Archive for 2012

    Nusa Lembongan (Lembongan Island) is a small island located in the Badung Strait to the southeast of Bali, Indonesia. Fast becoming one of Bali’s most popular attractions, this island paradise is a world away from the hassle and hectic pace of South Bali. With its fine, white, powdery sand beaches, it is a place to just put your feet up and relax. The island is surrounded by coral reefs with white sand beaches and low limestone cliffs, with abundant marine life and healthy coral. The water is some of the clearest you will find anywhere, and a vivid aqua blue in colour.
    Nusa Lembongan has 4.6 km in length and width of 1.5 km, approximately 8 square kilometers, with population estimated at 5,000. It is part of a group of three islands: Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan, and Nusa Lembongan. The economy is largely tourism-based and Nusa Lembongan is the only one of the three neighboring islands to have any significant tourism-based infrastructure. There is a flourishing and well established seawees farming industry here, and many visitors find it interesting to learn about this.

Getting There
    There several options according to budget and speed to reach Nusa Lembongan. Most of the scheduled services leave from Sanur Beach at the end of Jalan Hangtuah, and involve getting your feet wet. The exact departure and arrival point on this beach depends on the tide. Other services run from Benoa Harbour, and there are local public boat services to and from Padang Bai and Kusamba in East Bali, but these are not recommended for reasons of safety and comfort.

Climate
    The climate of Nusa Lembongan is similar to neighbouring mainland, Bali. During May to September, the island would get noticeably drier. Try to avoid the height of the rainy season in January and February.

Getting Around
    Nusa Lembongan is a nice place to walk, with coastal paths linking nearly all the guest houses, hotels, and restaurants. Most walks will take less than two hours. The less developed southwestern area of the island has some spectacular coast paths which provide easy walking, great views back to Bali, and spectacular sunsets. Bicycles can be rented at most hotels and guest-houses, expect to pay about IDR 20,000 to 30,000 per day. Motorbikes are also widely available for rent, but maybe unnecessary given the short distances; rental rates are IDR 50,000 to 100,000 per day.

What To Do
    The waters around Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida have at least 247 species of coral and 562 species of reef fish.

Jungut Batu Beach in the northwest has myriad hotels and cheap eateries. This is the area which traditionally attracted backpackers and surfers to the island. The hillside to the south of Jungut Batu, known as the Bukit (the hill) has been developed and hosted some higher level hotels and private villas. The views from the Bukit are perhaps second to none in Nusa Lembongan. Sunsets are also best viewed along the main Jungut Batu beachfront.

Sunset at Jungut Batu Beach

    Mushroom Bay to the southwest of Jungut Batu is a quaint, attractive, and sheltered bay. It is an especially nice spot after 3 PM, and it has a great white sandy beach, along with some cozy little water-side restaurants.
    Further south, the lesser known beaches are Dream Beach and Sandy Bay (or Sunset Beach). The coastal landscape in this part of the island is mostly low-lying limestone cliffs, and there are some dramatic cave formations that are increasingly drawing more visitors. The main population center of the island is Lembongan Village in the southern interior, and it is here that you will find homes of most traditional island families.

    Getting bored in Kuta? Just get a boat to cross the strait to Nusa Lembongan. Spend the rest of your holiday enjoying your very own private sunset.