Nusa Dua is a Bali tourist bubble next to the Tanjung Benoa peninsula, just twenty five minutes drive from the airport. It was built in the 1970s to be a gated compound of luxury hotels offering a haven away from the occasional chaos of the rest of the Island of Gods. For this reason it doesn’t have any of the rich history of Ubud, or the liveliness of Seminyak. If you’re on a Bali family holiday then Nusa Dua with kids can be a great choice as it offers a calm, safe area for a completely luxurious break.
It’s definitely a good introduction to Asia if you are first timers or a family looking for a total relaxation in the sunshine. You can always head out on day trips if you crave a bit more of a cultural experience. It’s home to Bali’s most popular golf course and a huge conference centre meaning it is always busy in and out of season, although it never feels too crowded. This does mean that hotels can charge a bit more than in the rest of Bali.
Important Note: This post may contains affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you!
List of Contents
Nusa Dua Overview
The whole compound is gated with security checkpoints to drive through on entry which makes it feel very safe, all the hotels check bags at the front doors and there are numerous security guards in all the hotels, along the beach and at the shopping centre. There aren’t that many things to do in Nusa Dua, it’s more fancy hotels and walking along the sand but you will still find things to entertain the whole family.
There is a stroller friendly foot path along the length of Nusa Dua beach ending at the Bali Collection Shopping Centre which makes it super easy to get to all the hotels and nip to the shops. We did nearly get plowed down by bikes a few times so keep your eyes open!
Is Nusa Dua good for families?
Nusa Dua isn’t known for having loads to do, most activities are located around the hotels and many will have excellent kids clubs which will entertain the children all leaving you to relax by the luxurious pools or take a stroll along the beach. We stayed at the Westin Resort and Spa which was home to the most fabulous kids club Piper’s ever visited, some days we struggled to pull her out to explore the rest of the area! I think it’s the best family accommodation Nusa Dua has. As we had just spent some mega busy days in Jimbaran and Ubud we were happy to just relax, play in the pool and take advantage of the many nearby hotel restaurants but we did manage to get out and explore a few of the local activities. There are still plenty of things to do in Nusa Dua with family.
Best Activities in Nusa Dua For Kids
Pirates Bay, Nusa Dua
Unfortunately Pirates Bay has now closed down. For somewhere similar, have a look at Jungle Play Bali located in Jimbaran which has a great play area, tree house and natural playground.
This has to be one of the most fun things to do in Nusa Dua, even if you just lie in a hammock for a couple of hours! Do not leave Nusa Dua before you have visited Pirates Bay restaurant/play area. The kids absolutely loved playing on the tree swings, hammocks, see saws and play pirate ship. There’s also a fun bamboo tree house you can eat your dinner in although this was slightly too wobbly for us!
You can’t enter unless you are having a drink or some food but the prices are so reasonable it’s not a problem. We popped in for lunch and stayed over two hours. The pizzas were lovely, and the beer refreshingly cold.
Surf & Turf, Nusa Dua
When in Bali a visit to a waterpark is a must simply to cool off. The main waterpark is Waterbom Bali, in Kuta but we couldn’t face the hour or so drive. So after some research found Surf and Turf, just ten minutes walk from our hotel and one of the bext things to do in Nusa Dua. Again it’s free to enter and use the facilities. You need to buy extra wristbands for the slides and flowrider. We also got the kids some food and took full advantage of their two for one cocktails. Great prices, very strong and totally delicious!
This is a very small water park – a few slides and a flow rider. It looked pretty fierce so we stayed away from that! There’s a large main pool and a tiny toddlers pool with some play equipment. This went down a treat with the 2 year old! When we visited it was pretty clean and very quiet. Our kids are not huge fans of crazy water rides it was a great choice not to waste time going to Kuta.
Visit the Nusa Dua Blow hole
One of the most unique things to do in Nusa Dua with kids is a visit to the famous blow hole. This is a marine geyser which shoots seawater from an underwater cave high into the sky. The blow hole is open from 9am until 5pm and is located at the Shopping complex end of Nusa Dua is a lovely park area. Be sure to keep a tight grip on the kids as the paths can get pretty slippy.
The Bali Collection
The Bali Collection is the main shopping centre in Nusa Dua, prices are very expensive compared to Seminyak or Ubud but it has a reasonable selection of surf style shops, restaurants and souvenirs. There are a few spas which are much cheaper than the ones in the hotels. And is a nice place to get your hear braided. We had lunch at one of the restaurants which as very reasonably priced. But if you’re wanting to fill your suitcases I would recommend a trip to Seminyak which is around half an hour away.
