Itinerary: 48 hours in Nusa Lembongan with kids

The little island of Nusa Lembongan deserves a place on every Bali itinerary. 

By Sigourney Cantelo.

We had been in Bali for three days when we made the crossing to Nusa Lembongan. And honestly? We needed it. Three days in Canggu with kids is a lot. It’s extraordinary and chaotic and full of excellent food and near-misses with motorbikes, and by the end of it, my ten-year-old had named four street dogs, and my fourteen-year-old had perfected the art of being physically present but mentally elsewhere. I had built Nusa Lembongan into our family trip deliberately, as both a reward and a reset. It delivered on both counts.

Located just 12 kilometres off the southern coast of Bali, a 30-minute fast-boat ride from Sanur, Nusa Lembongan is eight square kilometres of limestone cliffs, palm trees, coral reefs and the most extraordinary turquoise water you’ll ever see outside of a screensaver. It’s quiet in a way that Bali proper rarely is. There are no traffic lights, no Grab cars, no all-night rooftop bars pumping EDM at volume. What you’ll find is true family time, world-class snorkelling, a handful of excellent beach clubs, and enough things to do to fill 48 hours without anyone looking at a screen.

How to get to Nusa Lembongan

Rocky Fast Cruise departs from Sanur Harbour and is the recommended transfer option for families. It’s comfortable, reliable and caters to travellers with luggage and children. The crossing takes approximately 30 minutes. Book in advance, particularly during school holidays, and arrive at least 30 minutes before departure to collect boarding passes. The boat docks directly at Nusa Lembongan’s private jetty, which makes disembarking with bags and kids considerably easier than the wade-through-the-shallows experience you get with some operators.

Tip: The Lembongan Traveller manages the full journey, from transfers to accommodation and activities, and is the island’s most knowledgeable local operator. Worth using as your single point of contact.

Where to stay in Nusa Lembongan: Villa Tranquilla, Sandy Bay

Villa Tranquilla is a four-bedroom clifftop villa in Sandy Bay, in one of Nusa Lembongan’s most sought-after pockets. It’s one of the most breathtaking family villas I’ve ever stayed in, anywhere. 

The villa sleeps eight, making it ideal for larger families or two families travelling together. There is a dedicated family suite at the rear of the property featuring a king bed and bunk beds for children, while the master bedroom faces the ocean with a view so absurdly beautiful it takes a moment to process. All bedrooms open onto their own outdoor bathrooms set among tropical gardens. I can confirm that a shower set to the sounds of waves crashing on the limestone cliffs below is the most effective decompression tool I have encountered.

The communal spaces are equally impressive. The villa opens onto a vast outdoor living room: enormous white daybed-sofa, carved timber dining table, open kitchen with beaded light fixtures, and, beyond all of it, an infinity pool and the Indian Ocean in a single unbroken view. The water changes colour by the hour, aquamarine, turquoise then deep teal, and the limestone headlands on either side complete a scene that no filter could improve.

A team of five looks after the villa: Putu manages guest relations with warmth and quiet efficiency; Nyoman and Wayan handle housekeeping; Ibu Putu runs the kitchen; Ketut keeps the property secure. Breakfast is included in the stay and ordered the evening before; the kids had pancakes every morning while hubby and I alternated between eggs, bacon and a full Indonesian breakfast of nasi goreng and sweet potato fritters. Tropical fruit arrives carved into shapes. Balinese coffee is strong and arrives promptly.

For getting around the island, Putu can arrange golf buggy transfers at approximately 150,000 IDR per trip (around $15 AUD), scooters for the adventurous or bicycles. Many restaurants offer complimentary transfers if you book ahead, so it’s worth asking the question. 

Day One:

Afternoon: Sandy Bay Beach Club

Drop your bags and walk five minutes to Sandy Bay Beach Club, which is – conveniently – almost directly adjacent to the villa. It is the perfect first stop: white and blue tones, a deep infinity pool overlooking the rocky bay, Balinese parasols with tassels, excellent cocktails, a kids’ zone with paddling pool, and a menu that runs from light snacks to full meals. The vibe is relaxed without being lackadaisical. The service is attentive, the ocean views are dramatic, and it’s the kind of place you return to multiple times without exhausting it. Note that while the cliff-framed bay is not suitable for swimming, the infinity pool more than compensates. The kids spent the afternoon in the water while the adults worked through the cocktail menu. No one complained.

Evening: Spring Spa & dinner at Bar Riva

If you can arrange it, Spring Spa is worth building into your first afternoon. Set along a clifftop walkway with ocean views from the treatment tables, it offers the Flow and Balance Ritual, a 90-minute signature massage followed by a rose quartz gua sha facial treatment, that manages to be both deeply relaxing and genuinely restorative. Ask Putu to arrange transport (an additional charge applies).
Spring has become one of the most awarded spa groups in the Asia Pacific region, with six locations across Bali and two in New Zealand (Wellington CBD and Auckland’s Ponsonby). The Seminyak flagship has been twice named Asia’s Best Day Spa at the World Spa Awards; the Uluwatu location took the 2025 title. The Lembongan hideaway, conceived just before the pandemic, is widely considered the jewel of the collection.

Set across 2,000 square metres of oceanfront gardens, the spa has eight individual treatment villas built from recycled teak and local Lembongan stone, each designed as an open space, no walls between you and the sea breeze. The treatment tables have a small mirror positioned beneath the face hole; look down, and you see the ocean. You watch the sun melt into the tree canopy while the sound of birds and geckos moves through the open air around you. It’s what a hotel treatment room can never be.

