I have stayed at the Surf a number of times over the last few years. There has been some improvement in the rooms, some have been refurbed in the main hotel. The internet works. The beach is close. As others say it needs a facelift but most of it is OK. The rooms in the Annexe are still not great.
The distinguishing thing is that this is part of a Kanak-owned and run chain across the islands - I feel at least I am supporting them and their employment of local staff. This is very rare in NC where most hotels are run by francophone businesses or foreign chains.

This is a great big sprawling hotel. I had a lagoon view room, (free upgrade from garden room) and the views were absolutely stunning. It was a large corner room, with a deck on two sides, which gave an easy view to the beaches on two sides.
There is no help given to get your bags to your room, and as a grandma on her own, I had to hike my bags all the way across a connecting bridge, and then up the lift and down the passage way. People are polite, but not terribly friendly.
I don't recommend the hotel restaurant or bar. The salad was slimy, and the the "crispy" prawns soggy.
There is a good restaurant across the road, and lots of restaurants either to the left or the right. Local bus basically at the door, which you may like to catch to the supermarket.
Every bit of advice I was given by people either within or without the hotel was incorrect.
The price of food is extortionate. Pack some of your own processed food if you can. I saw a family buy a meal at the "Quick" which cost the equivilent of $260.00 NZ.
Would I stay here again? Possibly not unless I had the same corner room again. They seemed to have some sort of towel shortage with towels not being delivered until late in the day on more than one occasion.

I don't agree with all the comments below, well i do agree that this hotel is quite old but there is a lot of good stuff there. Staff is very friendly and the location is awesome in front of the beach. We got a refurbished room and it was nice. Breakfast is very good.

Bad
Scaffolding
Unable to refund
Average room
Dirty smelly bathroom
Broken door lock
Good
Breakfast
Location
Staff
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dves/sets/72157626774813048/detail/