Cheapflights.com.au Celebrates Australia’s First World Surfing Reserve

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, Feb 21, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –
As Sydney prepares to open its first World Surfing Reserve,
Cheapflights.com.au, the online leader in travel deals publishing,
has chosen to honour the occasion by having its in-house experts pick
out the best unlikely surfing destinations around the world.

“Surfing enthusiasts go all around the world chasing waves, so while
there’s plenty to choose from right here at home, why not make a
holiday out of exploring the world’s shorelines?” says Oonagh Shiel,
Senior Site Editor for Cheapflights.com.au.

“You never know when or where you’ll catch your next big wave and you
might even be the first to discover a new surfer’s paradise,” adds
Shiel.

The list of hotspots — or wet spots — includes highly improbable
suspects such as Alaska, China and even Lebanon, but that’s
precisely what makes it so interesting. Here we dive in to the first
five of the top unlikely surfing spots around the world.

Guatemala

This Central American country lies in Mexico’s shadow as far as
tourist numbers are concerned, but there’s an under-discovered 225km
stretch of Pacific coastline against which the waves tower and crash.
Best time to go? The weather is good and the waves are decent between
March and June. The waves are bigger and better during the rainy
season (July-February) but you’ll find a few more (United States)
tourists about.

Alaska

You won’t find many wimps if you go surfing in Alaska. Its frontier
spirit puts off the lily-livered, but for those with a strong
constitution, it offers an amazing experience. Yakutat is at the
northern end of the Alaskan panhandle and offers consistent surf with
heart-stoppingly beautiful views of the Saint Elias mountains. Best
time to go? Spring (April) and autumn (September) — the storms
produce long, towering breakers.

Ireland

Taking on the might of the Atlantic at Aileen’s, the Cliffs of Moher,
County Clare, is highly regarded, but we’re going north to Donegal.
Bundoran is the best known surfing spot, but around the Fanad
Peninsula you’ll find unforgiving Atlantic breaks. Best time to go?
Between September and May for those legendary swells.

China

China’s coastline is one of the world’s longest and, unfortunately,
one of its most polluted. The best location to head to for surfing is
currently the island of Hainan where the water is warm year round and
is relatively clean. Best time to go? In China, it’s the wind of
typhoons that drive the surf potential. Typhoon season runs from
approximately the start of summer through September, so October
through March is the recommended surf season.

Lebanon

In recent years Beirut has become synonymous with partying. Some of
the best nightlife in the world can be had there. However, a lesser
known fact is that it’s also a great unlikely location for surfing.
While there might be all of a few hundred surfers in the entire
country, the number of visitors heading there to surf is on the rise.
Best time to go? August or October through December. During the cold
winter months, surfers should make sure to include warm wetsuits
among their gear and head to either Jonas or Jiyeh beaches in the
south or Chekka beach in the north.

For the full list of unlikely surfing destinations, visit

http://www.cheapflights.com.au/travel-tips/unlikely-surfing-spots-around-the-world/

To search and compare flights to these or any other destination,
visit

http://www.cheapflights.com.au/

About Cheapflights Media

Cheapflights Media is an international media network helping over 11
million visitors a month find top travel deals. Our Cheapflights
brand was launched in 1996 and pioneered the online comparison of
flight deals for users. Today, users compare a wide range of deals
from hundreds of partners including online travel agents,
consolidators and airlines to find the very best flight deals. With a
mission to be the starting point for travel, Cheapflights works to
deliver the industry’s best airfare bargains, expert tips and
inspiration. There are currently Cheapflights sites in the U.K.,
U.S., Canada, Germany, Australia New Zealand, France, Italy and
Spain. For more information, visit
http://www.cheapflights.com.au/ .
Our newest brand, Momondo, is a leading travel search engine for
finding comprehensive worldwide pricing and availability on airfares.
Winner of several awards, the site is ideal for users on specific
travel schedules. For more information, visit
www.momondo.com .

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        For further information please contact:

        Cheapflights Communications:
        Nadine Hallak
        Tel: +44(0) 20 3219 7553
        email: Email Contact

SOURCE: Cheapflights.com.au

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