Surfers paradise at the South Bali Beaches
The south Bali beaches also known as the Bukit Peninsula, are located in an area that is not as green as the northern part of the island. The landscape is very arid so you won't see any rice fields here.
Nevertheless, the Bukit area has amazing beaches where you can find the best places to surf or just to relax and admire the view.
At the east side of the peninsula the beaches have soft white sand, while in the west the coast is dominated by cliffs.
Some of the south Bali beaches are hard to reach but once you have arrived at the destination you will be happy you had put some effort to get there.
The cliffs along the southern part of Bali island are really impressive.
The South Bali Beaches are clockwise:
South Bali Beaches -- Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua beach is what you expect of a tropical beach: beautiful white sandy beaches, trees that provide natural shading, dark blue sea and sunny skies.
Along this section of the south Bali beaches there are many beach resorts which offer high class service. So this is the place to go to if you are planning a real holiday break.
The first thing I noticed when I was on the beach was the soft sand between my toes and the sound of the ocean breeze...it was so quiet. These south Bali beaches are all located on resorts, so there is no noise of traffic.
And on top of that, there are no people offering things to sell. Unlike Kuta Beach bali, hawkers are not allowed to enter this part of the south Bali beaches, so you will definitely not be disturbed when you are enjoying your time at the beach.
Just pure tranquility...
This quietness is definitely unique in Bali. However this has all been planned...
Over the years unplanned tourism has led to negative impacts on the Balinese culture.
Therefore the authorities wanted to decrease further impacts by creating a secluded tourist area that is mainly focused on tourists who have more to spend.
For this reason only 4 and 5 star resorts are found in Nusa Dua and there are no independent stalls, restaurants or other businesses in the near surroundings of the resorts contrary to the other south Bali beaches.
The location for this tourism project was carefully selected as well. Nusa Dua was sparsely populated, has good weather and most importantly beautiful white beaches.
A man made dam in sea ensures that the waves break further off shore which makes it an sea ideal for swimming. Unlike Sanur there’s no seaweed so it feels comfortable when you wade into the water.
Enough space on the wide white beaches...
Besides just going for a relaxing swim, you can also do other water sports at Nusa Dua beach such as diving, water-skiing, jet-skiing and parasailing.
If the hotel doesn't provide these facilities, you can always head to Tanjung Benoa where you’ll find many diving operators there.
At Tanjung Benoa there are even operators who offer one hour cruises in a glass bottomed boat and fishing trips.
If you want to go further off shore there is the Bali Hai who has day trips to Nusa Penida, an island just 30 minutes from Nusa Dua.
This island has amazing underwater sights for snorkelling and diving.
Surfers can find waves too in Nusa Dua. The best surfing is on the reef in front of Club Med. This is also known as ‘Sri Lanka’ and has a right hand break. The other breaks can be reached by boat just south of the Hilton.
No matter how you spend your time in Nusa Dua, expect a beautiful beach where you can relax in style...
South Bali Beaches -- Green Ball
Green ball beach is not really a beach, but an excellent place to go surfing or just be amazed by its beauty.
This beach is the most southern beach of all the south Bali beaches. It is pretty easy to find, just take the road to Uluwatu and follow the signs to the Bali Cliff Resort at the Ungasan junction.
Then turn left just before you enter the resort gates. Just keep on going till you end up at the Pura Mas Suka temple where there are enough parking spaces.
You have to put some effort to be rewarded with something beautiful
The place was deserted, except for a couple of women who try to sell sarongs and offer you massages. We politely declined when one woman started showing us her massage techniques. At the end she stopped and she said that we would probably want one when we returned from the beach...
And after visiting Green Ball beach, I can understand why she thought that might happen...
Like most of the south Bali beaches, Green ball is located in a bay. To get there you have to descend steep stairs. We met a couple who were on their way up. They were panting and sweating heavily...so by then we knew what awaited us.
Nonetheless the whole effort is worth it. Once down, it is just a terrific sight to see wonderful blue ocean colours and waves crashing into the cliffs.
If you want to go surfing, you need to paddle for a while because the waves start to swell pretty far from the shore.
