nusapenida.infoIndependent guide to Nusa Penida

laut sea

Angel's Billabong, Nusa Penida: when to go and when to stay back

Angel's Billabong, on the west coast of Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia, is a natural rock pool on the edge of the open sea, next door to Broken Beach. Go for the pool and the coast seen from the land side, and keep back from the rocks that face the sea. Coconuts Bali reported a swimming ban here in January 2023, until further notice, and Basarnas Denpasar reports three tourists swept off the rocks by a wave on 20 March 2017. Big swell reaches the sea off the south coast most often from June to September; the dial below shows every month.

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Angel's Billabong
Natural rock pool at Angel's BillabongPhoto: Georgi Kovachev / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

ombak waves

Angel's Billabong swell, month by month

The pool is only as calm as the sea beside it. The dial shows, for each month, how often the waves on the open sea off Nusa Penida's south coast reach the lower edge of each of BMKG's warning bands. Pick a month to read its figures. It is a guide to the season before you go, not a reading for the day: on the day, the sea in front of you and BMKG's warnings count.

Month dial: how often big waves reach the sea off Nusa Penida's south coastTwelve wedges, January at the top, running clockwise. Each wedge has three layers: the pale outer layer is the share of days with waves in BMKG's moderate band or above, the red middle layer the high band or above, and the dark centre the very high band or above. The red layer is largest in July, August, June and September and smallest in November and December.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecsouth
  • Moderate band or above (1.25 to 2.5 m)
  • High band or above (2.5 to 4 m)
  • Very high band or above (4 to 6 m)

January, open sea off the south coast

Waves in BMKG's high band or above
9% of days
Very high band or above
0% of days
Moderate band or above
93% of days
Median of each day's highest wave
1.8 m

Shares of days from the ERA5 wave reanalysis, 1991 to 2020, 30 years, for the open sea off Nusa Penida's south coast, not for the pool itself. Wave bands are those of BMKG, Indonesia's meteorology agency, whose high-wave warnings give the sea for the coming days. This dial is a likelihood from past records, not a forecast.

Every month in a table
Share of days by month, open sea off Nusa Penida's south coast
MonthHigh band or aboveVery high or aboveModerate or aboveMedian highest wave
January9%0%93%1.8 m
February11%0%90%1.8 m
March5%0%90%1.7 m
April5%0%96%1.8 m
May15%0%100%2.0 m
June25%0%100%2.2 m
July34%under 1%100%2.3 m
August29%0%100%2.3 m
September23%0%100%2.2 m
October10%0%98%1.9 m
November2%0%93%1.7 m
December4%under 1%90%1.7 m

tebing cliff

The rock edge between the pool and the sea

What makes the pool look calm is the rock that holds it. That same rock is the last thing between a visitor and the open sea, and it is where the rescue report puts the wave. BMKG warns that the largest single waves can reach up to 2 times the significant wave height its bands are built on, so a day in the moderate band can still bring single waves well above it. Its top band, extreme, starts at more than 6 m.

Section through the sea, the rock edge and the pool at Angel's BillabongFrom left to right: the open sea with a breaking wave, the rock edge facing the sea (marked 1), the pool held in the rock (marked 2), and the land side where visitors arrive (marked 3). A sketch of the order of things, not to scale.open seapoolland side123
Sketch, not to scale: the order of sea, rock edge and pool, with no heights or sizes.
  1. 1

    The rock edge facing the sea

    Basarnas Denpasar reports that on 20 March 2017 three tourists taking photos at the cliff edge were swept off the rocks by a wave. A man from New Zealand, aged 23, died.

  2. 2

    The pool

    A natural rock pool held in the rock behind the edge. Coconuts Bali reported in January 2023 that swimming here was banned until further notice, with the site itself staying open.

  3. 3

    The land side

    Where visitors come in from the access road and from Broken Beach next door, the side furthest from the sea.

laut sea

Can you swim at Angel's Billabong?

No. Coconuts Bali reported in January 2023 that swimming at Diamond Beach, Kelingking Beach and Angel's Billabong had been swimming banned until further notice, with the sites themselves staying open.

The Australian Government's Smartraveller advice (updated October 2026) states that many beaches in Indonesia are unpatrolled and can be dangerous due to rough seas and strong currents. The US CDC advises visitors to Indonesia to swim only in designated areas and to obey lifeguards and warning flags (page reviewed August 2026), and to wear a life jacket always when boating.

What Basarnas Denpasar reports here

20 March 2017 Three tourists taking photos at the cliff edge were swept off the rocks by a wave. A man from New Zealand, aged 23, died. The report, by the national search and rescue agency's Denpasar office, is at Basarnas Denpasar.

The pattern in that report is the one to remember: the people were on the rocks, not in the pool, and the wave came from the sea side. What the advisories say for the whole island is on is Nusa Penida safe, and the sea month by month on Nusa Penida weather.

