Tanjung Benoa is just to the North of Bali’s most desirable resort area, Nusa Dua, and it’s famous for its water sports operators but there’s more to the area than just water sports.
We’ve got 20 awesome things for you to do in Tanjung Benoa that will ensure you have an amazing time there.
20 Things To Do In Tanjung Benoa
There’s not much in the way of nightlife in the Tanjung Benoa area but there’s plenty of beauty and awesome activities for you to enjoy and this includes:
Tanjung Benoa Beach
Tanjung Benoa Beach is really a collection of beaches that run from Nusa Dua parallel to the Jalan Pratama road.
There are resorts, restaurants, water sport activities, art shops and much more that are easily accessible from the road.
As a rule of thumb, the further north you go along these beaches, the more water sports that you will find and the further south that you stay, the easier it is for swimming and snorkelling.
Wherever you go along this stretch the soft, clean, white sands are perfect for a walk or enjoying some time in the sun on a lounger.
If you do opt for sunbathing, please ensure that you use suncream as the Balinese sun can be very intense and sunburn is no fun.
Water Sports
Windsurfing, parasailing, you name it, you can learn or take your game to the next level in Tanjung Benoa.
It’s not the cheapest place to learn but the prices are competitive and the area attracts great instructors and high levels of professionalism.
We’d recommend that you head as far North on the coastline as you can if you want the best choice of water sports operators in the area.
Water sports fans may appreciate our guide to the top 28 water sports in Bali.
Caow Eng Bio – Chinese Temple
This is one of the oldest Chinese temples standing in Bali and it’s thought that it may even predate some of the Hindu temples in this area.
If you like a spot of culture on your holiday, then a visit here will help you contrast all the luxury resorts and frantic water sports with a calmer one. quieter more traditional way of life.
It would have been built by prosperous merchants who were engaged in the spice trade between China and Indonesia and once you pass through the intricately designed front door, you can see that no expense was spared on creating statues and other forms of decoration for this temple.
We’d recommend that you visit Caow Eng Bio during the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) if you want to see the temple at its busiest and most beautiful.
Pura Dalem Ning Lan Taman Beji Temple
This temple complex is home to two temples – Pura Taman Beji and Pura Dalem Ning.
Pura Taman Beji is where the Balinese people come to ritually cleanse their statues of deities (pretimas in Balinese). These are made from sandalwood and can be of any aspect of the Hindu gods.
The shrine is made from cut coral and it’s one of the most impressive places that we’ve seen in Bali.
At Pura Dalem Ning, which used to belong to the Pemecutan Royal Family, you will find Buddhists as well as Hindus praying (this is due to an agreement based on the shared ancestry of the two groups of worshippers).
However, this temple is only open to outsiders a few times a year during major ceremonies.
Cooking Classes
We love cooking classes in Bali (we’ve got a guide to some of the best cooking classes in Bali, in fact) but Bumbu Bali in Tanjung Benoa is definitely worth visiting.
The design is all traditional Balinese and you will learn from Heinz van Holzen, the author of several cookbooks about local cuisine and former head chef in one of the top resorts in Nusa Dua.
There’s nothing better than eating your own freshly cooked Balinese food.
Boat Trips On A Glass Bottom Boat
We like being out in a glass-bottom boat. It’s so much fun and means you get to see all the local marine life without needing to do any swimming.
You will get to see coral and many fish on a short trip around the local waters.
If you want, you can throw some bread in the water to see how many fish it attracts (a lot, in our experience).
Jet Skiing
While Thailand’s beaches may be famous for jet skiing scams, Bali’s are not and you can rent a jet ski here without any worries of facing an unexpectedly huge bill when you return to shore.
Beginners, however, must ride with an instructor because the waters in Tanjung Benoa are very crowded and an accident could be fatal.
Banana Boat Rides
Banana Boats are an inflatable boat that is towed behind a speedboat and it’s fair to say that while these rides are exhilarating, you are at risk of being hurled into the waves as the boat goes along.
The ride won’t last long, but you will remember it forever.
Rolling Doughnut Rides
If you prefer a round boat to a long, bendy one then a rolling doughnut can be had instead of a banana boat.
The principles are all the same, mind you, and plenty of tourists find themselves splashing about in the water while their boat goes on without them.
Flying Fish Rides
A flying fish boat is like a cross between a boat and a kite, think of it as a gentle introduction to parasailing, if you like.
As you ride, your boat will rise up into the air (from 2-5 meters) and seemingly float through the sky.
It’s a huge amount of fun and you’re less likely to fall off a flying fish than you are a banana boat or a rolling doughnut.
Super Spa Treatments
This is a great area for luxury spas and some of the best spas in the area include:
Thalasso Bali (@ Grand Mirage Resort) – many of the treatment ingredients at this spa are taken directly from the ocean
Bhava Spa Nusa Dua – this spa offers expertly tailored packages to ensure that you get the perfect result for your wellbeing
Misel’s Spa – not as expensive but we think excellent value for money Misel’s Spa gives the best foot massage in the area
Tanjung Sari Spa Bali – if you want a great Thai massage in Bali, you can’t go wrong at this spa
Tea Tree Spa – this is a very pleasant spa with a lovely range of treatments for a reasonable price
Scuba Diving
If you love to get under the waves, there are plenty of PADI-qualified instructors along the shores of Tanjung Benoa.