There is no beach to lie on so if you are not surfing, you can sit comfortably on the cement wall at the end of the stairs.
Once you have finally climbed up the stairs, buy a cold drink and sit down to watch, for one more time, the stunning view...or to get a massage from the lady who will probably be waiting for you again.
South Bali Beaches -- Nyang Nyang
This beach is probably the
most difficult to find and to reach. However with some extra effort and
determination you will be rewarded.
If you arrive at the right time of
day...
Nyang
Nyang beach is located just a couple of kilometers west from the
Uluwatu temple. To get there just follow the sign to Pecatu and from
there drive on. After several minutes keep your eyes peeled because
here comes the difficult bit...
Climb down to the beach...
All
of the sudden you will see (when coming from the north) a sign with
'Nyang Nyang Beach Villa Bali'. The sign takes you along a nice pathway
and finally to a hotel where the security awaits you.
The staff
will explain that you are allowed to go to the beach after purchasing a
drink at the hotel. Well...we didn't expect that!
If you are
into it, take a seat, have a drink and enjoy the magnificent view on
the emerald blue ocean. If you just want to go to the beach or want to
surf then you should not follow this sign...
Instead, keep on driving a little
bit further and after about 10m you will see a wooden blue painted sign
pointing towards a dirt road. Don't hesitate...this is the right way.
The view is worth the trip...
At
first we kept on thinking about turning back, but our persistence was
soon rewarded when we finally arrived at a little parking area. From
there we walked towards the cliff and took in the breathtaking view
over the ocean.
Way down, after descending many steps you will
finally arrive at Nyang Nyang beach. It is definitely worth going down,
but remember that you will have to do a hell of a job of climbing up at the end of
the day.
Besides the gorgeous sunsets, Nyang Nyang beach is
great for surfing. The best time to go is between March till September
early in the day as low tide will soon set in and the waves will be
difficult to reach...
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South Bali Beaches -- Suluban/Uluwatu
Uluwatu Beach or better known as Pantai Suluban have without question the most astonishing ocean colors I have seen on the entire island of Bali.
The emerald green and blue shades make you want to jump in immediately. Unfortunately like other of the south Bali beaches it’s not suitable for swimming because there are a lot of sharp rocks and high waves, which can even reach up to 8m high.
Not great for swimming but excellent for surfing...
This is the epic center of Surfing Mecca on Bali. It’s reachable on your way to Uluwatu’s famous temple, the Pura Luhur Watu. There’s a side road that leads you to a very small car park and some shops with t-shirts and other souvenirs.
Afterwards it’s another 200 m down the stairs to the beach area with a couple of restaurants, repair shops for dings and cheap guest houses.
It is obvious that this is one of the south Bali beaches where surfers meet up and hang around while waiting for the waves to roll in.
If you are not into surfing, you should still pass through. The view is really amazing...one you don’t want to miss on your Bali holiday.
South Bali Beaches -- Padang Padang
When we saw Padang Padang beach for the first time, all that we could say was: “wow!!” From the road we could see the beautiful bay with white sand and for kilometers on end there was just the magnificent clear green-blue emerald colored water.
Do I need to say more..?
To get to this part of the south Bali beaches, drive towards Uluwatu and turn right at Pecatu. Follow the road until it splits at a junction, then turn left. You will definitely see signs to the beach from here.
There is parking space just across the road from the beach.
Once you have passed the small temple you need to go down some stairs, where it can be very narrow. Watch your head when you enter the ‘cave’. At the end of the cave you'll be standing upright in the soft white sand.
We were there in the afternoon and at that time there was hardly any waves. We are not sure what the best time is to catch some waves but we saw many surfers on the beach waiting for them.
Not surprisingly, because this beach is known to be one of the best surf spots in the world.
The beach is also very popular for sunbathers and swimmers. You can spend the whole day lazing at Padang Padang. There are enough warungs (Indonesian food stalls) where you can have lunch or grab a snack.
A beautiful place to spend the day at the beach...
A lot of people found shade under the foundation of an unfinished building, but in the back of the beach the high cliffs provide an abundance of shade. Definitely one of those south Bali beaches we want to come back to...
