DREAMLAND BEACH
- Warsyaan
- November 8th, 2024
- Watch Our Review
DREAMLAND BEACH
Once a secluded haven for nudists (true fact), Dreamland Beach has become one of the more popular beaches along the northern coast of Uluwatu.
The beautiful white sand stretches for 400m from the foliage-covered headland at one end down to New Kuta Golf Course.
Just to confuse you, the beach has several names. It’s also known as New Kuta Beach and Cimongka. But Dreamland Beach is the name you’ll see on all of the maps and signage.
With several visits under our belts, we’ve got to know Dreamland Beach pretty well. In this guide, we want to share our review and some top tips for visiting.
| Dreamland Beach | |
|---|---|
| Ease of Access | Fairly easy, bike parking is right next to beach, car parking is a 2-3 minute walk away via a short staircase |
| Sand Type | White sand |
| Beach Admission Cost | Free |
| Parking Charge | Scooter: 5,000 IDR Car: 20,000 IDR |
| Grab/Gojek | Grab/Gojek’s can drop-off and pick-up |
| Crowding | Moderate – less crowding the further you walk |
| Facilities at Beach | Toilets and showers, warung, shops, and a beach club |
| Good for Swimming? | Yes, but waves are strong |
| Good for Surfing? | Yes, for all levels |
| Good for Snorkelling? | No |
| Good for Watersports? | No |
The Bottom Line
Dreamland Beach is a beautiful white sand beach that’s worth visiting in Uluwatu. It’s one of the few beaches along the Bukit Peninsula’s northern coast that’s west-facing so it makes a great sunset spot.
The beach is easily accessible with scooter parking a few metres from the sand and car parking just a short walk away. Dreamland Beach is well equipped for tourists with toilets and showers (paid), a warung (local restaurant), and convenience stores.
It’s far from a hidden gem. But most visitors tend to congregate near the entrance where the beach is wider. We recommend walking a little further along the beach where you’ll find much quieter spots.
The sand here is very soft so it’s great to relax on. It’s an okay spot for swimming, but the waves can be very strong. Surfers of all abilities come here with rental shops and surf lessons for beginners.
But not every trip to Dreamland Beach is perfect. On one occasion the beach was covered in trash and was very unpleasant. Bear in mind that this can happen and hope Mother Nature is having a good day.
How To Get There
There are two different parking areas for cars and scooters. You’ll need to take a different route depending on which parking area you are heading to.
Here is a Google Maps pin for the scooter parking at Dreamland BeachThe road to the scooter parking area is steep with a rough surface. Parking is donation-based but they will suggest 5,000 IDR per scooter (cash-only). From here, the beach is just a few metres down a dozen or so steps.
Here is a Google Maps pin for the car parking at Dreamland BeachCar parking costs 20,000 IDR (cash-only). You can also park bikes in this car park for 5,000 IDR. From the car parking area, the beach is a 2-3 minute walk away down a couple of small flights of stairs and along a raised walkway.
Can You Get Online Taxis?
Online taxis such as Grab or Gojek can drop off and pick up from Dreamland.
If you experience any difficulty booking your taxi from the parking area, you can also book them to pick up from Klapa Beach Club which is on the hill above Dreamland Beach, accessible via a stairway.
What Are the Crowds Like?
The crowds at Dreamland Beach are moderate. It’s a very long beach, but crowds tend to gather on the wider part near the entrance. This area can get quite busy, especially at sunset.
Most people don’t realise that the beach continues for more than 400m. Our top tip is to keep walking northbound and it will only be a few minutes before you reach more secluded spots with fewer people.
The beach gets narrower as you walk and you’ll find more opportunities for shade from the limestone cliffs behind.
Dreamland Beach is extremely dog-friendly. Plenty of dogs run around enjoying the sand and sea. Some are people’s pets and some are local street dogs. 99.9% are super friendly and happy to play with you. But as with any animal you don’t know, be cautious when approaching an unknown dog.
Can You Swim at Dreamland Beach?
Yes, you can swim at Dreamland Beach.
