15 Best Things to Visit in The Nusa Islands (Indonesia)

People often think that the three Nusa Islands—Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida, and Nusa Ceningan—are part of Bali. The Nusa Islands are in a different region, but you can easily get there by ferry from Padang Bai to Bali. The Nusa Islands, which offer stunning sandy beaches and some of the greatest diving in the area, have recently begun to quickly surpass Bali as the destination to visit if you want to experience a true island paradise. The two islands with the most visitors are Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, but if you truly want to get away from it all, try Nusa Ceningan, the smallest island between the two. Surfing, diving, and snorkeling are three of the most popular activities on the Nusa Islands, but you can also go on forest hikes or take a boat tour of the surreal mangroves. The Nusa Islands, however, also make the ideal area to relax and get away from the people in Bali if you choose to forego adventure activities. You can easily spend a week here sunning on the stunning beaches and taking in the peace and quiet. The top 15 activities in the Nusa Islands are listed below.

Dream Beach

Dream Beach is frequently said to be one of Indonesia’s most beautiful beaches, which is quite high praise. As the name suggests, the beach looks like something out of a dream. It is a long stretch of white sand with stunning views of the water. If you wish to remain longer, the beach also offers a small resort and a cafe where you can get a nice drink and spend the day unwinding in this breathtaking setting. The currents here are strong and can change very fast, so if you wish to get in the water, you should proceed with caution. However, if you prefer to paddle in the shallows, the clarity is great, and you may see a variety of aquatic species without having to go very far.

Caves at Broken Beach

Broken Beach, often referred to as Broken Sea, is located on the island of Nusa Penida and is referred to as Pasih Uwug in Indonesian. It would have once been a cave, but over time, the cave’s ceiling has disintegrated, leaving only a sizable hole in the ground that resembles the impression of a giant’s fist. You may go along the cliffs and take in this wonderful natural spectacle because the sea has now overflowed into the cave. One of the most beautiful natural attractions in Indonesia, you may be lucky enough to see a ray swimming through the ocean at the same time.

Bukit Teletubbies

The Teletubbies Hills are located near Bukit Teletubbies on Nusa Penida, which may not be what you were expecting to discover in Indonesia. The hills were given this unexpected name because, according to legend, they resemble the round creatures from a children’s cartoon. This location is ideal for people who prefer to spend the day away from the beach exploring the island’s interior. You can climb the slopes and look out over the lush, emerald-green terraces and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Temple Point

Don’t pass up the opportunity to dive at Temple Point on Nusa Penida if you enjoy diving. One of Bali’s most breathtaking underwater environments may be found here, and if you don’t want to dive, you can still reach it by swimming and snorkeling nearby. From Crystal Bay, you can get to Temple Point, where you can look underwater to find beautiful statues like Buddha carvings and other beautiful works of rock art. Even though this is an art piece and not a real buried city, it is still a beautiful underwater sight that can only be seen in this one place in the world.

Crystal Bay

One of Nusa Penida’s most beautiful neighborhoods, Crystal Bay, is made up of a lengthy stretch of sandy beach on the north shore that looks across to lovely Nusa Ceningan. As the name implies, the waters are crystal clear, and divers and snorkelers both swarm to this location. There is a good chance that you may encounter sharks and rays here, but keep in mind that because it is so picturesque, it is also one of the areas of the island that gets the most visitors. Due to the low likelihood of crowds, you will find some conveniences like small cafes and shops selling cold drinks here. This simply means that you may enjoy the surf while sipping on a nice beer and watching the sunset.

Take a Beach Club Cruise

The best way to experience Nusa Lembongan’s famed beach club is to join a Beach Club Cruise. You will then board the Bali Hai II boat and have a leisurely ride to Nusa Lembongan Island, where you may sunbathe on a golden stretch of sand next to the emerald-colored seas of Nusa Lembongan Bay. As a result, if you want to go out on the sea in this region of Indonesia, this is one of the most opulent ways to do it. You also get exclusive access to the beach club and food and drink aboard the boat.

National Park Foundation Bird Sanctuary

The Friends of the National Park Foundation Bird Sanctuary, which is situated on Nusa Penida, is the place to go if you enjoy birds and want to learn more about the welfare and protection of birds in Indonesia. The incredible starling introduction effort here and the preservation of Nusa Penida’s natural ecosystem are both the work of the Friends of the National Park Foundation Bird Sanctuary.

Mahana Point Cliff Jump

If you want an afternoon filled with adrenaline, a cliff jump at Mahana Point on Nusa Ceningan is the best option. The point is just a wooden dive post on top of some jagged, white cliffs, from which you can plunge into the aquamarine waters below. Actually, there are a few jumps of varied heights here, and it is up to you to decide how courageous you feel that particular day.

Abyss Zipline

Try the Abyss Zipline, the newest activity on offer here, if you want an exciting experience on Nusa Ceningan. You can now get up close and personal with Nusa Ceningan’s famous cliffs by zipping along a path that takes you dodging the breaking surf. This is without a doubt the best way to see the lake from this spot, and the dedicated instructors will show you all the safety measures you need to take so you can jump from cliff to cliff safely.

Tembeling Forest

The beautiful island of Nusa Penida is covered by Tembeling Forest, a huge area of undeveloped jungle. Nature lovers should be sure to include a trip to the forest on their agenda because it is home to a diverse range of flora and wildlife, including some colorful birds. It’s also a nice change from Nusa Penida’s views of the sea, and you can explore a variety of forest paths, many of which pass beautiful waterfalls with cool pools. If you don’t want to go it alone, you may also take a stroll through the forest as part of a walking tour of the island.

Seaweed farms

Given that this region of Indonesia is covered in seaweed, it makes sense that Nusa Lembongan is well known for its seaweed farms. Find the farms by going to the southeast coast of the island, where you will see people collecting and drying seaweed in the sun. The simplest way to tell if you are near a seaweed farm is to keep an eye out for the poles in the water, but be advised that because this is an agricultural area of the islands, swimming is not permitted. Even though the seaweed used to make Asian cosmetics has a very strong smell, this is a great chance to see a local business in action on Nusa Lembongan.

Mushroom Beach

Given that this is where the majority of the boats dock, Mushroom Beach in Nusa Lembongan is likely the first location you will see when you land on the island. Even so, there is still a large stretch of white sand here, which makes it a great place to swim, snorkel, and dive. One of the main charms of this location is the option to stay in a lumbung, a traditional wooden hut close to the beach, where you may wake up to views of the ocean.

Pura Penataran

Pilgrims often go to Pura Penataran on Nusa Penida, which is one of the most important Hindu temples on the island. People come here to pray against bad luck or evil spirits because they believe that the gods of this temple protect against sickness, death, and disease. If you happen to be in Nusa Penida, this is one cultural landmark not to be missed because the temple is one of the most beautifully constructed in this area and stands out against the rest of the island.

Cycle around Nusa Lembongan

Cycling around Nusa Lembongan after renting a bicycle there is one of the greatest ways to see its beauty. Take advantage of Lembongan’s softer topography and well-marked paths because cycling on other islands, such as Nusa Ceningan, is much more challenging. Cycling along the shore is the ideal way to view the island; there are trails that almost completely surround it, and because the island is small, you can tour much of it in a few hours.

Mangrove forests

An enormous area of beautiful mangrove forests may be found to the north of Nusa Lembongan. Most visitors choose to explore the several gorgeous canals in an outrigger boat to see these places, which is a terrific activity if you’re traveling with kids who’ll be mesmerized by the twists and turns through the mangroves. As you might expect, there is an abundance of plant and animal life in this area, and you are likely to observe a large range of birds that live in mangroves.