I can go on and on about how amazing this beach is. But I am sure that the pictures say enough...
South Bali Beaches -- Bingin
Bingin beach is a very secluded beach, which means you have to put some effort to get there. But once you are at the beach you can catch your breath while watching the unforgettable ocean view.
You can reach the beach by driving towards Uluwatu. At Pecatu you have to turn left and then right at the junction. From there you will see small handwritten signs showing you the way to the beach. So keep your eyes peeled...
There are several dirt-roads you can take that lead you to the beach. At the end of one dirt road a lady told us that it would be a 15 minute walk, 5 minutes through the bushes and then 10 minutes down to the beach.
There wasn’t really a path so it looked more like a hike than a walk to me...
The beach with a view to the south...
We decided to take another turn further north. From there the villagers are happy to point you to the right direction and show you where you can park your car or motorbike.
Don’t expect to see the beach yet...It takes another 10 minutes by foot to get there. A lady showed us the way between village houses, along narrow paths and home stays. We were pretty much walking in their backyard...
After climbing down the stairs we finally ended up at the beach. We were surprised that despite the heavy hike, there were a lot of restaurants and places where you can spend the night.
The places aren’t fancy but hey, they are built on the cliffs and have the best view you can get.
Most rooms have balconies right on the beach overlooking the dark blue ocean. This is an ideal spot for surfers to wait for the big waves to come...
Rooms with stunning views right on the beach
When we were at Binging there were a lot of waves and people surfing. This is one of those south Bali beaches, which are perfect for die hard surfing; the surf break comes from the left side and challenges the very best surfer.
Sunbathers will be disappointed here because the beach is very narrow so there is not a lot of space to work on your tan.
Like most of the south Bali beaches, Bingin is a great beach located right below the cliffs and has a laid back atmosphere. It’s also an ideal spot to relax and chat with the local people.
But to get there, prepare for a heavy work-out because once you have climbed down the stairs to the beach, you have to climb up again. A good exercise on your holiday...
South Bali Beaches -- Dreamland
Dreamland beach is located south of Kuta, half way to Uluwatu. It is an amazingly beautiful strip of beach that is located right at the cliffs.
The last time we were at Dreamland there was just one restaurant at the beach. But we expect some big changes in a short period of time.
There was a lot of construction work going on so there might be more restaurants and shops coming in the near future. The white sandy beach has clean soft sand.
Most of the people rent one of the many beach chairs to enjoy some sunbathing along the beautiful sea.
However if you walk further to the right the beach becomes less crowded and sometimes it feels as if you are the only one on the whole beach.
You can have the feeling of being the only one
here...
The water is good for swimming, but in the late afternoon the tides can switch quickly and big waves can suddenly appear. Every time we wanted to go for a swim, the low tide would set in and a rocky shore would appear.
Just like most of the other south Bali beaches there is a current that can make swimming difficult and somewhat dangerous. So check it out first before going into the water.
Surfers on the other hand appeared in large numbers to catch the waves. I could see that the waves are pretty good and excellent for intermediate surfers.
In this picture they seemed to be having a ball...
Sadly the people who used to live at Dreamland had to pay a heavy price for this amazing beach setting.
Tommy Soeharto, the former president's youngest son saw the beauty of the beach as well and included it in his plan of developing the area.
However the 200 Balinese families who were living here were not part of the plan and they were cleared from the land together with their temples and fruit orchards.
After Tommy’s arrest, the development plan was terminated for a couple of years. Today the land is still barren except for the 4 lane road to the beach.
In the beginning of 2008 there were some changes going on: there was a golf course overlooking the sea and the Comfort Inn hotel had also just started their construction work. Another huge hotel group had also just finalized the construction of their resort.
So it looks like the development plan has continued again and that in a couple of years the complex will be another tourist lure with big hotels and many shops.
Nevertheless, if you are in the area then you should definitely go see Dreamland. Just head towards the south Bali beaches and follow the signs to Uluwatu. Halfway you will see a huge entrance of Pecatu Graha.
