Nusa Dua is a peninsula in South Bali, well known as an enclave of high end hotels.
The place name Nusa Dua can be used in two ways: either it can refer to the entire eastern side of the Bukit Peninsula at the southern tip of Bali, or it can refer to the purpose-built, safe and rather sterile tourist enclave (Kawasan Pariwisata, quite literally Tourism District) at the southeast side of this peninsula.
This article covers everything in the Nusa Dua enclave plus the Tanjung Benoa peninsula and a few points west of the enclave to the village of Sawangan. Everything on the Bukit Peninsula to the west of Sawangan is covered by the Uluwatu article.
Nusa Dua host some of best five star hotels in Bali and is the home of the most popular golf course and a convention centre.
Nusa Dua gets a lot of bad press amongst travelers as it is so artificial and sanitised. That does not change the fact though that the beaches here are glorious - white sand, deep, long and safe for swimming. The public beach at Geger is the best to head to if you are not staying at Nusa Dua. This is also home to one of the best museums in Bali. The fact that it is nearly always empty is testament that most visitors who stay here in the least Balinese part of the island are, unsurprisingly, rather uninterested in learning much about Bali.
The Nusa Dua enclave has three manned gates and everyone entering is subject to a security search. This can have a slightly claustrophobic effect, and only contributes further to the impression that you are in an artificial location.
- Pantai Geger. This is the public beach in Nusa Dua. This splendid white sand beach at the western edge of the enclave retains lots of the character that is missing in the sanitised Nusa Dua resort zone. Generally safe for swimming and some beach side warungs. The restaurant, beachbeds and massage ladys all work for the local cooperative. By supporting them you support the locals. Geger has a cooling breeze as it is one of the few beaches facing east and because of the reef far out from the beach it has some of the warmest water temperatures in Bali. Head westwards out of the Nusa Dua enclave passing the golf course and then the St Regis Hotel (on your left). Shortly after the St Regis, take the first turning left towards to the beach and proceed to the Pantai Geger car park.
- Pasifika Museum, Blok P, BTDC (near Bali Collection, +62 361 774935. 10:00-18:00 daily. A truly under-appreciated and poorly known attraction. It is a splendid museum, and is highly recommended for anyone interested in the art of Bali, Southeast Asia and the South Pacific region. Look for the exhibitions focused on European artists who made Bali their home, as well as renowned local painters. The Indochinese exhibition is impressive, as are the displays of Polynesian artefacts.Featuring artworks of well known artists from around the world such us Paul Gauguin, Theo Meier, Le Mayeur, Rudolf Bonnet Hendrik Paulides and Emilio Ambron. Rp 70,000.
- Serangan Island. Boats are available from Nusa Dua and Tanjung Benoa. These are usually glass-bottomed allowing observation of marine life from within the boat. The island can also be accessed via a bridge. As the name suggests, Serangan is a turtle conservation area. The local people keep turtle eggs in traditional conservation houses until they hatch and then the youngster are released from local beaches. Besides turtles, they also have reptiles, birds, snakes and bats. US$25-30.
Many companies in Nusa Dua offer water sports activities (banana boat, parasailing, jetski, diving, flying fish, etc.). You can book directly on the beach at Nusa Dua or Tanjung Benoa, or have your hotel organise for you. All the operators work together to ensure that there is very little (if any) price difference. Expect to pay about US$25-30 for most activities.
Pantai Geger. This is the public beach in Nusa Dua. This splendid white sand beach at the western edge of the enclave retains lots of the character that is missing in the sanitised Nusa Dua resort zone. Generally safe for swimming and some beach side warungs. The restaurant, beachbeds and massage ladys all work for the local cooperative. By supporting them you support the locals. Geger has a cooling breeze as it is one of the few beaches facing east and because of the reef far out from the beach it has some of the warmest water temperatures in Bali. Head westwards out of the Nusa Dua enclave passing the golf course and then the St Regis Hotel (on your left). Shortly after the St Regis, take the first turning left towards to the beach and proceed to the Pantai Geger car park.
Pasifika Museum, Blok P, BTDC (near Bali Collection, +62 361 774935. 10:00-18:00 daily. A truly under-appreciated and poorly known attraction. It is a splendid museum, and is highly recommended for anyone interested in the art of Bali, Southeast Asia and the South Pacific region. Look for the exhibitions focused on European artists who made Bali their home, as well as renowned local painters. The Indochinese exhibition is impressive, as are the displays of Polynesian artefacts.Featuring artworks of well known artists from around the world such us Paul Gauguin, Theo Meier, Le Mayeur, Rudolf Bonnet Hendrik Paulides and Emilio Ambron. Rp 70,000.
Serangan Island. Boats are available from Nusa Dua and Tanjung Benoa. These are usually glass-bottomed allowing observation of marine life from within the boat. The island can also be accessed via a bridge. As the name suggests, Serangan is a turtle conservation area. The local people keep turtle eggs in traditional conservation houses until they hatch and then the youngster are released from local beaches. Besides turtles, they also have reptiles, birds, snakes and bats. US$25-30.
- Nusa Dua Golf and County Club, Kawasan Wisata, +62 361 771791. Tee times 06:00-16:00 daily. One of three top notch golf courses in Bali, and perhaps the most popular of them all due to its convenient location. Any hotel will be able to arrange a round for you - ask about packages on offer as these can save you a lot of money. Booking a tee time is very important on this very busy course.
