Tree to Sea Australia
Handcrafted Wooden Surfboards. Built to Surf
For over 20 years, Tree to Sea Australia has been designing and crafting premium wooden surfboards while delivering Australia’s original surfboard building workshops. More than 1,000 people from around the world have attended our workshops — many returning to build again, bringing friends, family, and the next generation of surfers with them.
We were the first company in Australia — and only the second in the world — to offer dedicated wooden surfboard building workshops. Decades later, we remain leaders in craftsmanship, sustainability, and authentic surf culture.
Sustainable by Design 🌿
Our ECO wooden surfboards are constructed using plantation-grown Paulownia timber, precision milled to our specifications and vacuum bagged over a pre-shaped recyclable blank. This method creates boards that are lightweight, strong, and beautifully responsive in the water.
Unlike conventional boards, our construction process does not require fibreglass, to seal the board, helping reduce environmental impact. Each board is sealed with a marine-grade varnish containing UV stabiliser for long-lasting protection.
At Tree to Sea, we aim to keep our “environmental splash to a minimum.”
Our Construction Process
Come along and Make Your Own Unique Super Lightweight Eco Surfboard.
Wooden Surfboard Workshops
Weekend Group Workshop Experience
Participating in a weekend group workshop at Tree to Sea Australia is more than just building a surfboard — it’s an immersive, hands-on experience.
Over the weekend, you will:
Learn practical surfboard-building skills from experienced craftsmen
Gain confidence using specialist tools and techniques
Understand sustainable timber construction methods
Enhance your creativity through hands-on design choices
Connect with like-minded people in a supportive group environment
Walk away with a handcrafted wooden surfboard built by you
It’s a rewarding experience that blends craftsmanship, creativity, and surf culture — all in one unforgettable weekend.
Don’t Have Time to Attend a Workshop?
At Tree to Sea Australia, we can build your board for you.
Choose any design from our range and we’ll handcraft it to your specifications. Prefer something more personal? If there’s a board you’ve always wanted to own, simply send us a photo along with your desired dimensions, and we can reproduce it in our signature ECO wooden construction.
Every board is made with precision, sustainability, and performance in mind.
Delivered Anywhere 🌏
We can freight your wooden surfboard to you anywhere in Australia or overseas, ensuring it arrives ready for the water.
Functional. Beautiful. Unique.
Your Tree to Sea wooden surfboard will be:
A fully functional, high-performance surfboard
A handcrafted, sustainable build
A one-of-a-kind piece of art
Built to ride. Built to last. Built to stand out.
ECO Surfboards
At Tree to Sea Australia, our ECO Surfboards are super lightweight wooden boards designed for performance, durability, and sustainability.
We vacuum bag plantation-grown Paulownia timber onto a recyclable, pre-shaped inner core, with 4oz cloth and epoxy resin laminated between the timber skins and core for added strength. Timber rails come standard, with optional cedar feature stripes on the deck for a custom finish.
Sustainable at the Core 🌿
Our blanks are Australian made
Manufactured from recycled sugar cane waste
Shaped using an AKU Shaper machine
All shaping waste is returned and recycled to create new blanks
Instead of ending up in landfill, your board can be recycled at the end of its life to create another surfboard — closing the loop and reducing environmental impact.
Performance Without Compromise 🏄
Our ECO boards are:
Lighter
Stronger
More responsive with natural flex
Built without the need for a vent
Boards can be finished with marine-grade spar varnish for long-term protection, or oiled for a more natural look and feel — the choice is yours.
What Is Paulownia? 🌿
Paulownia is a fast-growing, plantation timber known for being exceptionally lightweight, strong, and stable — making it ideal for wooden surfboard construction.
The most commonly used species for surfboards is Paulownia tomentosa, often referred to as the Empress Tree.
Why It’s Perfect for Surfboards
Paulownia timber offers a unique combination of properties:
Lightweight – One of the lightest hardwood timbers available
Strong & Durable – Excellent strength-to-weight ratio
Naturally Rot Resistant – Performs well in marine environments
Stable – Minimal warping or twisting
Beautiful Grain – Warm tones and clean lines
Sustainable by Nature
Paulownia is:
Fast growing – Can be harvested in around 7–10 years
Plantation grown – Not sourced from old-growth forests
Regenerative – Can regrow from the original stump after harvesting
Because of these characteristics, Paulownia has become the timber of choice for eco-conscious board builders — including Tree to Sea Australia.
It delivers performance in the water while supporting a lower environmental footprint on land.
Choose a Board That Suits You
At Tree to Sea Australia, we’ve developed a simple formula to help you narrow down your options and choose the right board with confidence.
Our Surfboard Volume Formula
Half your body weight (in kilograms) = starting board volume (in litres)
For example: If you weigh 100 kg, start with a board around 50 litres in volume.
From there, you can adjust the volume based on:
Your surf fitness
Your experience level
The type of waves you’ll be riding
More experienced and highly surf-fit riders may choose to reduce volume slightly. If you’re building confidence or surfing less frequently, staying closer to (or above) the starting volume is often the smarter choice.
Bigger Is Better (For Most Surfers) 🏄
We always recommend going slightly bigger rather than smaller.
Most surfers ride boards that are too small for their ability, which can slow progression and reduce enjoyment. A board with adequate volume will:
Paddle more easily
Catch waves earlier
Improve stability
Increase overall wave count
Help you progress faster
Choose a board that works with you — not against you — and you’ll enjoy every session more.
How Much Does it Costs
Workshop Pricing
At Tree to Sea Australia, your workshop cost is included in the price of the board you choose. Pricing is based on the size of the board you build.
