Beachcombing Destination: Bali

By Maureen Wyer

I recently spent 10 days in Bali, an island of Indonesia, which is known for its unique spiritual culture and age old traditions. Though Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim nation, approximately 87% of Bali’s population adhere to Balinese Hinduism. It is home to more than 20,000 temples, earning its nickname “the island of a thousand temples.” It is very hot and humid here all year round, making beachcombing quite hard work, but very rewarding.

Bali is an ideal holiday destination for an Australian like me. It’s close by, steeped in culture, and boasts beautiful beaches for swimming and surfing. Since it was my first visit, I had a lot to do—but I was here for more than the tranquil, tropical climate, great value cocktails, and delicious food. I was here to beachcomb.

My first destination was Ubud, the lush jungle area in the center of the island. I wanted to witness the magical terraced rice-fields, trek to some very scenic waterfalls, and visit some of the centuries-old temples. So much to see and do. But it was the beaches that called me. So I did my research, tracked down a few remote beaches that looked promising, and made my way there.

I first went to Lovina in the north to beachcomb and see the sunsets. It was a long three-hour drive on winding roads to the top of the island, but well worth it for the bounty of beach finds. Lovina has a lovely long beach and there are some smaller beaches to the right of the main beach worth checking out, too. Half the fun was getting there, passing through little villages and seeing the incredible landscape. The beaches up north are in fishing villages where beautiful traditional jukung, wooden outrigger canoes, rest on the shoreline.

My next stop was on the east coast to explore Amed. The beaches in this area have black volcanic sands from nearby overshadowing active volcanoes, which were stunning to see and to walk on. Snorkeling was amazing in Amed: clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and colorful fish you’d find in an aquarium, all only twenty feet from the shoreline. However, if you go, beware of the toxic algae attached to the rocks in the sea. Some brushed against my feet, leaving me with patches of itchy rashes—it was all in the line of duty, but I really must invest in water shoes next time.

Down in the southwest of Bali below Denpasar, I found the beaches had white sand. My favorite was Bingin Beach where the sand was unlike any I had never seen before, in rounded shapes like tiny pearls. I adored this little beach not only for pearly sand but for the blankets of gorgeous green algae on the rocks at low tide. The rock pools are fun to investigate too, as I found many sea snails and had my first encounter with, and got to hold, a brittle star!

What I loved most about all of these beaches was seeing the atmosphere change and come alive at sundown; as the weather cools the children come out to fly kites and play soccer on the sand. Lovina in the north, Amed in the east, and Bingin Beach in the south all had little beach shacks, which looked quiet and sleepy by day but suddenly came alive, with tables and bean bags set up for tourists to come in to eat and settle into to view the sunset. This was a wonderful vibe to experience, and the making of very special memories of the lovely Balinese lifestyle and culture. The smell of the barbecuing seafood and marinades added to the already idyllic atmosphere.

Overall, Bali had a lot more sea glass to be found than I could have hoped for. And I was so happy to have the beautiful photographic backdrops of colorful sunsets, moody hazy sunrises, and majestic volcanoes for my photos. It was also a surprise to find such colorful sea pottery that was equally smooth and rounded as the sea glass I collected.

On my last evening, in the southeast seaside town of Sanur, after the sun had set, I was by the ocean on a beachside sunbed, Bintang beer in hand, waiting for the full moon to rise. It was a clear balmy night, and I was listening to a local Balinese band play under the palm trees, which were adorned with hanging lights and lanterns. It was this moment that confirmed for me that I really was in paradise.

When the band had a set break, the Balinese singer came over to chat with me, in the very friendly way of life that I’ve come to know and understand of this culture. When I told him, at my age of 56 years, that this was my first trip to Bali, he laughed and replied, “What have you been doing?” It’s true. I can only ask myself, “What has taken me so long?”

I’ve discovered that Bali offers so much as a holiday destination, whether you are beachcomber, surfer, or into meditation and yoga. It also seems extraordinary and appropriate to me that the Balinese Hinduists beliefs are based on “the power of nature.” It’s the very powerful elements themselves that transform and wash up the sea glass that drew me to visit this very special island called Bali.

Learn more about the best beaches and destinations for sea and beach glass, seashells, fossils, rocks, and more beach finds around the world. Articles ›

This article appeared in Beachcombing Volume 40 January/February 2024.