Nusa Dua is home to many good quality spas. If you are staying at a luxury resort, then you will certainly have access to in-house spa and treatment facilities.
- Alam Alang Bali Spa, Jln Mahardika No10X, Mumbul, +62 361 771799,+62 361 7447453. 11:00-21:00 daily. Facilities: Balinese creambath, stone massage, Balinese mandi lulur, Ayurvedic, facial, oil head massage.
- Spa Sekar Jagat, Jl Bypass, +62 361 770210. 09:00-22:00 daily. Authentic Balinese massage and spa treatments.
- Tamara Spa Bali, Jl Bypass Ngurah Rai, No 999A, Jimbaran, +62 361 9174533. 09:00-17:00 daily. Body care salon offering body scrub, beauty treatments and various spa packages.
A large swathe of the Nusa Dua and Tanjung Benoa beachfront is connected via a nice walking path, and morning walks here are especially recommended. The footpath runs from just in front of the Ayodya Resort in the south for about 7 km north to the Grand Mirage on the Tanjung Benoa spit. This passes by two obvious spits, both of which host temples.
- Thalasso Bali Spa, Jl. Pratama 74, Tanjung Benoa, P.O.Box 43, +62361773883. 09:00-22:00 Daily. In front of the beach, it offers wide range of Thalasso and spa treatments.
Nusa Dua Golf and County Club, Kawasan Wisata, +62 361 771791. Tee times 06:00-16:00 daily. One of three top notch golf courses in Bali, and perhaps the most popular of them all due to its convenient location. Any hotel will be able to arrange a round for you - ask about packages on offer as these can save you a lot of money. Booking a tee time is very important on this very busy course.
Alam Alang Bali Spa, Jln Mahardika No10X, Mumbul, +62 361 771799,+62 361 7447453. 11:00-21:00 daily. Facilities: Balinese creambath, stone massage, Balinese mandi lulur, Ayurvedic, facial, oil head massage.
Spa Sekar Jagat, Jl Bypass, +62 361 770210. 09:00-22:00 daily. Authentic Balinese massage and spa treatments.
Tamara Spa Bali, Jl Bypass Ngurah Rai, No 999A, Jimbaran, +62 361 9174533. 09:00-17:00 daily. Body care salon offering body scrub, beauty treatments and various spa packages.
Thalasso Bali Spa, Jl. Pratama 74, Tanjung Benoa, P.O.Box 43, +62361773883. 09:00-22:00 Daily. In front of the beach, it offers wide range of Thalasso and spa treatments.
- Bali Collection. An open air shopping area with many clothes and swimwear shops, souvenirs shops. At the center is COCO Supermarket, with a wide range of local and foreign food and drinks, including fruits and alcohol.
Bali Collection. An open air shopping area with many clothes and swimwear shops, souvenirs shops. At the center is COCO Supermarket, with a wide range of local and foreign food and drinks, including fruits and alcohol.
There are not too many quality restaurants in Nusa Dua outside of the luxury hotels. Bali Collection has a dozen restaurants with reasonable prices. The main Jalan By Pass which connects Nusa Dua to Jimbaran, the airport and Kuta is the home of a large number of Japanese and other Asian restaurants aimed at tour groups, but generally these are best avoided.
- Bumbu Bali, Jl Pratama, Tanjung Benoa, +62 361 774502. Daily 11:00-16:00, 18:00 - last order. Bali’s first authentic Balinese five star restaurant, with food prepared and served it in a traditional manner. There are now two Bumbu Bali restaurants, named Bumbu Bali One and Bumbu Bali Two respectively, about 500 metres from each other. The menu of Two is similar to One with the addition of meat and prawn skewers.
- Nusa Dua Beach Grill, Geger Beach (just west of the Nusa Dua enclave reached via a small turning south off the main road to the Nikko Hotel. A great long-established dining option on a dreamy white sand beach. One of the few quality options to dine outside of hotels in the Nusa Dua area.
- Bawang Merah, Jl By Pass Ngurah Rai Nusa Dua, Mumbul, +62 361 7453540. 12:00-23:00 daily. Balinese speciality restaurant.
Bumbu Bali, Jl Pratama, Tanjung Benoa, +62 361 774502. Daily 11:00-16:00, 18:00 - last order. Bali’s first authentic Balinese five star restaurant, with food prepared and served it in a traditional manner. There are now two Bumbu Bali restaurants, named Bumbu Bali One and Bumbu Bali Two respectively, about 500 metres from each other. The menu of Two is similar to One with the addition of meat and prawn skewers.
Nusa Dua Beach Grill, Geger Beach (just west of the Nusa Dua enclave reached via a small turning south off the main road to the Nikko Hotel. A great long-established dining option on a dreamy white sand beach. One of the few quality options to dine outside of hotels in the Nusa Dua area.
Bawang Merah, Jl By Pass Ngurah Rai Nusa Dua, Mumbul, +62 361 7453540. 12:00-23:00 daily. Balinese speciality restaurant.
Nusa Dua does not have much of a nightlife. It is known more for its luxurious 5-star resorts where cocktails on the beach are the go.
- Uluwatu - 20 minutes west to one of Bali's most famous temples and surfing spots
- Jimbaran - fantastic seafood dinner on the beach and is only 15 minutes away