We were sitting in our homestay in Sanur recently thinking about what we might do for the day. We seldom head out to the far south of Bali, so we thought it could be interesting to find somewhere around that area to explore. So out with Google maps and the research began. Before we knew it we came across a place that sounded quite interesting. Waterblow! Without giving it too much thought, we decided that that would be our destination for the day. Ten minutes later we were packed up and heading over to the Bukit Peninsula’s Nusa Dua on our scooter.
Driving Over The Gulf Of Benoa
The drive took us about 40 minutes, starting in the chaotic Sanur traffic, before turning onto the Bali Mandara toll road towards Nusa Dua. The Bali Mandara toll road for those who don’t know is a 12.7 km toll bridge stretching across Bali’s Gulf of Benoa connecting Denpasar, Nusa Dua and Ngurah Rai Airport. In contrast to the main Bali roads, the traffic on here is almost non-existent and well worth the 5k rupiah fee to cross on your scooter. Once across the road, we soon found ourselves entering the checkpoint into the Nusa Dua Community. The guard provided us directions to Waterblow. Five minutes later we were parking the bike, and heading over to the water.
What Is The Waterblow At Nusa Dua?
Waterblow is a natural blowhole situated on a rugged coastal outcrop in between some of Nusa Dua’s prime tourist beaches. A blowhole is a natural phenomenon whereby ocean waves funnel through ever-narrowing ravines in the headland before crashing into the cliff face, often erupting into spectacular displays of white water shooting 10 metres or more into the air. Located on a jagged limestone headland on Nusa Gede, or Peninsula Island, it is a very easy spot to access.
A 10 to 15-minute stroll, past some stunningly beautiful beaches and parkland brings you to the entrance to the Waterblow. Once through the entry point, a fully paved and level pathway takes you across the top of the rugged clifftop to two separate viewing platforms. It shouldn’t be too long before you hear some loud rumbling as the water hurtles through the ravine before exploding high into the air!
Dont Get Wet At Waterblow
The viewing platforms are fenced to ensure visitors don’t get too close to the water’s edge. However, you are still very likely to get wet if you are standing downwind of the Waterblow. So if you are taking some pictures while here, make sure your cameras or phones are at least showerproof. All days are not equal here. Being a natural attraction, the Waterblow will not always be putting on a show for visitors.
To maximize the chances of seeing a great display, try to coincide your visit with rising or high tide. And if the day is breezy with an ocean swell, all the better. We had a moderate swell on the day we were there which was reflected in moderate, but still exciting displays. I can imagine this place really going off with a decent swell rolling in off the tropical Indian Ocean.
Exploring The Surrounding Areas
How To Get To Waterblow
Waterblow at Nusa Dua is very easy to get to and to access. Being in Nusa Dua, many visitors are likely already staying here, so visiting will be little more than a walk from their accommodation. From Kuta, it’s a 17km drive and will take 30-40 minutes depending on traffic. From Sanur, it’s approximately 27 km and 45-50minutes drive via the Bali Mandara Toll Road. If you are heading down from Ubud, make sure you allow at least 90 minutes of travel time each way.
Operating Hours And Cost
Operating hours for Waterblow are 9 am – 5 pm 7 days per week. Please note that Google shows Waterblow as being open 24 hours per day. This is inaccurate and reflects the operating hours before the new ticket and administration area was built, so be mindful of this if heading there early morning or later in the afternoon. Cost of admission is 25K rupiah ($1.75USD or $2.50AUD) for adults and 15k rupiah($1.05USD or $1.50AUD) for children. Very clean and modern amenities are provided in the ticketing and administration building.
All in all, Waterblow at Nusa Dua is a great inclusion on a day out to the Nusa Dua area, or similarly on a day trip exploring Bali’s Bukit Peninsula.
