Nusa Lembongan, Bali, Indonesia

Nusa Lembongan is a small island located to the east of Bali. It's a 25 minute boat ride and worth visiting for surfing, diving/snorkeling and relaxing.

Getting to Nusa Lembongan:

Go to Sanur and get a boat or ferry (fast boat takes about 25 minutes). Choose the company you use based on where you are going to stay. A good fast boat company going to the main beach is Rockys - included in their ticket price is overland transfer from/to you accommodation in certain places in Bali (including Kuta, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran and Sanur). Book in advance, especially in high season. Most of the places to stay can organise the transfer for you.


Money / Cash

There is one ATM (Cash Machine) that only takes MasterCard (not VISA or Amex). It also runs out of cash fairly often and says it doesn't take cards with raised letters. It's best to take cash with you or pay your accommodation with credit card.
There are money changers on the island but they are quite expensive. They will do currency exchange as well cash advances.


Where to stay?

Hill Side

Stay on the hill side for the best views and easy access to all the surf breaks besides shipwrecks. It's also close to the main strip, but slightly more expensive than staying along the beach-front.

Affordable on the hill

We have stayed at OKA7 and Lembongan Reef, the others look similar though. Many of the others offer self-catering accommodation at a higher price. These places are built up the side of the hill which gives each room a great view, but the higher your room, the more stairs you need to climb to get there.

Lembongan Reef

Bungalows & rooms with a rimflow pool and ocean-side restaurant. Rooms are big, air-conditioned and have a small fridge.

OKA 7

Bungalows with pool. Some rooms have air-conditioning. Top bungalows have a separate bathroom outside (also cheaper)

Ware ware

Bungalows with pool and restaurant

Playgrounds

Accommodation with pool

Coconuts Beach Resort

Accommodation with pool and restaurant. Local cover band plays at lunch and dinner time

Upmarket on the hill

Batu Karang

Very upmarket, with pool, spa and restaurant. Golf carts even take you up to your room

Lembongan Beach Villas

Self-catering 2 & 3 bedroom villas with shared pool and restaurant.

Tamarin Bay, Mushroom Bay, Dream Beach, Sunset beach etc

For sun tanning and relaxing
We have not stayed this side, but they all look alright
Hai tide in Mushroom bay is a little more pricey, but it is nice.

On the main beach

Puri Nusa

Accommodation with restaurant

Agus Shipwrecks

Accommodation with pool and restaurant

Bungalow No 7

Accommodation with pool and restaurant

Indiana Kenanga

Five star villas with two pools and excellent restaurant


Surfing:

Beware the seaweed farm sticks especially at shipwrecks, razors and no man's land.
Most places work from high to mid tide.
Wear booties at all of the spots as these are reef breaks and if you are not comfortable, get a boat out and get the guy to wait for you while you surf.
Get a boat or suffer the long paddles out and back in.

3 Top Spots:

Playgrounds

A-frame left and right

Lacerations

Right with a left when small. Surf schools are often there when it is small

Shipwrecks

Right (picks up big time after high tide)

Other Spots:

Tamarin Bay

Left that works only on big swell

No man's land

Very fast right, only works on very high tides.

Razors

Fast left that works on high tide.

Ceningan Island Point

A left break, beware the seaweed farming sticks at low tide. It picks up loads of swell so go here when it's flat everywhere else. Get a boat here or scoot over the bridge with board racks.

Surf School / SUP & rentals

Monkey surf school

You can learn to surf here, good instructors. Maximum 3 surfers per instructor.
Rent a board or just go with the school and surf for a cheap boat ride.

Board and SUP rentals

Walk along the beach front and rent SUPs from the locals.
There are also a few surfboard rental places.


Eating

The Deck/ Batu Kerang

Up market restaurant.
Western Food, burgers wraps etc.
Excellent view of the bay, surf spots and the sunset

The Beach Club at Sandy Bay

Up market restaurant Western Food and some local items (really good Nasi Campur) Excellent location and good for sunsets Best to book a table They can usually fetch you and drop you off (phone to book)

Hai Tide

Up market restaurant
They have outdoor movies here on some nights too

Agus Shipwrecks

Mixed food local / western, good vibe at night with live music sometimes.

Coconuts Restaurant

Nice view, affordable, live music

Nyomans

Local place, excellent food. Try the jacket fish, fish in banana leaves and the deep fried banana (piesang goreng)

Tigerlillys

Reasonable prices, nice relaxed restaurant, extremely slow when busy
Try the chicken in lettuce leaves and the pork balls.

