I had never visited Nusa Dua before this trip, but it could easily sit as once of my favourite places in Bali. For those of you who haven’t visited yet, Nusa Dua is a smaller beach area with a lot of high quality resorts. It’s a lot quieter than Kuta or Seminyak, making it the perfect place to rent a scooter or motorbike to explore. As you’re right by the sea, there is ample delicious, fresh seafood on offer. There’s a lot to do from visiting some excellent spas to indulging in thrilling watersports at Tanjung Benoa. Read on for my suggestion of the best things to do in Nusa Dua:
Rent a Motorbike:
Because Nusa Dua is a LOT quieter than elsewhere in Bali, it is a good place to rent a motorbike or scooter. However, if you have never ridden one before, I do not suggest you try to learn here. We decided to rent a motorbike for a few days and did some exploring which was a lot of fun. Because traffic is a lot more relaxed, we both felt very confident getting around – just be careful not to accidentally get on the toll bridge, as you’ll have to go the whole way down and back again!
A little word of caution: If you ride in Nusa Dua without a license and/or a helmet, the police will probably pull you over in a bid to full their pockets. The standard rate for a fine/bribe is around 50,000 rupiah which is about $5 USD. My partner wasn’t aware of this and wound up paying around 10x this amount. Best bet is to ride around with only 100,000 rupiah in your pocket so if you do get pulled over, you have nothing more to give! They’re fining you for their own personal gain, so as with most things in Asia, you can barter with them.
Devdan Show:
My partner and I both wanted to get a cultural experience while in Bali and where better than at Devdan? I was thoroughly impressed with the performance. The show itself lasts around 90 minutes and covers a wide range of local performances tied in with a funny story line. You’ll see traditional dances from many of Indonesia’s islands, including Java, Bali and Papua. The show is really impressive and would not be out of place on Broadway; it is without a doubt the best traditional dance show in Bali I have ever seen. The dancers are extremely talented and use numerous different props and dance styles to keep you entertained. No words can describe this experience and unfortunately I was unable to take photos during the performance, but just trust me – it’s worth the visit! If you only see one show in Indonesia, make sure it’s this one.
Water Sports:
Want to go sea kayaking, banana boating or speed boating? Well Tanjung Benoa beach in Nusa Dua is the perfect place for you. The hotel I stayed with, The Grand Mirage Resort, is an all-inclusive resort in Bali that offers ample watersports activities as well as some bike tours as well for those who don’t want to get out on the water. While in Bali I did some sea kayaking which was a great workout and also a beautiful water to explore. The water’s so clear you can see to the bottom.
Hit the Beach:
Nusa Dua is one of the driest parts of Bali and the whole time we were there we were spoiled with beautiful blue skies. This makes it a very popular destination all year round to hit the beach. If you stay in a resort lining the beach, it’s likely you will have a private beach which is nice as there will be no touts trying to sell anything. If not, there are some stretches of public beaches that are truly beautiful. I really liked the light, soft sand here.
Get Pampered:
It’s no secret that I love beauty treatments and Nusa Dua is full of many spas offering a wide range of treatments. If you’re interested, try a beach side massage, where you can enjoy the relaxation a massage provides while hearing the waves crash in the ocean. I also tried an AquaMedic pool at Thalasso Spa and thoroughly enjoyed it – so did my partner. It is really great for anyone who is feeling a bit tight, but especially for athletics or someone after a long haul flight.
Nusa Dua is a great holiday destination that suits a wide range of trips; great for friends wanting a fun trip away, families wanting a holiday destination where their kids will be happy, or for couples wanting to relax and unwind without getting bored.
Have you been to Nusa Dua? Did you enjoy it?
