Family Surfing

The kids hanging two while dad hangs 10

by Stephen

Raglan New Zealand: Perfect Surf and Fun for Families

Raglan Family Travel Quick Tips:

Stay at Raglan Kopua Holiday Park or Solscape (tepee themed rooms), rent a board from The Raglan Surf Emporium (very nice guys), get free WiFi from the quaint local library and grab some food from the local bakeries.

The surf spot is about a 10 minute drive up the road, just enter “Manu Bay” into Google Maps and it will take you there. There is a beginners spot on the drive to Manu Bay that is good for those looking to learn on the whitewater but not much else.

The two surf spots just past Manu Bay are for advanced surfers only. The surf works best at medium tide and has a very strong rip at low tide.

Raglan with Kids

Raglan New Zealand is a wonderfully cute and hospitable town perfect for families with small children.

We went there for Manu Bay and to find (and hopefully surf) the longest left hand break in the world.

Hanging 10 at Manu Bay

What we found was a wonderful holiday park, with a skate park, playground and a short walk to the postcard-perfect city.

We hired a surfboard for about $19 US per day and hit the surf.

We stayed in Raglan for 3 nights but wanted to stay for 3 weeks.

Mid-week in the off-season we had the place to ourselves. We were there for the Labor Day Weekend so it was amazing to watch how this changed in the matter of a couple hours.

We stayed at the Raglan Kopua Holiday Park which is just perfect for kids.

The kids hanging two while dad hangs 10

Other accommodation options (especially if you are looking to surf) is Solscape.

They have Tepee rooms and train themed accommodations which would probably make this a big win for families and kids, but it is a car ride away from the city.

That being said, I think the skate park and running space of the Kiwi Park still makes this a better choice for families with children.

Make sure to stop by the local library, grab a brew from any of the pubs, hit the second-hand stores for some extra bedding and just walk around.

You will love Raglan and it is one of our best stops so far.

by Stephen 2 comments

Jimbaran Bali is Great for Kids

(Google map link)

Jimbaran was an incidental stop on our 1 month trip to Bali.

We ended up spending 3 nights here after a 5 pm arrival at Bali International airport in need of a place to catch up on sleep.

The saving grace for Jimbaran was the Hotel Puri Bambu – which after coming from the cold winter of South Africa was a welcome respite. We all immediately jumped into the huge central swimming pool and my first thought was “I am in heaven.”

Then I ordered a cold beer from the poolside bar!

We found Jimbaran on a last minute ( the night before) internet search on where to stay around Kuta (which wasn’t Kuta) when arriving Ngurah Rai International Airport. Several sites recommended Jimbaran with kids because it had a nice beach, gentle surf, and a relaxed atmosphere.

As you will find with many places in Bali, especially when traveling with kids, the hotel can be a highlight of a certain location and can make or break a place. Coming from South Africa where we had large and inexpensive “self-catering units” we realized very quickly that if we were not all going to share a bed we would have to pay a bit more.

Hotel Puri Bambu has one of the nicest pools we have come across for a very reasonable price, lovely gardens and a good Bali feel.

Jimbaran beach is actually quite nice. If you are arriving here as your first stop in Bali as we were you may be under-impressed, but as you travel the island you will begin to see why people say it is a good place for kids.

Surfing in Jimbaran Beach is Perfect for Kids and Beginners

There is a very gentle surf break at the far end (opposite the airport side) where anyone could learn to surf, when the tide is right it is perfect for body surfing and our kids had a blast playing in the waves. It is one of the only beaches in Bali we have been to that had fun waves and very little riptide.

Kuta’s main beach is fun for kids as well, but the rips here are strong as you will see when you visit.

Jimbaran is famous for its beachside seafood dining. We did partake in one sunset meal and it was nice, but it all felt a bit fake and a little forced. But like the guidebooks said, you can sit and enjoy a meal while your kid’s frolick on the beach… That, of course, is only if they are in the mood.

The walk from Hotel Puri Bambu is about 5-7 minutes to the beach and your kids probably will complain if this is your first stop and they are adjusting to the beach. It makes a great starting point for a trip to Uluwatu Temple as well for a night dance, although we did not know this until we had already left and were in Kuta.

Final Verdict

Jimbaran is not a “must see” Bali location by any means. It is made very nice by the well priced and well located Hotel Puri Bambu which really sells it in my mind as an airport stopping point. The breakfast is one of the best we have had and they have a free shuttle into Kuta which I have yet to see anywhere else on our adventures.

The beach is decent, not AMAZING, and you can eat fish on the beach, but you can really do this anywhere.

Costs and highlights:

Transfer from airport to hotel (by the hotel) was 75,000 IDR (about 7 bucks)
Hotel Puri Bambu – about $55 US per night plus an extra bed if you want for $20 – this is the one place we paid the difference which brought up the cost.
Free amazing breakfast.
Free WiFi that was pretty good.

by Stephen

Balian Beach and Pondok Pitaya: Bali Indonesia

After 1 week in Bali our family was craving an ideal location for surf and fun with the kids. We happened upon Balian Beach after changing plans to avoid the overpriced Gilis.

