vanimo · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Vanimo · GetYourGuideAd
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Luxury Where it is
Vanimo Village Reef on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 16, too small | 2 ft8 s | 35kJ | wind from the east, 6 knots | 28°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 18, too small | 2 ft9 s | 47kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 9 knots | 28°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 22, too small | 2 ft5 s | 20kJ | wind from the east, 7 knots | 28°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 25, too small | 2 ft9 s | 63kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 8 knots | 28°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 26, too small | 2 ft10 s | 98kJ | wind from the north-east, 6 knots | 28°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 43, fair | 3 ft10 s | 138kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 4 knots | 28°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 23, too small | 2 ft11 s | 117kJ | wind from the east, 9 knots | 29°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 44, fair | 3 ft11 s | 206kJ | wind from the north-east, 5 knots | 28°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 41, fair | 3 ft11 s | 187kJ | wind from the east-north-east, 5 knots | 28°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 19, too small | 2 ft8 s | 36kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 8 knots | 28°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 0, poor | – | – | – | – |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly ORD to DJJ, changing at HKG and CGK, then 1h 45 by road. About 38h 15 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 33 of 80.
- Fri 23 OctSurf Vanimo Reef
Best 09:00 to 12:00 local time: 3 ft at 10 s, wind 4 kn (8 km/h).
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 30 of 80.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to DJJ, changing at HKG and CGK, then 1h 45 by road. About 38h 15 door to door
The plan picks the best of 3 spots near Vanimo each day: Vanimo Reef, Vanimo, Twin Rocks Reef, Vanimo Village Reef.
Rough cost
About £1,245–£2,420 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to DJJ, estimated from distance and season, changing at HKG and CGK, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £755–£1,565 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £70–£115 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £165–£280 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £155–£290 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £65–£105 |
| Total | £1,245–£2,420 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.