Surf is dead
— Friedrich Nietzsche
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Fiji is a fairly unique place in the world: great singular nature scenery, spectacular beaches, friendly and helpful people with true open and sharing culture, and of course the dream place of powerful waves right in the middle of the South Pacific.
In July 2010, the Fijian government decided to open access to every wave in the islands. This meant in particular that anyone could surf Cloudbreak and Restaurants, two of the most iconic waves in the world, until then exclusively restricted to the guests of Tavarua island resort for as little as 500 USD per person per night.
Shortly after what has been called the “Surfing Decree”, exclusive access rights were prohibited so anyone could surf anywhere without having to pay a fee or get a permit. So I ended up booking all flight tickets right away to go there, while finding a cheap place to stay. Followed one month on a trip by myself in august, at the peak of the South Pacific swell season.
For 15 years, you could go, surf and stay over there for as cheap as a trip in Indo.
All this may have come to an end.
Sorry, the restaurant is closed
Surfers wanting to catch a wave in Fiji could soon have to pay for the privilege as the government moves to repeal a unique law that opened up access to the country’s world class reef breaks for tourists and locals alike.
Foreign-owned resorts used to have exclusive access rights to famous waves like Cloudbreak, off Fiji’s Tavarua Island, so you had to be a paying guest to ride them.
“We as locals couldn’t surf,” said Ian Ravouvou Muller, one of Fiji’s surfing pioneers.
“We were treated as second-class citizens in our own country, and who would like a situation like that where you can’t even surf your own waves?”
In 2010 the military dictatorship in charge of the country at the time, led by former commander Frank Bainimarama, imposed a Surfing Decree.
The decree prohibited exclusive access rights so anyone could surf anywhere without having to pay a fee or get a permit.
Even critics of the then-government acknowledge it helped turn Fiji into a premier surf tourism location.
“It allowed us to start surfing,” Muller said.
“Ever since we opened there’s been an explosion of local surf businesses and local surfing.
“It’s incredible. That’s why we got all these young up-and-coming stars now because they’re able to surf some of the best waves in the world.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-30/surfers-to-pay-to-ride-fijis-world-class-breaks/106077640
