Indonesia

The words ‘Bali’ and ‘surfing’ have gone hand in hand for over 40 years.  A favourite amongst Australians due to its close proximity, Bali is also world renowned for its consistency, variety and number of awesome breaks.

Bali gets surf most of the year, during the dry season of April to October, the trade winds favour the west coast.  During the wet season of November to March, the tides and winds favour the east coast, mainly around Nusa Dua and Sanur. The most popular area of Bali for surf is around Uluwatu.  The unique geography of this area means you can get a selection of left hand breaks on one side of the Bukit Peninsula; or drive for 20 minutes and get a selection of right hand breaks around the other side. But there are many other options to discover in and around Bali.

Bali is also one of the best places for beginners as there is a number of suitable beach breaks, with some surf camps including lessons in their packages.

Accommodation choices are outstanding, with an uncountable number of options for every standard, and every budget......surf camps; party hotels; 5 star resorts; and luxury villas great for groups of couples or families. There are also many alternative activities and tours available when you need a break from surfing or for non surfing partners and family members.

Are you planning the holiday of a lifetime, a honeymoon, a family holiday with something different or just getting some mates together and don’t want to battle the tourists or stay in a hotel? Bali is fast becoming the 'Villa Capital of the World'!  There is the most amazing range of villas for the size of the island, and it is proving to be a much preferred choice of accommodation for travelers to Bali. 

We can organise a villa for you that matches the lifestyle that you want on your holiday, whether it be overlooking rice fields, beachfront, cliff top, riverside, mountainside or close to the trendy shops and restaurants of Seminyak.

Most villas have a collection of experienced staff to suffice your every need, like your own private chef to cook up some tantalizing meals, or a your own personal driver to take you wherever your want to go, not to mention you won’t have to lift a finger to clean or worry about security, it’s all taken care of. And if you don’t want to go out for a massage, masseuses can even be arranged to come to you at your villa.

In a villa you can have your own private pool, lounge rooms, dining rooms, outdoor areas, kitchens – so different to being confined to a small hotel room….

So if you are after your own private oasis, we can organise a villa to match your needs. Whether it be a 2 bedroom budget style, a family friendly 3 or 4 bedroom, or luxurious 5 or 6 bedroom villas for a group of couples.

Bali offers over 30 top quality breaks on the west and east coasts of the island, which are just half an hour apart by car or motorbike. You’ll find offshore winds virtually every day all year.

Bali – West Coast (Dry season – May to September)

• Uluwatu - The indicator break for the west side of the bukit and is very consistent. The wide reef offers many different peaks which all turn on at different tide stages. The Peak is immediately in front of you as you paddle out of the cave and is a consistent wave that works at all tide stages. Outside Corner only breaks at low tide on the biggest swells and is a classic wave. Racetrack is a fast racy wave that works best at low tide. Temples is a bit of a paddle from the main peak so tends to be less busy. The bombie will break on the biggest swells and is rideable at up to 20ft or even bigger!
• Padang Padang – This wave is known as the Balinese Pipeline. It is a very fast, long barrelling wave that lives up to it's reputation as the most serious wave in Bali. Similar to Hawaii's very own Pipeline, the Bali Pipeline also breaks over a shallow coral reef and is only for expert surfers. Lesser known is Padang Padang Right which breaks in front of a beautiful white sandy beach. This is a very easy wave and is suitable for beginners, longboarders and intermediate surfers. This is a perfect surf spot for learner surfers to progress from riding whitewater to unbroken waves. The conditions at high tide are very forgiving - a long slow unbroken wave which can reform from whitewater to swell. It is also a beautiful location for sunbathing and watching the sunset
• Impossibles - A fast racy wave that is very picturesque. There are 3 separate peaks on this wide reef which breaks up the crowds. On the right conditions with a good size swell and offshore wind it is possible for the sections to link up and to get a ride of a mile or more to the warungs at Bingin.
• Bingin – Bingin is a perfect machine of a wave that works best around mid tide. It is a very consistent wave and throws out many perfect barrels. If you want to practice barrel riding lefts - Bingin could be the perfect location. At low tide it can be very shallow and for expert surfers only. At high tide the wave can break very soft and is where the Bali children learn to surf. High tide can be perfect for long boarders or intermediate surfers.
• Dreamland – Dreamland is  a beautiful white sand beach a short walk from Impossibles & Bingin. There are many different breaks that work at different stages of the tide and is suitable for novice surfers as it breaks over sand. The best wave is an A frame peak that works best at low tide on a big swell. There is also a punchy shorebreak wave where you will see Balinese and visiting surfers exhibiting their skills at the water's edge. Dreamland is a perfect location to spend the day surfing, sunbathing and hanging out in the local warungs.
• Balangan – This is the next break on the bukit and is waking distance from Dreamland. It is a reef break but has a beautiful white sand beach which is very quiet and beautiful. Balangan is a fun left hander that is not so fast as the other reef breaks on the bukit and is suitable for intermediate surfers.
• Canggu – Just north of Seminyak, Canggu has a variety of waves in the area.  The main break called Canggu is a superb right peak that breaks over black lava rock with two fun lefts nearby. Good intermediate break between the safety of the beach breaks and dangers of coral reefs.
• Balian - Further north, Balian is a peaceful rivermouth left and right, breaking over a rock and sand bottom .
• Medewi - Further north again, Medewi is a very long left point break, peeling gently for hundreds of metres along round river stones. Perfect for longboards and best at mid tide from 4-8ft. Swell size here is usually larger than Kuta depending on swell direction.