In addition to helping you get certified, they can arrange for equipment hire, boat hire and an instructor to accompany you on any dives you want to undertake.
Sometimes, they even have underwater cameras for hire so that you can capture some awesome memories beneath the sea.
Sea Walking
Sea walking is diving for people who don’t have time to get their PADI certificates.
You put on a big helmet and suit which delivers oxygen and then you simply walk along the sea bed.
Bali Wake Park
You will find this park by the entry to the Bali Mandara toll road.
It offers a huge water sports arena for cable-water skiing and a wakeboarding obstacle course.
These activities are a real challenge and you should easily be able to get a full day’s fun out of mastering them.
Tanjung Benoa Fishing Village
Yes, the original fishing village still remains at the end of the beach on the Northern part of the peninsula.
There are no luxury villas here, just honest locals bringing their catch ashore and selling it.
The market here offers very low prices for fish but you need to be there between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. to get some as the local kitchens will buy all the stock after that.
Pura Dalem Setra Ian Merajapati
This pleasant Balinese temple is famous for its blessings, which are bestowed upon request and a small offering, on the locals before funerals and other ceremonies.
The statues around this temple are very attractive.
Pura Desa Ian Puseh
This is the main temple for the area but its most notable feature from a tourist’s point of view is the large banyan tree that provides shade for the temple and the guardian shrine (Pura Catus Pata) nearby.
Turtle Island?
We didn’t go to Turtle Island on our trip to Tanjung Benoa and that’s because we looked at the reviews online and made a decision not to go.
There are real concerns that this business isn’t prioritizing animal welfare. Given that there are several other excellent turtle sanctuaries in Bali that have a great reputation for caring for their turtles, we’d encourage you to visit them, instead.
The Bali Sea Turtle Society in Kuta, in particular, has been praised for its treatment of turtles and the way it has developed its release program.
Eat At The Local Restaurants
There are some fantastic restaurants in this area and they range from fine dining to upmarket warungs. Some of our favourites include:
Sukun Restaurant – this place does a wonderful mix of Indonesian and Western foods and we love their crispy duck and nasi betutut but the poached eggs breakfasts are hard to beat.
Royal Orchid Resto – if you want a fusion of Italian and Indonesian cuisines this is the place to come. It’s surprisingly reasonably priced for the area too.
Mr. Bob Bar & Grill Tanjung Benoa – think seafood, ribs and steaks and you won’t go far wrong. This is a very chilled-out setting and we love that they supply guests with a cold towel before they eat.
Ketut’s BBQ Kitchen – tasty local BBQ dishes with ribs and satay at the forefront. Everything is fresh and prepared on site and the setting is very casual.
Meads Fish Gallery – they’re all about great seafood at Meads but they also do a decent steak or hamburger. If you’re looking for somewhere to go as a family, Meads is a great choice.
Visit Nusa Dua
If you visit Tanjung Benoa, the odds are good that you get there by passing through Nusa Dua but if you haven’t taken some time to see Nusa Dua, you should.
The region is famous for its white sand beaches and it’s home to some of the best hotels and resorts on the island.
It’s a great place for families, in particular, and if you’re chasing a slice of luxury on your vacation then you will find it in Nusa Dua.
It also has some interesting shops, markets, etc. for you to enjoy.
FAQs
Is Tanjung Benoa Worth Visiting?
Yes! The main beach is great (in fact, all the local beaches are good) and covered in soft white sand. If you want to try water sports then you can do everything from renting a jet ski to arranging a full diving trip. It’s a very popular place for parasailing too.
There are also plenty of other attractions in the area from swanky resorts to super spas and restaurants serving some of the tastiest food on the island.
Where Is Benoa Bay Located?
Benoa Bay, better known as Tanjung Benoa, is off the coast of a peninsula (not to be mistaken for the Bukit Peninsula) on the Southeastern Coast of Bali.
The peninsula runs from Nusa Dua to Benoa Village and you can get there in a taxi from Denpasar Airport in around 30-40 minutes depending on traffic conditions.
Can You Swim In Benoa Bay?
Yes. The Tanjung Benoa Beach is about 3 kilometres long and while you don’t want to swim among jet skis, parasailing, etc. there are stretches where swimming and snorkeling are just fine.
The waves are usually very mild around the beaches in this area of Indonesia which makes swimming very pleasant and children should be fine to be in the water as long as you keep an eye on them.
Many of the local hotels have a pool too if you’re not sure if you want to spend your vacation in the sea but still want to go swimming.
How To Book A Holiday In Tanjung Benoa?
We always recommend that you book a holiday in Bali through the lovely people at the Bali Res Centre. That’s a locally owned and operated specialist travel service that offers all the best Bali experiences.
They can help you get the best deals on flights, hotels, resorts, etc. as well as on trips, tours and excursions.
Final Thoughts On Tanjung Benoa, Bali
Tanjung Benoa is one of the most popular places in Bali to take up water sports or to enjoy spending time on beaches and deservedly so.
However, it’s worth noting that the hotels and resorts in the area tend to be high-end luxury international brands and you might want to visit Tanjung Benoa for the day if you’re looking to keep your Bali holiday to a tight budget.