In our opinion, this is an okay spot for swimming as the sandy seabed is comfortable on your feet – this can’t be said about a lot of beaches in Bali.
Although the waves are strong and tend to throw you around quite a lot, so it’s not a particularly relaxing experience. We wouldn’t recommend letting small children swim here.
There is one section near the entrance where the waves are particularly strong. This is marked with two big red flags advising you not to swim there.
Ironically, every time we’ve visited this has been the busiest swim spot as beachgoers enjoy the thrill of the big waves throwing them around.
Is Dreamland Beach Good for Sunset?
Dreamland Beach is west-facing, making it a great spot for sunset.
Many people sit on the cliffside right next to the beach entrance (known as Dreamland Cliff) for sunset.
But we prefer to enjoy the sunset from the warung at the back of the beach or from Klappa Beach Club, both of which have a great vantage point of the sun dipping beyond the horizon. It means we can enjoy a cold coconut or beer too.
Is it Good for Surfing or Water Sports?
Yes, Dreamland Beach is a good spot for surfers. We’ve seen people of all abilities surfing here. It is a great option for beginners as it’s the only beach break with a sandy bottom in Uluwatu.
Surfboard rental is available at several places on the beach and beginners can learn to surf here with Dreamland Surf School.
As for other watersports such as kayaking or paddleboarding, the water is rather choppy so it’s not a great spot.
Dreamland Beach Amenities
Cafes, Restaurants & Shops
Dreamland Beach has a handful of places to eat and drink. At the back of the beach is Dreamland Warung, a local restaurant serving Western and local food. The oceanfront location makes it a great spot to enjoy a coconut or beer at sunset. Drinks are reasonably priced and they accept card payments too.
However, as the only place to eat on the beach, they do charge a premium price for quite average food (not bad, just not great).
If you want better quality food, you can head up to Klappa Beach Club on the cliff above the beach. The prices are similar but you get to use their amazing infinity pool and other facilities too.
If you just want to grab some drinks and snacks to enjoy on the beach, there are several small shops and convenience stores on the stretch of walkway between the car parking area and the beach.
Toilets & Showers
The raised walkway between the car park and the beach is where you’ll also find western-style toilets (3,000 IDR) and shower facilities (10,000 IDR). Don’t forget to bring cash.
The facilities are pretty average but there’s usually toilet paper and they do the job if you need them.
If you’re drinking or dining at Dreamland Warung, they do have a free (very basic) toilet for guests. But you’ll need to ask a member of staff as there are no signs to point out where it is.
Sunbeds
Sunbeds are available to hire on the beach for 200,000 IDR for two beds which you can keep all day.
If you’re arriving late in the day, you might be able to negotiate a lower price. But keep in mind that the sunbeds further along the beach are usually put away before sunset, a little fact the sellers might leave out.
If you plan to stay for sunset, grab a bed in front of the main warung and beach entrance.
There isn’t much natural shade along the wider beach area near the entrance. But if you walk further down the beach to the quieter areas you’ll find some cover under the cliffs.
Beach Clubs
We love this beach club as it’s a bit of a hidden gem. There’s an infinity pool, loungers, cabanas, and a restaurant area. It’s great for relaxing as there are few crowds and it has an excellent view of the sunset. But if you want a lively atmosphere, this isn’t the place.
Officially there’s a 100,000 IDR minimum spend on food and drink, but we’ve spent less than this before and they didn’t seem to mind. It’s a quiet beach club so they’re usually grateful for the business.
More About Dreamland Beach
Dreamland Beach is part of a huge privately owned resort area called Pecatu Indah, which includes several luxury hotels, resorts, and villas. The resort area is owned by Tommy Suharto, the son of a former Indonesian president.
Dreamland was once a popular nudist beach. However, this is no longer the case since its big rise in popularity.
On one occasion, we visited the beach and it was full of trash that had been washed up from the ocean. From reading reviews, this can happen from time to time, especially during the rainy season.
It’s difficult to predict when this might happen. You’ll just have to take a gamble and hope for the best.