Visit the Bali Nusa Dua Theatre
Another unique experience I’m sure the kids will love is the Devdan Show at the Nusa Dua Theatre. An entertaining and colourful celebration of all things Indonesian. The show includes dance, acrobatics, special effects and music and lasts a full on 45 minutes.
Book your tickets to the Devdan Show
Enjoy a walk up Beach Massage
Beach massages are available all over Bali and it’s a lovely way to spend half an hour. If you head in the opposite direction to the Bali Collection there are some friendly, local women with shaded massage beds who will braid your hair, paint your nails, give you a full body massage – just be sure to negotiate your price – they start high for Bali standards!
Nusa Dua Beach
Home to white sands, safe water and refreshingly few beach sellers Nusa Dua Beach is a perfect spot for a day at the beach. There are various watersports available, the paddle boarding looked great fun. Unfortunately due to lack of waves, this isn’t the best place in Bali for surfing but it is one of the best things to do in Nusa Dua with family as it’s very safe.
Where to Eat with kids in Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua is an expensive place to eat, most restaurants are located within the hotels. But most of them are open to the public. The best family friendly restaurants in Nusa Dua are:
Bumbu Bali, Tanjung Benoa
Bumbu Bali Restaurant and Cooking School is Situated just 5 mins taxi ride outside of Bali in Tanjung Benoa, this is my very favourite restaurant in the area. They serve authentic Balinese food in pretty surroundings with great, friendly staff.
Be warned, the portions are huge. We went a little over the top and the waitress had to reign in our order. We still ordered way too much.
They will drive you back to your hotel when you have finished if they have a shuttle available which is a lovely touch. The food can be quite spicy so if you are catering for sensitive little tums just ask them to tone down the heat.
Pasar Senggol at the Grand Hyatt
For a real dinner “experience” make sure you book a meal at the Pasar Senggol at the Grand Hyatt hotel. It’s open air “street food” feel offer a unique feel and the Indonesian food on offer was all delicious. Plus the restaurant is located within an open air amiphitheatre where you can watch Balinese cultural performances whilst enjoying your meal. It’s one of the best things to do in Nusa Dua with family plus it includes food!
Ikan Restaurant at the Westin Hotel
This beautiful restaurant serves gorgeous Indonesian food in the Westin hotel with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. We ate here during one of their buffet nights and the food was excellent with a huge selection. What kid doesn’t like to fill their boots trying a little bit of everything!
Where to stay in Nusa Dua with kids
The Westin Nusa Dua
The Westin in Nusa Dua is one of our favourite hotels in the world . You can learn more about our visit in my Westin Nusa Dua review. Our stay felt completely luxurious from start to finish. The rooms were spacious and spotlessly clean which huge beds and a sweet little balcony area. The hotel has a great pool area with a pool bar and a small slide to keep the kids entertained. It also has several restaurants serving Balinese and Western cuisine. But the best part of the hotel were the many kid friendly activities available. The kids club is excellent offering fishing sessions, yoga and movie nights. We even managed an adults only meal out whilst Piper was being looked after.
Book your stay at the Westin Nusa Dua
Grand Hyatt Nusa Dua
Another great option for family friendly hotels in Nusa Dua is the Grand Hyatt. This hotel is located right at the edge of the resort close to other restaurants and shops. This makes it a good choice if you plan on eating out a lot but don’t fancy waiting around for taxis. It has no less than 5 pools and a selection of excellent restaurants. Plus a fabulous kids club where kids can learn about Balinese culture and local flora and fauna.
Book your stay at the Grand Hyatt Nusa Dua
Located at the Nusa Dua Beach hotel, it’s the style of this restaurant that really sells it. Essentially a huge bamboo made tree house with some very funky swings to sit and sup your cocktails. Situated right on the beach, kids can happily play in the sand where you can keep a watchful eye on them.
Where is Nusa Dua?
Nusa Dua is located on the Southern tip of Bali, its very much in it’s own little bubble. It’s a great place to stay as soon as you arrive in Bali or just before leaving as it’s only 20 minutes drive from Balis international airport. If you want to explore the rest of Bali and are wondering how far is Nusa Dua from Seminyak then I would factor in about 40 minutes drive to get there. It’s a little further to Ubud at just over an hours travel time.
Have you been to Nusa Dua with kids? Let me know in the comments what your favourite things to do are.