If you’re hungry after all that pampering, you can stumble out of Spring Spa and back down the Jungut Batu into Bar Riva for dinner. This Mediterranean-inspired eatery boasts a beachfront aspect and has an ‘Amalfi Coast’ energy more commonly found at considerably more expensive restaurants. The menu runs to fresh seafood, Italian-influenced dishes made with local ingredients, and cocktails that arrive in real glassware. Book ahead. Sit outside.

Day Two

Morning: Bali Hai Island Discovery Cruise

The full-day Bali Hai catamaran cruise is a highlight of any Lembongan itinerary with children and is not to be missed. The day includes snorkelling over coral gardens, and the water clarity here is extraordinary. There are tiny blue damselfish darting in iridescent electric flashes through the reef heads, and even a solitary trumpetfish that’s improbably long and the colour of old gold, with a snout like a medieval instrument. And then there’s lunch, a spread of almost theatrical generosity; flowers, fruit sculptures, mini sliders, prawn cocktails and salads, all laid out on a blue-clothed table on the alfresco deck. The children were in the water the moment snorkelling gear was distributed and emerged only when lunch was announced. We lay back on beanbags on the bow in the sun and watched the island grow smaller behind us.

Afternoon: explore the island

The afternoon is best spent on a self-guided loop of the island’s highlights.

Devil’s Tear is a dramatic natural blowhole on the southwestern coast where ocean waves crash against limestone cliffs with enough force to send spray metres into the air. The name comes from the way water seems to weep from the rock face when the swell is up. It is spectacular, slightly terrifying, and children absolutely love it. Keep small ones well back from the edge as the waves are powerful and unpredictable. Entry is 25,000 IDR (approximately $2.50 AUD).

Dream Beach, a short walk from Devil’s Tear, is a beautiful arc of white sand backed by dramatic cliffs and fronted by sapphire water. It is not always safe for swimming due to the swell, but it is perfect for photographs and for explaining to children why some beaches are only for looking at.

The Yellow Bridge connecting Lembongan to the tiny Nusa Ceningan island is worth crossing for the views alone. Expect aquamarine water on both sides, seaweed farmers working below in the shallows, and the odd motorbike navigating the narrow span with impressive confidence. From the Ceningan side, you can continue to the Blue Lagoon viewpoint.

On the way back, stop at the mangrove forest on the island’s northeastern edge. Boat tours through the narrow channels are available and are excellent for younger children. The mangroves ARE quiet, unusual and full of birds.

Evening: In-villa dinner

On our second evening, not wanting to step away from the view, we opted for an in-villa dinner, choosing from the buffet menu of nasi goreng, mie goreng, crispy chicken and gado gado, all served at the carved table while geckos called from the garden walls above. The all-in price is exceptional value, starting from around 200,000 IDR per person (approximately $20 AUD) for a four-person minimum.

Day 3

Checkout and lunch: Karana Pool Club or Ohana’s

After ordering breakfast the evening prior, we spent our final morning at the villa pool, breaking our fast alfresco while taking in the coastal views one more time. If time allows, Island Yoga and Sound in Jungut Batu offers a Hammock Sound Healing session that is a smug way to spend a final morning. It is deeply calming and an experience that’s hard to find on the main island.

We booked the last Rocky Fast Cruise back at 4pm and Putu kindly stored our luggage while we did some last-minute sightseeing. Before you depart, you can pay any villa charges in cash.

We chose to eke out our final moments over lunch at Karana Pool Club in Jungut Batu, a Mediterranean-inspired pool bar known for its panoramic ocean views and bespoke cocktails. Elevated yet relaxed, it’s widely regarded as one of the island’s best spots to watch the changing light dance across the water. On Saturday evenings, a local band adds to the atmosphere with live music.

Alternatively, Ohana’s beachfront complex offers a laid-back setting for sunset cocktails, beach bonfires, and wood-fired pizzas served from its rooftop bar. With arguably the best unobstructed west-facing sunset views on Lembongan, it combines a relaxed, dog-friendly atmosphere with free entry and no minimum spend—making it a crowd-pleaser for adults and children alike.

The practical stuff

Getting there: Rocky Fast Cruise from Sanur Harbour, 30 minutes.

Getting around: Supersized golf buggy (approx. 150,000 IDR/$15 AUD per trip), scooter hire, bicycle or on foot. Many restaurants offer complimentary transfers if you call ahead.

Money: ATMs are available on the island (the one at Hai Tide Beach Resort is recommended). Cash is useful for smaller vendors and transport.

Medical: East Medical Care Centre in Mushroom Bay operates a 24-hour call line: +62 813 3955 5515.

Good to know: Power on Nusa Lembongan is generated from Nusa Penida via diesel generators; occasional outages do occur. Villa Tranquilla has a backup generator. There is no reticulated water supply on the island, so conservation is genuinely appreciated.

Nusa Lembongan is best for: Families with children of all ages. The island is calm enough for toddlers and interesting enough for teenagers. Max, my fourteen-year-old, who I would describe as a reluctant enthusiast of most things that do not involve a screen, declared it “actually pretty good”. I will take that.

Sigourney Cantelo was hosted by The Lembongan Traveller.

Keep reading:

• Things to do in Bali
• Best kids’ clubs in Bali
• Kid-friendly beach clubs in Bali

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