We’ve all heard every criticism in the book about Bali – it’s overcrowded, it’s touristy, the beaches are dirty, etc. Well, we hate to break it you, but sorry, you’re just not going to the right places. You can find a huge range of things to do and places to stay in Bali on Little Grey Box, but if you’re thinking about doing something a little different, then you are in the right place my friends.
Read on because we’re lifting the lid on Bali’s most notorious secret beach, with some of the best photo opportunities on the island. There’s literally not a person here – although you might say g’day to a few cows on the way.
Why is there not a soul on this beautiful white sand beach, reminiscent of a deserted island, complete with dramatic white cliffs covered in Jurassic-like foliage, rock pools and natural beds of seaweed and not one, but two shipwrecks?
Well, like all good things, you have to put in a little grind to get there – however, it’s not as difficult as it seems, especially if you take our advice and think about staying on the Bukit Peninsula next time you hit Bali. If you’re not staying around the Uluwatu/Bingin area, then a trip to Nyang Nyang might be something you could fit in at the end of a day trip to the area from Seminyak, Legian or Ubud.
If you’re keen to do something unique next time you’re in Bali, and an afternoon playing “Lost” appeals to you, then read on for Checkin-Out’s complete guide to get there.
Step-by-Step Guide to finding Nyang Nyang Beach
- Pick your day. You are going to need a tonne of energy – so if you had a massive Sunday session at Single Fin the night before, it’s probably not the day to attempt this mission.
- Get organised. You’ll need water (LOTS of it), snacks, a sarong/towel and of course your camera. There isn’t a whole heap of shade, so we recommend a hat and sunscreen, even a beach umbrella if you have one. Keep in mind, we visited in November – one of the more hot and humid months before rainy season breaks. Suckers for punishment!
- To get yourself in the headspace of navigating, think of heading to Uluwatu Surf Temple. If using maps, you can find this location by searching “Pura Luhur Uluwatu”. You’ll notice there are two ways to get there – along the coast, or inland via Jalan Uluwatu Pecatu. I would recommend the latter, as there is currently construction on a bridge between Uluwatu Beach and the Temple preventing any traffic from crossing.
- Next up, you’re looking for the actual street to get to the parking lot. This is Jalan Batu Nunggalan, which will be on your left. To find this, we simply kept a really close eye on all the streets on our left along Jalan Uluwatu Pecatu, and easily found the street we were after. You can get a clear idea here. If a street sign is a little small for you, keep an eye out for a sign for Villa Plenilunio.
- Take a left down Jalan Batu Nunggalan. After approximately 200 metres, you’ll come to a 180 degree fork. Continue on the road to your left, rather than turning down the driveway on your right. Simply keep riding or driving until you hit the small parking lot outside a large villa featuring white stone walls. If having any doubts, ask the friendly Balinese workmen in the vicinity – they were quick to point us towards the beach. There’s a sign pointing to the beach as well if you look hard enough.
- Next up head to the cliff. It’s a winding, rocky path with the track veering off into many different options. Be careful and just keep walking downwards towards the beach. I’ve read a few reports it took an hour to make your way to the beach. Insider tip: if you’re moving at a good pace it shouldn’t take any longer than 20 – 30 minutes.
- And voila, you’re there! Perfect crystal clear water and white sand that resemble Oahu’s North Shore, a reef break for the surfers among us and graffitied shipwrecks that make for some of the best photos we’ve ever taken. It’s places like this that will remain forever in your bank of travel memories.
Nyang Nyang Beach Insider Tips
- Check the tide to pick the ideal time. We recommend going close to high tide so you can swim comfortably, then stick around as the low tide reveals banks of seaweed covered rocks, perfect for exploring.
- Leave before dark to be on the safe side.
- Don’t be scared off by the trek there. It took us about 20 minutes to get down and we smashed the upward climb in 15 minutes. To be honest, it’s actually an awesome way to break up your pattern of eating, sleeping/laying around and drinking, which you can’t help but fall into when in Bali.
- That being said, this beach is not an option for anyone with mobility issues, or very young children.
- Sadly, there is still a small amount of rubbish around. It seems somewhat impossible to escape in Indo; however, is hardly noticeable compared to other beaches further north.
- You’ll have an absolute ball climbing on the shipwrecks, but be warned – you may stir the wasps who have taken up permanent residency here! We avoided getting stung quite easily by staying away from the hole in the hull of the smaller ship.
- If you don’t generally have the balls to get your bits out for some topless sunbathing, this place is ideal. Who doesn’t love a naked travel photo, right? Can we get an amen?!
Nat and Bon
nie are two travel lovers, hailing from beautiful Brisbane in Queensland. Combining Nat’s love of photography and Bonnie’s passion for words with their devotion to travel and each other, Check-in Out was born. Now, they share their adventures and eternal search for the very best hidden spots around the world with other travel-lovers. You can find the girls on Instagram, Facebook and Check-in Out.
