Vanimo is located approximately 1500kms north of Cairns, Australia. Air Niugini has daily flights from Brisbane to Port Moresby and 7 days a week from Port Moresby to Vanimo (1.5hr). Air Niugini also flies to Port Moresby from Sydney (4 hrs), Brisbane (1.5 hr) and Cairns (1 hr). Vanimo is a popular destination for Japanese surfers as well and flights connect at Port Moresby. It is possible to same day connect all the way through from Australia to Vanimo using different airlines. Surfboards on Air Niugini flights are considered sporting equipment up to 15kgs and under 10ft in length and are free of additional charges.
Before travelling we recommend having adequate travel insurance with medical cover and visit your local doctor 4-8 weeks prior to travelling to receive professional advice.
Some travellers come via Indonesia just over the border. Online eVisas are required for entry to PNG and if returning to Indonesia travellers will need a Indonesian entry visa. It is recommended to arrange all entry visas prior to travelling to either Indonesia or Papua New Guinea. The address for eVisas is Vanimo Surf Lodge, c/- Lido Village, Vanimo, West Sepik Province.
There are same day connecting flights provided by Air Niugini and also depending on what day you arrive in Port Moresby you may need an overnight stay which will give you the chance to take in the sights of the country’s capital if you feel like it.
Port Moresby is an ideal stopover if you are after a few traditional artefacts or fancy a taste of the local restaurants cuisine and club dance scene as there are several clubs to choose from.
Typically surfers stay anywhere from 7-14 days. We recommend checking in for flights at least 3 hours prior to departure to avoid disappointment. Online eVisas are required for entry to PNG cost approx AUD$75 see our Tips tab for more info.
Click on any of the below carriers to check flight details.
Flying there
The three airline carriers are based on flying from Australia to Vanimo, Papua New Guinea. You can book your flights on your own or if you prefer to use a travel check the links below.
If you choose to book your own flights, here are the flight codes.
PORT MORESBY – POM | VANIMO – VAI
Travel agent links
Accommodation Vanimo Surf Lodge
Check with your travel agents as they may package a great deal including your accommodation and your flights. You can also book direct with our Book Now tab. Online bookings range from AUD$240-$260/day which is all inclusive of your 3x meals a day, shared beachfront accommodation, 1.5L bottled water daily and airport transfers to and from Vanimo airport. Ask about our group of 8 or more discount 12.5% and conference discounts. We provide group discounts for boardrider clubs, surf schools and conference groups as well.
This includes:
- Share accommodation in beachfront hut (average occupancy is 4-6 surfers spaced evenly between the four beachfront lodges)
- On occasion we do have busier weeks and we always try to spread our guests in the best configurations
- All meals
- 1.5L bottled water each day and refillable water bottles as well.
- Airport transfers
Vanimo Surfers are usually adventure surfers seeking off the beaten track locations and as such we do not offer air-conditioning nor cafè lattes. Lodges have fans operating overnight.
Hire surfboards of various shapes are available for hourly K55 OR daily K220. All dings are required to be repaired at cost to the hirer.
Meals are prepared daily and use locally sourced vegetables, protein and fruits so it is always fresh! Additional water K5, snacks K5, softdrinks K5-K7, plunger coffee K10-15 and beers K15-20 are also available at reasonable prices.
Waterfall tours are K55 per person minimum 4x guests, 2 hour boat tours and fishing K440 for 4x guests
We have an online bookings reward of K100 cashback on arrival.
The Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea (SAPNG) charge all surfers to all PNG destinations a AUD$50 once only membership and the local VSAMP charge AUD$15/day for surfers which goes to the local village projects.
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Surf season officially runs from November to April. Please select your date range below to check availability before payment in full. For all other dates please SMS message our Representative on +61 411 823 500 or email [email protected].
