Nusa Lembongan is a small island off the southeast coast of
the main island of Bali. Nusa Lembongan is approximately 8km² in size
and is one of three neighbouring islands, the others being much larger
Nusa Penida and tiny Nusa Ceningan. It is Bali many imagine but never
find: simple rooms on the beach, incredible sunsets, day spent surfing
and diving, and night spent rifling through a favorite book or hanging
with new friends. Nusa Lembongan becoming one of Bali’s most popular
attractions, this island paradise is a world away from the hassle and
hectic pace of South Bali.
Most surfers, divers and budget travelers stay at Jungutbatu Beach in
the island’s northwest, while more upmarket accommodation is farther
south towards Mushroom Bay, where many of the day-trip cruise boast
stop. Nusa Lembongan, grows in
popularity each year, but even as rooms for travelers proliferate, it
remains a very mellow place. The 7000 hard working locals welcome the
extra money brought by visitors and time is marked by the crow of a
roster and the fall of a coconut.About 4km soutwest along the sealed road from Jungutbatu is
Lembongan village, the island’s other town. Leaving Jungutbatu, when
heading towards Lembongan village, you climb up a steep knool that
offers a wonderful view back over the beach.
Jungutbatu beach is a lovely arc of white sand with clear blue water, has superb views across to Mount Agung in Bali. The village itself pleasant, with quiet lanes, no cars, and a couple of temples, including Pura Segara and its enormous banyan tree.
Mushroom Bay is gorgeous little bay, unofficially named for the mushroom
corals offshore, has a perfect crescent of white-sand beach. During the
day, the tranquillity may be disturbed by banana-boat rides or
parasailing. In the morning and the evening, it’s delightful. The most
pleasant way to get here from Jungutbatu is to walk along the trail that
starts from the southern end of the main beach and follows the
coastline for a kilometer or so past a couple of little beaches.