Here is What we Wanted

Great beginner/intermediate surfing right outside our door (check)
Surfboards to hire/rent (check)
A nice pool for the kids (check)
very close to the beach (check)
A spacious room (big check)

We found it all (and more) at Pondok Pitaya on Balian beach.

Although the surf was a bit bigger than I would have liked while were there, everything about Balian beach and Pondok Pitaya was perfect.

They had babysitting, yoga, message, wonderful surfing, surfing lessons, board rentals, good food, a great atmosphere and lots of vacationing families.

We stayed there for 5 days and 6 nights

Front porch

Balian Beach

Our “room”

Making Australian Friends

The afternoon wind could be strong, but the morning and early evenings were perfect. The surf favors a 5-6 food swell with a mid to high tide. It can go from perfect to quite big overnight and is a bit fickle. There are strong rips and a rocky bottom so it is not great for surfing with small children.

The cost of a driver to Balian Beach from the East Coast of Sanur was 400,000 Indonesian Rupiah… About $35 US.

Surfboard rentals are right next to the hotel and should be no more than 50,000. There were boards of all sizes in mediocre condition for rent.

You can get lessons from a great instructor for about $35 US.

The message and yoga options are large and varied, on-site they are more expensive than you will find in the bigger cities.

The accommodations are unique and very, I call them super bungalows.

You are right on the beach and you can see the surf from your bed.

Tide shifts are huge and there is a very strong rip so again be forewarned.

Prices on Bookings.com tend to be the best. Pondok Pitaya on Bookings.

You may also want to double check on Agoda to find the best price. Pondok Pitaya on Agoda

by Stephen 2 comments

Surfing in Kuta Indonesia: A Perfect Place for beginners and Kids

Our 4-year old finding his sea legs at the Hard Rock Surf school in Bali.

Surfing Kuta for Kids

During our time here in Bali, we had the opportunity to see and/or surf a large majority of Bali’s famous surf breaks.

Kuta is the place we chose for our 4-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter to take surf lessons. I joined them as well for a family day of fun, sun and longboard adventures.

I joined them as well for a family day of fun, sun and longboard adventures.

Our 4-year old riding his first wave

Kuta beach is perfect for kids because it has white sand and white water, which creates a very safe beginners break on which to learn.

Depending on the tide, the outside swell can be hectic, with strong riptides and decent sized swell which is not beginner friendly, yet offers a fun and challenging wave for the advanced beginner and intermediate all the way up to the experienced surfer.

Surf shops and Lessons in Kuta

It is easy to rent surfboards on the beach but for the same price you can rent very nice soft top boards from the surf shop in front of the Hard Rock Hotel.

We rented boards and signed up for lessons here. They take small children as young as 4 all the way up to 38 🙂

Starting on the beach poolside (yes there is actually a manmade artificial beach at the hotel pool) at the Hard Rock the kids learn to paddle, balance and stand. Once they had the basics covered they head to the beach break with their instructors.

The intermediate adult lessons were horrible, so for this I would go elsewhere, but for the kids I thought this was an excellent experience.

The Hard Rock also offers free lockers to store your valuables while you hit the breakers, which is a big advantage over renting your board on the beach.

The Hard Rock Hotel surf shop is open until 6 pm.

Renting our boards with the kids at the Hard Rock Hotel In Kuta

KID AND FAMILY FRIENDLY SURF SPOTS

While I am at it, I will mention a couple other kid friendly surf spots that you should consider if you are visiting Bali.

Jimbaran Beach

I found the beginners break at Jimbaran beach on my second day when the tide was just right and you could spot the break all the way from the end of the beach.

The break is perfect for long-boards and beginners. It is a long right hand, very light and steady wave.

If you are standing on the airport end of the beach just walk about 1.2 miles and you can’t miss it. You can rent boards on the beach and they offer lessons.

You can read my post on where we stayed in Jimbaran here.

Medewei

We stopped only briefly to see this famed super-long left-hand surf break on our way up the coast from Balian beach.

It looks like a great wave for beginners. Appears somewhat shallow in low tide and breaks over rock, but the inside wave is gentle and appears very safe.

If you are a beginner looking for surf in Bali this would make a great stop!

Balian Beach

The Aussies told me Balian was for beginners, but I would say it is an intermediate surf spot. The rips are strong and the current can be difficult to manage. The wave, when it is really breaking, makes for a rather steep curling face that packs some serious punch.

There were beginners out there the 3 days I surfed it, but unless it is a smaller day, I would opt for the pool instead.

Regardless, the accommodations in Balian are top notch, and this is a beautiful beach with great surf, a nice pool, and spectacular sunsets. That should be reason enough to stop here.

You can read my post on where we stayed in Balian beach here.