If you want to be in the water on the same trip, go with a boat crew: snorkelling around Nusa Penida sets out the trips, and Manta Point covers the best-known site off the south coast.

Angel's Billabong
Angel's Billabong pool edge and seaPhoto: Aaron Rentfrew / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Penida cliffs
Green cliffs and sea from a viewpoint on Nusa Penida's west coastPhoto: Harshitmann15 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

tebing cliff

The west coast is cliff from Crystal Bay to Kelingking Beach. Angel's Billabong and Broken Beach sit where the cliff meets the swell, a short way apart on the same headland.

pantai beach

Is Angel's Billabong worth the visit?

Yes, as one stop of a west-coast day and as a view, not as a swim. The pool, its rock walls and the sea on the far side are all seen from the land side of the rocks. The visit costs little time if you are already at Broken Beach, because the two share an access road and sit 0.2 km in a straight line apart.

  • A good stop when

    the dial shows a month with few high-band days, the sea is not breaking over the rocks when you arrive, and you are happy to look from the land side.

  • Stay back when

    waves are washing over the seaward rocks, BMKG has a high-wave warning out for the south coast, or a photo would mean standing on the edge.

West coast tours give the pool 25 to 90 minutes as listed. That is time to see the pool and Broken Beach, not to wait for a calmer sea.

The other west-coast stops answer different questions. Kelingking Beach is the cliff viewpoint and stairway, and Crystal Bay is where several west tours end the day with a beach. Every sight, loop by loop, is on things to do on Nusa Penida.

Angel's Billabong
Angel's Billabong rock walls and tide poolPhoto: Haryanti / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

peta map

Angel's Billabong and Broken Beach on one stop

The two sights sit side by side on the coast, with the pool a little to the west. They share one access road and one entry on the levy list: Klungkung Regency Regulation No. 4 of 2026 lists Angel's Billabong and Broken Beach as one entry ("angel's billabong-broken beach") among its 17 one-gate attractions. Klungkung Regency stated in 2025 that this road would be widened to 9 m, with physical works planned for 2026, so the approach may be under works in 2026. The tours that visit one visit the other in the same stop.

Map of Nusa Penida's west coast from Crystal Bay to Kelingking BeachCrystal Bay lies at the top, on the north-west coast. Manta Bay is offshore further south. Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong sit side by side on the coast below it, Angel's Billabong slightly to the west. Kelingking Beach lies further south-east. A dashed line joins Angel's Billabong and Broken Beach; an arrow points inland towards the access road.to the access roadCrystal BayManta BayKelingking BeachBroken BeachAngel'sBillabongNsea
Coastline and points from OpenStreetMap. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. The dashed line is a straight line, not a path; the road itself is not drawn.

From Angel's Billabong, in a straight line

  • Broken Beach0.2 km in a straight line
  • Manta Bay, offshore0.3 km in a straight line
  • Crystal Bay2.3 km in a straight line
  • Kelingking Beach3.3 km in a straight line
  • Toyapakeh harbour7.8 km in a straight line

Straight lines between map points, never a route or a driving time. Angel's Billabong sits at 8.73353° S, 115.44902° E.

Broken Beach is the bay enclosed by cliffs with a rock arch open to the sea, seen from the path along its rim. Its own page has the plan of the bay and the arch, and the falls from that cliff edge in the rescue reports. Here, the pool and the swell are the point; there, the rim is.

Manta Bay, a snorkel stop in the sea off this stretch of coast, is 0.3 km in a straight line from the pool. Snorkel-and-land tours pair a boat trip with the cliff tops; each listing below names its own snorkel stops.

Broken Beach
Broken Beach natural arch and covePhoto: Aaron Rentfrew / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The sea and the gate at the pool

  • ombak waves

    34%

    of July days bring waves in BMKG's high band or above to the open sea off the south coast, the most of any month

  • laut sea

    2 times

    the significant wave height that the largest single waves can reach, BMKG warns

  • retribusi levy

    IDR 25,000

    attraction levy per adult at each attraction visited, Klungkung Regency, about AUD 2, USD 1.4 or GBP 1

retribusi levy

Angel's Billabong entrance fee and levies

Klungkung Regency's tourism office states the Tourist Attraction Levy (Retribusi Daya Tarik Wisata) is IDR 25,000 per adult and IDR 15,000 per child (about AUD 1.2, USD 0.8 or GBP 0.6) at each attraction visited, and that it applies to all visitors, foreign and domestic. Klungkung Regency Regulation No. 4 of 2026 lists 17 one-gate attractions on the three islands that charge it, and applies it from 1 September 2026.