Bali – South Coast (All seasons)

• Nyang Nyang - Always has swell, but usually too big to surf safely. Normally only visited when everywhere else goes flat but it is difficult to access. A right reefbreak with a left on the opposite side of a very treacherous channel with some weird currents.
• Green Balls – This wave is usually too big to surf - a thick right hander, but often too big and very dangerous. The waves here are very powerful, facing directly into the open ocean. Arrive early before any wind and be careful of the currents!

Bali – East coast (Wet Season - December to March)

• Nusa Dua – This break is considered Bali’s most consistent right reef break, rarely under 4 feet, so your best option most days. It has 3 separate peaks and can get very crowded at times. The break is 1 km offshore so you will need a boat to get out there. This is a serious wave with strong currents and shifting peaks that will get you eventually.
• Sanur Reef - This is one of the world’s best right hand reef breaks when over 8 ft, but unfortunately it is fickle and only breaks about 20 days a year. Yet again it can be very crowded under 6 ft and under 4ft gets very shallow.

Nusa Lembongan – (Dry Season – May to September)

Nusa Lembongan is the quintessential Balinese surf destination that you've dreamed about, away from the 24 hours of in ya face partying and sleepless nights of Kuta. Lembongan is a laid back destination where time - and busy roads - don't exist. It also happens to have some great surf spots. With surf breaks known as Lacerations and Razors you should know what to expect, though there are a couple of mellower reefs such as Playgrounds and Cheningan, a great longboard wave.

• Shipwrecks - The most famous and most surfed of all the waves on Nusa Lembongan, this right produces a good wall for manoeuvres and, depending on the tide, good tubes. Best at medium tide with a 4 to 6 foot swell, but can hold bigger swell on a good day.
• Lacerations - A powerful and very hollow right hander that can produce some of the best barrels around if the swell direction is right. Best at medium tide with swell of 3 to 8 ft. Breaks on very sharp live coral reef, hence the name!!
• Playgrounds - A right and a left with a soft coral bottom that are very easy and fun to surf, making it the favourite of inexperienced surfers and longboarders. Best with medium swell (3 to 6 ft) and medium or high tide.

The dry winter season is offshore on the famous Kuta - Uluwatu west side of the island, with south-east winds from around late May to September, this is the best season for quality surf and guaranteed sunshine, so the best time to plan your trip.

The wet summer  season is offshore on Nusa Dua- Sanur east side of the island, with north-west winds usually from early December  to late March. This is the least crowded season for surfers. Although rain averages 2 inches a day in January and February, there can still be weeks of sunny weather with perfect surf.

Between seasons can be less predictable, but there are usually offshore waves somewhere on the island. The largest swells reliably arrive mid-winter form roaring forties weather fronts in the southern Indian ocean, although tropical cyclones during summer can send up a few days of solid swell.

Some Info from “Indo Surf & Lingo” thanks to Peter Neely