Mawi
An A-frame break with long rippable lefts and fast, hollow rights. It’s a swell magnet, producing heavier and punchier waves than some of the other Lombok surf breaks. If you are beginner to intermediate a smaller day and a higher tide will present easier conditions.
Key Surf Spot Info
Wave Direction
Both
Ideal Swell Direction
S
Best Tide Level
Mid
Minimum Surfer Ability
Intermediate
Best Surf Conditions
Mawi works in the dry season where the easterly winds are offshore, favouring it over other breaks near/east of Kuta. The right hander works on a smaller swell, and the left works on all swell sizes. Mawi doesn’t need a lot of swell to get a decent size. On a larger swell barrel sections are not uncommon, the waves increase in power, and the currents get strong, making it more suitable for advanced surfers. It does get quite shallow on a low tide, and would still be considered surfable, but this depends on your comfort levels and ability. A mid-high tide is preferable.
See the surf forecast at surf-forecast.com
Surf Crowd Levels
Despite not being easy to get to, Mawi is a very popular spot, and gets quite busy with people and with surf schools. This is probably due to it’s consistency even in the dry season.
Do You Need Reef Boots?
Booties are not required for any of the South Lombok Breaks. However, depending on how low of a tide you are surfing, they could make you more comfortable. On a low tide it gets shallow and there will be exposed reef to walk over, and it can be sharp.
How to Get To Mawi Surf Spot
Ride from Kuta towards Selong Belanak – you can put Mawi Surf Cafe into Google Maps. When you turn off from the main road towards Mawi Surf Cafe, the road turns to dirt. You will continue to follow the road past the cafe, but note that from here the conditions get more difficult, as the dirt track is far from smooth and has quite a few rocks. If it’s been raining a lot, this can also make the track more difficult to travel. Some scooter skills and confidence are required. Go straight past the Mawi Surf Cafe, and you will get to a short uphill section of the track. Not long after this section you will pass a sort of gate where you will need to pay approx 10,000 IDR on a bike to get in. From there, follow the track until you hit the beach.
At the beach you will find a Warung where you can get food, but note there are no other facilities. It’s a very beautiful and natural spot.
One of the best parts about Mawi is that once you’ve gotten past the road you have paid your dues, and it’s only a short paddle from the beach to get to the breaking waves – no boat required. You can paddle on the left hand side next to the cliff edge. If the tide is low you may also choose to climb over the rocks on the right end of the beach, then paddle in the deeper channel on the other side.
If you want to go to Mawi but aren’t keen on riding the dirt track, you can also hire a boat from the beach to the north.