In search of more variety and less crowds, Northern Beaches surfers Jordy Lawler and Jackson Carey hit the highway and steer northwards.

It's been a wet and mouldy early season out on the North Shore, the rain has been both heavy and persistent. It continued through much of the HIC Pro, turning the water chocolate brown at times.

The southern Indian Ocean storm track is easing and with it all the waves that depend on its seasonal burst. With the season over it's high time to check on the highlights from the Maldives.

A free afternoon to chase waves, a kick in new swell and all day offshores. The first glimpse of the ocean coming down the hill revealed pumping 3-5ft waves on a quiet South Australian beach.

Surfers may come in all kinds and constitutions but it takes elemental desire to chase waves big waves. It's a desire common to all heavy water surfers, and that seems the most natural path for Sam to take.

I was given the opportunity to take my travels, photography and films to another creative level with my friends in the Banyak Islands on their new surf charter vessel, Pulse, as the on-board photographer. I returned a fortnight ago after eight months straight on the boat. Here is a small showcase highlighting the imagery of the Banyaks.

Colloidal Gold is photographer Ben Differding's first solo exhibition. It features a collection of surf images shot in Victoria during the past decade.

Y'seen the photos we posted of Mick and Kelly and Dane tearing up Cloudbreak? They were taken on Wednesday during a burst of long range south swell at the South Pacific reef. Before it travelled north however, that same swell hit the shores of Tasmania.

It wasn't just who was in the water, however, but the juicy subplots at play: the two remaining World Title aspirants duking it out at big Cloudbreak, the site of a match up they had earlier in the year. So who got the best of it, Mick or Kelly?

Ain't nothing like a succesful out of town mission.

On Sunday, photographer Toby Manson and sidekick Sam Jones set the alarm early, scarfed a bowl of ceral and hit the highway before sunrise. Their window of opportunity was limited.