Warung Bu Edi

Local food for locals and tourists
Cheap and great
Try the nasi campur

Eco Deli

Nice coffee shop with healthy juices and not so healthy cakes etc

Blue Corner

Good Mexican food, chilli poppers, wraps etc
Parties on Fridays and other functions / events during the week

Indiana Kenanga

Extremely upmarket food with French chef
Excellent but a bit pricey in Bali terms, reasonable in Euro terms
Great view of Shipwrecks surf break.
Also check out their Crepe Pool area.

Jibaku

Full moon parties and other moon parties

Panorama

Great view from above of Nusa Lembongan
Stop here for a picture or a drink.
Best sunset view.

Rockys

Great barbeque at night and the other food is good.
Skip the burgers.

B Fresh

Amazing smoothies and juices, using home-made vegan coconut yoghurt. Also great jaffles, a range of breakfast options and Indonesian dishes.

Muntig's @ Batu Karang

Fine dining restaurant with incredible views. Their breakfasts are also really good (same as the Deck).

Bunga Bungalow

The pizzas here have been said to be the best on the island. The service can be somewhat questionable, but the setting is really relaxed under a big tree.

Bungalow no. 7

They offer quite a wide variety of simple dishes. They have a 3 for 2 cocktail special in the evenings

Gomez

Serving great Mexican food as well as a variety of other dishes. Try their imported crocquets from the snacks menu

Lembongan Reef

Lembongan reef restaurant is set on the cliff overlooking the ocean and also with sofa seating. They offer quite a wide variety of dishes, smoothies and cocktails.

Lemongrass

Great food and presentation. 2 for 1 cocktail specials from 3-6pm. Popular for dinner.

Linda's

Set on the beachfront, this restaurant has great meals. Try the Tom Yum soup or fresh fish.

Maria's Boemboe

This place serves the best food at low prices. Everything is made fresh so it can take a while. You can even order freshly baked bread & rolls for morning collection. Best to arrive when they open, around sunset.

Planet Nomadas

Spanish tapas and other meals.


Other things to do

Scooter Rental

You need a scooter to get around here and explore the island We are currently paying 50 000 (5 dollars) per day for a week rental. Expect to pay about 60 – 80 for short rentals. If they ask you where you're staying be vague unless you're at a really cheap place.

Yoga Shack / Big fish dive center

Yoga twice a day on most days
Talks on the ocean

Snorkeling / Diving

Manta Rays and more
Sun fish (but this might be with scuba only)
There are load of dive schools with scuba and snorkeling
Ask one of the locals to take you snorkeling

Mangroves

Boat tour of the mangroves

Ceningan Island

Scoot around here is fun. More restaurants on this island

Cliff Jump at Ceningan

There is a cliff jump on Ceningan island. Probably best at high tide (we have not done this, so get someone to assist).
Note: The cliff jump is NOT at the Ceningan surf break, there is a platform that looks like a jump spot, but it is not a jump spot!

Devils Tears

Blow hole type things that spray up and make for great photos.
There are various ones that go along the South part of the island. Walk along the beach to see these.

Newman / New Office

Snorkel trips, scooter rentals, laundry, cash advance & more

Panorama Point

Viewpoint overlooking the Jungut Batu village and bay, across the waters to Bali (Mnt Agung visible on clear days)

Rocky Fast Cruise Office

Book your transfer to Sanur with Rocky fast boats

Eddy's surf & SUP

Surfboard & stand up paddle board (SUP) rentals. Set back from the seaside walkway

Serenity Yoga

Yoga classes in different styles | Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Power yoga. Private classes also available

Massage Spas

Upmarket Spas:

Batu Kerang

Indiana Kenanga might have a spa

Beach club at Sandy bay
Other Spas:

There are loads of other ones you can walk into.


Shopping

There is no shortage of informal stalls all over the island selling curios, Bintang t-shirts etc. There are also many shops where you can buy snacks, but not many great places for clothing shopping, but the Walking Tree stores are most probably your best chance of finding something of better quality.

Walking Tree

This is a small boutique-style shop, selling clothing, bikinis, curios & accessories, including brands.
The bigger store at Sandy bay also has a deli where you can buy a variety of darker breads, cheese, wine etc as well as Havaianas.
Their other store on the main road has a smaller selection.


Medical

Doctor Made

Local GP. We found that the dive clubs can help with medical stuff. Try the hotels too

Doctor Made

Local GP. We found that the dive clubs can help with medical stuff. Try the hotels too