Mushroom Bay is one of the two tourist centres of Nusa Lembongan, along with Jungut Batu. Its curve of white sand is the island’s easiest place to get into the water, and it has a dock that works as a ferry stop for the Nusa islands. The mix of swimmers and boats is the main thing to understand about it.
The water
Guides agree that Mushroom Bay is a top spot for swimming. The water is calm and clear, and one calls it one of the best places to swim on Lembongan. That is a real distinction on an island where much of the coast faces open surf. Dream Beach, a short ride away, has an obvious and very strong rip current, and Sandy Bay Beach has some of the roughest seas around the island. Here the waves are generally quite calm.
The island around it
Nusa Lembongan is about 8 square kilometres, 12 kilometres across the Badung Strait from Bali, and surrounded by coral reefs. Its economy rests mainly on tourism, and it is known for surfing, scuba diving and snorkelling on those reefs. Seaweed farming and fishing continue alongside. That context explains the bay: it is a place where swimmers and boats share the same water, so treat it with care.
Snorkelling and facilities
Snorkelling is good here. Guides describe an attractive reef and plenty of marine life, with the same caution about boats. You cannot dive from the beach itself, but there are many diving schools around the bay where you can train or arrange dives for certified divers.
At the left-hand end of the beach there is a beach bar where you can rent sun loungers. It has a pool that you can use if you buy a drink. Nearby there are hotels and resorts, mostly 2 to 4 star rather than the 5 star hotels of mainland Bali. The beach is not busy, and the sunsets are good.
Secret Beach and the name
A short way from the bay is a cove that is really called Secret Beach. You reach it by sliding under a rock formation at Mushroom Bay. It is very popular and does not feel secret, but it is quieter than the main beach. The name Mushroom Bay itself is a mystery. A guide says nobody remembers how it got it, and that it has nothing to do with fungi.
Getting there and costs
Fast boats run from Sanur and Padang Bai, and the crossing from Sanur takes about 30 minutes. There are fewer boats in the rainy season, so go early in the morning. One guide advises the dry season if you want calm water for the journey. If you want to take a bike, you must use the slow ferry, which is cheaper but takes much longer. Mushroom Bay has its own harbour for fast boats, alongside Jungut Batu and Rocky harbour.
There is no entrance fee. The Rp 25,000 tourism-area fee for foreign adults covers the three Nusa islands under Klungkung Regulation No. 4/2026. The list of attractions with a separate Rp 25,000 charge names only Nusa Penida sites.
Pair the swim with the surf at Dream Beach and the blowholes at Devil’s Tear. Then cross the Yellow Bridge to Nusa Ceningan. See things to do in Nusa Lembongan, guided tours and where to stay.
