Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia: Two Island Paradises
Bali is the most popular holiday destination in Indonesia and Nusa Dua is the shining star for visitors. The Nusa Dua area has been developed especially for tourism with 5-star resorts and hotels boasting all-inclusive dining, entertainment, and recreational activities. For those who desire to explore, Nusa Dua has many things to see and do with a focus on cultural enrichment and natural beauty with backdrops of volcanoes, jungles, and endless stretches of white sand beaches.
A Life in the Sun
Sunbathing, surfing, and diving are the most popular activities to be found on the beaches of Nusa Dua. While many hotels and resorts are ocean side, there are also public beaches and tours that allow access to private beach areas. The most popular beaches are Nusa Dua Beach and Kuta Beach. Kuta Beach is Bali’s most famous beach area with famed resorts and hotels within easy walking distance. It’s also close to the international airport and has many dining and shopping options. Nusa Dua Beach is connected to hotels and shopping areas via walking paths that wind along seven kilometres of oceanfront. The hotels along this beach walk provide a luxury glimpse that beckons to visitors with restaurants and pubs and immaculate gardens. For those wanting to get in the waters, a famous surf spot is Padang Padang Beach. This beach has long stretches of white sand and beautiful, undeveloped vegetation.
Out and About
Tour companies offer opportunities to explore both sea and shore. Snorkelling and scuba diving are all popular pursuits, as well as other water sports like jet skiing, boating, and parasailing. Visitors will also want to make time to visit Water Blow, a rock formation that causes a fountain show when waves collide with the rock wall. The result is a giant splash that looks like a water explosion. This area is home to several cliffs sought after by extreme cliff divers. Glass bottomed boat tours are available to nearby Serangan Island. The area is protected for turtle conservation and guests can also see native reptiles, birds, and snakes, in addition to the marine show viewed from the boat bottom. Tour companies also provide fishing, hiking, biking, and white water rafting excursions on the island’s interior streams and rivers. Nusa Dua has three golf courses, including the Bali National Golf Course which has a restaurant open to the public.
Learn the Culture
There are also several sightseeing tours on Nusa Dua that focus on the history of the island. To get a true understanding of local culture, make sure to visit the Nusa Dua Theatre and watch “Devdan, Treasure of the Archipelago”, which showcases the many diverse cultures of Indonesia. The island is also home to several temples. Geger Temple is one such example that highlights the unique history and culture of the indigenous population and offers amazing photo opportunities. A short 20-minute drive into the hills of Ungasan will allow a visit to Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, a park with cultural events and exhibitions and amusement attractions. The park is best known for housing a gigantic statue depicting a Balinese rendering of the Hindu god Vishnu riding on the mythical eagle Garuda. Future plans for the park include a theatre, restaurant, and souvenir shops. Pasifika Museum has exhibits featuring the South Pacific region, with a focus on Bali with Polynesian artefacts and major works from 200 artists, both local and internationally known.
Just a Bit Different
Exploring the area around Nusa Dua can provide unique experiences, too. Sawangan Beach is the only place on the island where guests can take a camel safari right along the beachfront and the beach is also one of few places to view traditional sea weed farming the Balinese area was once known for. For those wanting a “secret” beach, head over to Pandawa Beach. This kilometre-long coast can only be reached by driving through stunning limestone cliffs. Some have carved arches and statues of heroes from Sanskirt epic tale the Mahabharata. A truly unique religious experience would be seeing Puja Mandala, a hilltop retreat housing Catholic and Protestant churches, an Islamic mosque, and Buddhist and Hindu temples. A short drive to Bukit Peninsula will give a glimpse of what the area looked like before the rapid tourist development. Besides having one of the best beaches and surfing spots, this area is also home to the Bukit, a cliff-hanging temple at Uluwatu. This temple is one of nine directional temples in Balie that are said to protect the native people from evil spirits Perched on a steep cliff, the temple dates from the 11th century and is inhabited by monkeys who love to interact with visitors.