Drive in and follow the road till you end up at a car park. Make sure that you have arranged a ride back. It can be a hassle to arrange one from Dreamland and drivers waiting at the entrance offer unreasonable prices. Expect to pay Rp.50.000 for one way.
It is often said that the former land owners stand at the entrance with a sign which tells the visitor about the land that has been stolen from them and that they ask for an admission fee because they have no source of income anymore.
However we didn’t see any of these signs and if we had not known about the history of Dreamland we wouldn’t have guessed that there was a heavy conflict just a decade ago.
Strolling along the clean soft sandy beach...
You do have to pay Rp. 10.000 at the car park about 100m from the beach but this is not unusual in Bali.
If you are on the motor bike you can drive all the way up to the stairs leading to the wonderful beach. You will definitely have a great time there...
South Bali Beaches -- Balangan
There are two roads leading to Balangan beach. One is a side road just before entering the Dreamland gates. This one is well paved and leads through a couple of Balinese villages until you arrive at the dirt road that takes you to the beach.
If you are travelling by car it can get pretty bumpy from here. It makes it easier to go by motor bike.
We took the road from Dreamland Beach. It passes the newly built Comfort Inn hotel and leads to a small road through bushes where the cows are grazing peacefully and where there are a couple of thatched farmer’s huts. We soon ended up at the dirt road to the beach.
Sometimes you might feel that you are lost but don’t worry you are on the right road...
There are hardly any signs to one of the most secluded south Bali beaches. You will only see signs improvised by small hotels. However once you arrive at these hotels you know you’re almost there.
There’s a small parking area for your car or motor bike, the rest is walking on the rocky path down to the beach.
Ahhh what a sight...
Ready to book a ticket..?
The beautiful white beach has soft sand where you can stroll without any of the pushy hawkers or masseurs. It’s a very romantic spot, quiet and perfect for watching the sunset or just to spend a couple of days.
At low tide you can perfectly cool down in the puddles just along the coast or walk to two deserted beaches for some more privacy.
On the outer left side of Balangan beach you can watch surfers catch fantastic waves coming from the left side. To get to the surf area you need some rubber footwear because there are lots of rocks, which can make nasty cuts.
Enjoying one of nature's gifts...
There are a couple of Balinese styled sea view cottages catered to the surf crowd and other independent travellers.
Parasols and beach chairs are there waiting for you to come and laze, read a book or watch little Balinese kids searching for clams together with their parents.
This is definitely one of my favorite of the south Bali beaches ;-)
South Bali Beaches -- Jimbaran
Jimbaran beach is one of the finest of the south Bali beaches, it’s wide, long (5km) and it is perfect for jogging or swimming.
The white sandy beach is located just south of the international Ngurah Rai airport but you won’t notice any of the noise.
My girlfriend at Jimbaran bay...
When you arrive early in the morning you can see the fishermen coming back with their catch in the half-moon shaped bay of Jimbaran. The women come up to the boats and help to unload the fish. Afterwards they sort and sell them on the market.
Most of the fish ends up in the luxurious hotels of Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Kuta, Sanur or on your plate in the evening ;-)
If you like to make a tour around the coast of the south Bali beaches or along Jimbaran reef, the fishermen will be happy to take you along on their colourful boats.
Since the reef is far out, it’s not really suitable to surf here.
At the end of the Jimbaran beach, at the southern side, you can find the Pura Ulun Siwi temple which is worth a visit. This temple was built in the 17th century by the Mengwi dynasty and is now maintained by rice farmers.
Rice farmers in Jimbaran?
Yep, the temple is built to honor Dewi Sri, the rice goddess and it’s the most important rice temple on the whole of Bali island.
Jimbaran beach is also home to several very good seafood restaurants and you have to try it out whether you stay in Kuta, the Intercontinental hotel Bali or the Four Seasons in Jimbaran. It’s practically just around the corner.
Waiting for the sunset and the seafood...
You can just sit here with your toes in the sand while enjoying one of the best seafood platters around and watching the amazing sunset.
When it gets dark the staff lights up the candles at your table and then it’s time for some more romance ;-)
This is what I call a holiday...
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