Surfing in Winter: How to get out and get it on

Jeff    surfingholidays     australia, California, France, Ireland, North Africa, Portugal, Spain, surfing holidays, Surfing in England, surfing trips, Winter surfing

It’s cold again. Even in California. Thanksgiving signals the beginning of the end of the year. A time to reflect on prior months of success or shortcomings, and what changes should be made for the future.

Winter, you've got to love it! Image: Flickr/ Ken Janes

Winter means shorter days, longer clothing, and cooler water.

But for surfers, winter is a time to rejoice. Wavesliders love this season. Here’s a few reasons why:

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Driving the three loneliest roads in the world

Tamsin    Overland Holiday Ideas, overlandholidays     australia, Canada, Carnegie Station, Gunbarrel Highway, James bay Road, Life Magazine, Matagami, Nevada, Overland holidays, Overland Tour, Quebec, Radisson, Trans-Taiga, Victory Downs, western australia

With the human-to-car ratio now at around the 1:1.5 mark in most western countries, you could be forgiven for thinking that the entire world is turning into one big car park.

Nevada: Home to 'The Loneliest Road in America'

But there are still some roads where the sound of horns honking and breaks screeching are blissfully unusual. Roads where you would be lucky to even see another driver, let alone get stuck behind one.

In 1986 Life Magazine named the Nevada section of Highway 50 as ‘The loneliest road in America’. The route earned the dubious honour thanks to the very few signs of civilisation along its length and the scale of wilderness that it traverses.

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If Surfing makes the Olympics who takes the medals?

Jeff    surfingholidays     Adriano De Souza, Alejo Muniz, australia, Brazil, Bruce Irons, Burrow, Fanning, florida, Gabriel Medina, hawaii, Heitor Alves, Jamie O'Brien, John John, Kelly Slater, Kerr, Miguel Pupo, Olympic Sport, olympics, Otten, Parkinson, South America, Surfing, surfing holidays, Travel Surfing, Travel surfing Hotspot, US, Wilson, World Champion Tour, Wright

Imagine surfing is an Olympic sport. It probably won’t ever be, but just consider it for moment: think of the possible venues; think of the opening ceremony; think of the nations and the teams.

Which country is the best at surfing? Image: Flickr/ Eric "Claptøn" Nelsøn

Now think of the podium. Which country is handed the gold? The silver? The bronze? It’s not completely absurd to contemplate, but ultimately what we want to know is: Which country is the best at surfing?

When the flags are raised, will they all be the green and gold of Australia or the stars and bars of the US?

I can sense the rants and opinions bubbling to the surface, so let’s first establish how the competition would be run, then see whose getting the gongs.

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Ocean Safari: The Big Game Beneath the Waves

Tom Sykes    safariadventureholidays     Artanctica, Australasia, australia, Breiðafjörður islands, Cairns, Flipkey, Great Barrier Reeef, Great Barrier Reef Vacation Rentals, Latin America, Maderia, Northern Europe, Ocean Safari, Plettenberg Bay, puerto rico, Puerto Rico Vacation Rentals, Robberg Peninsula, south africa, Vacation Rentals, Western Cape

Once upon a time the word ‘safari’ could only mean an overland trip – usually in an off-road vehicle – to see wild animals dwelling on terra firma. However, nowadays the definition has expanded.

A humpback whale tail. Image: Flickr/ BBM Explorer

An ocean safari gives you rare access to some of the most exotic flora and fauna in the world’s great seas. You’ll know it as soon as you book it – this’ll be one of the best holidays you’ll ever take.

From Australasia to Latin America, Northern Europe to Antarctica, there’s a whole other world of things to see and do in the water. Here’s our pick of the best.

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Over 50s adventure holidays and the youngsters who can’t keep up!

Mark Pawlak    ash     4x4, adventure holidays, australia, Australia Overlanding Tours, Cevennes National Park, china, Darwin, France, Gastro Adventuring, Italy, Lake District National Park, Over 50s, Over 50s Adventure Holidays, Persia, Perth, Po Valley, Robin Hood's Bay, round the world, RTW, Small Group Holidays, St Bees, tailor made holidays, The Silk Road, UK

Since when did the over 50s take adventure holidays you sprightly athletes might ask? Well, even if you think they don’t, trust me, they do! And many of them are fitter than you!

Over 50s do take adventure holidays! Image: Flickr/ mckaysavage

There’s a whole generation of walkers, climbers, mountaineers and all-round adventurers leading the way – and an exceptionally fit group of people over 50 putting you youngsters to shame.

There’s long-term adventureres who wouldn’t be seen dead wasting good walking time on sunloungers, family types who now have the time to go it alone, and the insatiably curious who still like the taste of adventure.

Here are five great options for people who prefer the call of the wild to DIY and calling on relatives for summer snooze staycations.

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Sailing the Indian Ocean: Adventures and Destinations

Mark Moore    sailingbreaks     Adventures, Asia, australia, Destinations, Indonesia, mauritius, Perth, Sailing Breaks, Sailing Holidays, Sailing the Indian Ocean, sailing trip, Sailing Trips, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, the Maldives, the Mediterranean, The Seychelles, western australia

Not many Europeans or North Americans get to experience sailing the Indian Ocean. It tends to be more of a hot-spot for people living in Asia or Australia, for the obvious reason that it is much closer.

The Indian Ocean, an area for the adventure-oriented sailor. Image: Flickr/ llee_wu

Shame really, as most of the sailing in this region is much more adventurous than the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. The crossings can be long and grueling, and during the southern hemisphere winter, the Roaring Forties latitude pumps out serious ocean swell that can cause hectic conditions.

This is an area for the adventure-oriented sailor that doesn’t expect to pull up to a 5-star marina for a massage every night. And there’s a number of places to start from or even link together as a longer adventure.

Fancy a challenge? Time to take your sailing into the Indian Ocean in search of horizon’s new? Good. Here’s an intro to help.

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Surfing in Australia: The 10 best surf spots

Jeff    surfingholidays, Top 10s     australia, Cronulla, Gnaraloo, Kirra, Lennox Head, Manly, Noosa Heads, Snapper Rocks, Surf and Travel, surf trip, surfing holidays, Surfing in Australia, The Box, The Pas, Winki Pop

Choosing the ten best surf spots in Australia is like picking an all-star team of professional rugby players: There are too many great players to whittle down into at list of ten that will satisfy everyone.

The best surf spots in Australia. Image: Flickr/ AN HONORABLE GERMAN

But, like rugby players, waves exhibit characteristics that are objectively good: shape, consistency, prevailing conditions.

And if you’re surfing in Australia you’d expect to find all of these in the best spots you visit.

The more of these characteristics typifying a particular wave, the better the spot. Utilizing this scale and the best of my knowledge, the following is my attempt at Australia’s best surf spots.

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