A $500 deposit is required to secure your place in a workshop. The remaining balance must be paid prior to your selected workshop date.
Workshop Board Prices
Up to 6'8" — $1450
6'8" to 7'2" — $1500
7'3" to 8'0" — $1600
8'1" to 9'6" — $1700
Your investment includes expert guidance, all materials, use of tools and equipment, and the experience of building your own handcrafted ECO wooden surfboard from start to finish.
Build it yourself. Ride something you created.
Gift Vouchers Available
We can provide a Gift Voucher for a Workshop for any amount, once the recipient has chosen their board to make and Workshop dates any balance owing can then be paid.
Book a Workshop
2026 Board Building Workshops
Come shape your own board, learn the craft, and enjoy a few solid days in the bay doing something different.
Spots are limited for each workshop, so if you’re keen, don’t leave it too long.
Lock In Your Spot
To secure your place, a $500 deposit per board being made is required.
Once you’ve filled out the registration form below, we’ll get in touch via phone or email with the payment details and everything you need to know.
Bringing a Mate?
No worries — A friend welcome to come along and hang out free of charge, just let us know when you book.
Final Payment
The remaining balance is due 2–3 weeks before your workshop, unless we’ve arranged something different beforehand.
Quick Example
If your board costs $1,500:
$500 deposit to lock it in
$1,000 balance due 2–3 weeks before the workshop
Tree to Sea Australia
Board Choices
Fish
Old School looking Fish with plenty of of speed.
This board built in a Workshop Costs $1450
Fish
Old School looking Fish with plenty of of speed.
This board built in a Workshop Costs $1450
Shortboards
These Shortboards are super fast and responsive.
This board built in a Workshop Costs $1450
Shortboards
These Shortboards are super fast and responsive.
This board built in a Workshop Costs $1450
Retro Model
The look of Old School Retro but they go like a modern board.
This board built in a Workshop Costs $1500
Retro Model
The look of Old School Retro but they go like a modern board.
This board built in a Workshop Costs $1500
Mini Mal
Extremely popular boards with plenty of volume.
This board built in a Workshop Costs $1450
Mini Mal
Extremely popular boards with plenty of volume.
This board built in a Workshop Costs $1600
Mid Length
Mid length boards have plenty of volume, for the surfer that doesn't want to surf a Mini Mal.
This board built in a Workshop Costs $1500
Mid Length
Mid length boards have plenty of volume, for the surfer that doesn't want to surf a Mini Mal.
This board built in a Workshop Costs $1600
Mid Length
A Mid Length board that paddles like a Mal
This board built in a Workshop Costs $1600
Malibu Model
Modern and Classic Mals- 9'1" to 9'6"
This board built in a Workshop Costs $1700
Malibu Model
This board built in a Workshop Costs $1700
Ex-Demo Boards
From time to time we’ve got ex-demo boards that come up for sale.
If you’re chasing a used board that’s already had a bit of water time (and comes at a better price), just get in touch and we’ll let you know what’s available.
Boards don’t usually hang around long — so if you’re keen, reach out.
Balin Board Bags
We can supply a Balin Board Bag for your new Wooden Board, just let us know when you book your Workshop.
Balin Leashes
We can supply Balin Leashes for your new Wooden Board, just let us know when you book your Workshop.
Fins for your new Board
We have a range of fins to suit most boards for purchase, let us know if you want some when you book your Workshop.
Boards made by The Tree to Sea Family
A Collection of Tree to Sea Wooden Surfboard
Our Instructors
Rob
Co Owner
Darren
Co Owner
About Us
Our Story
Tree to Sea Australia® was formed over a simple cup of coffee at a local café — built on a shared passion for surfing, craftsmanship, and the ocean.
Tree to Sea is owned and operated by Rob and Darren. Our good mate Gary, now retired, was part of the journey that helped shape who we are today.
We’re proud Mount Eliza locals who have lived and surfed on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria our entire lives. The beaches, waves, and community here have deeply influenced our approach to surfboard design and sustainable construction.
What started as an idea has grown into a commitment — to craft high-quality wooden surfboards and to share our experience and knowledge with others.
We believe building a surfboard is something everyone should experience at least once.
So come along to one of our workshops and create your own handcrafted wooden surfboard — and become part of the Tree to Sea story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course — just let us know ahead of the workshop and we’ll make it work for you both.
By the end of the workshop, your board will be about 95% complete. All that’s left at home is a final sand and three coats of the varnish we provide.
Yes, that’s absolutely fine — just let us know beforehand so we can discuss in time for your workshop.
Absolutely — we love that.
If you have your own design in mind, just let us know ahead of time so we can chat it through and draw it up in our shaping program. That way we can have it precision cut and ready for you to build in the workshop.
Need to move to a different workshop?
Life happens — we get it.
If you need to switch to another workshop date, that’s absolutely fine as long as we have a spot available. Just let us know as soon as you can, so we can offer your place to someone else.
We’ll always do our best to make it work.
Cancelling a Workshop – Refunds
We put a lot of preparation into each board and each workshop, so here’s how it works:
If we cancel a workshop – You’ll receive a full refund.
If you cancel – We may need to deduct any non-recoverable costs already incurred (for example, if your custom blank has already been shaped specifically for you).
Under Australian Consumer Law, a change of mind doesn’t automatically entitle you to a refund. That said, we understand every situation is different — and we’ll always approach it with fairness and common sense.
Our goal is simple: build great boards and treat people well.
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Tree to Sea Australia
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