Foreign visitors also pay the Nusa Penida Tourism Levy (Retribusi Kawasan): IDR 25,000 per adult and IDR 15,000 per child, for foreign visitors only, paid once on entry, the tourism office states. Klungkung Regency's levy poster of February 2026, issued under its 2023 regulation, states that one ticket covers Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan; the regency's Regulation No. 4 of 2026 lists Nusa Lembongan-Ceningan as a levy area of its own (kawasan wisata pulau nusa lembongan-ceningan). The Bali tourist levy is a separate provincial charge, on the Bali tourist tax page.

On a tour, read what the price covers. The Klook listing that meets at Sanur harbour states that its price includes the island levy and entry at the three west stops; other listings do not say.

  • Attraction levy

    IDR 25,000

    about AUD 2, USD 1.4 or GBP 1

    per adult, IDR 15,000 per child, at each attraction visited, all visitors. Klungkung Regency, 2026.

  • Nusa Penida island levy

    IDR 25,000

    about AUD 2, USD 1.4 or GBP 1

    per foreign adult, IDR 15,000 per child, once on entering the island. Klungkung Regency, 2026.

Rupiah converted at Bank Indonesia rates of 13 November 2026.

wisata touring

Tours that stop at Angel's Billabong

Angel's Billabong appears in 3 of 6 day-tour types on the Nusa Penida tours page. West coast tours give it 25 to 90 minutes, snorkel-and-land tours 30 to 45 minutes and private-driver days 60 minutes. West coast listings ran US$28 to 54.09 (about AUD 41 to 79) on GetYourGuide and Viator, AUD 42.75 to 63.45 on Klook as listed on 13 November 2026, for a stated 7 to 12 hours. How the whole day runs from Bali is on the Nusa Penida day trip.

  • West coast tour on GetYourGuide

    Bali: Full-Day Nusa Penida Highlights Tour with Transfer sponsored

    Listed price
    from US$28 per person (about AUD 41), read 13 November 2026
    Stops listed
    Angel's Billabong 25 minutes, Broken Beach 25 minutes, Kelingking Beach 45 minutes, Crystal Bay 60 minutes
    Stated length
    8 to 10 hours
  • West coast tour on Klook

    Nusa Penida Private Day Tour With Photographer sponsored

    Listed price
    AUD 63.45 per person, read 13 November 2026
    Stops listed
    Angel's Billabong 30 minutes, Broken Beach 30 minutes, Kelingking Beach 60 minutes, Crystal Bay 45 minutes
    Stated length
    10 hours 10 minutes to 11 hours 5 minutes
  • West coast tour on Viator

    Nusa Penida Full Day Trip to West Part from Nusa Lembongan sponsored

    Listed price
    from US$54.09 per person (about AUD 79), read 13 November 2026
    Stops listed
    Kelingking Beach 30 minutes, Broken Beach 60 minutes, Angel's Billabong 60 minutes
    Stated length
    7 to 9 hours
2 more tours that stop at Angel's Billabong
  • West coast tour on Klook

    Nusa Penida Day Tour Meet at Sanur Harbour sponsored

    Listed price
    AUD 57.55 per person, read 13 November 2026
    Stops listed
    Kelingking Beach, Broken Beach, Angel's Billabong
    Stated length
    9 hours to 9 hours 45 minutes
  • Snorkel and land tour on Viator

    Nusa Penida Snorkelling with Manta Bay and Land Tour sponsored

    Listed price
    from US$52.86 per person (about AUD 77), read 13 November 2026
    Stops listed
    Broken Beach 30 minutes, Angel's Billabong 30 minutes, Kelingking Beach 30 minutes, Manta Point 30 minutes, Wall Bay 30 minutes, Crystal Bay 30 minutes, Gamat Bay 30 minutes
    Stated length
    8 hours

pertanyaan questions

Angel's Billabong questions

Can you swim at Angel's Billabong?

No. Coconuts Bali reported a swimming ban in January 2023 at Angel's Billabong, Diamond Beach and Kelingking Beach, until further notice, while the sites stayed open. Basarnas Denpasar reports three tourists swept off the rocks by a wave on 20 March 2017. The US CDC advises swimming only in designated areas with lifeguards.

When is the sea roughest at Angel's Billabong?

On the open sea off Nusa Penida's south coast, waves in BMKG's high band or above come most often from June to September: on 34% of July days, against 2% in November, over 30 years. That is the season, not the day. Check BMKG's warnings and the sea itself before going near the rocks.

How far is Angel's Billabong from Broken Beach?

Broken Beach is 0.2 km in a straight line from Angel's Billabong, on the same access road and the same headland. The west coast tours that list one list the other, and give each its own minutes in the same stop. No source gives a walking time between the two, so allow for both inside one stop.

How much does it cost to visit Angel's Billabong?

Klungkung Regency charges an attraction levy of IDR 25,000 per adult (about AUD 2, USD 1.4 or GBP 1) and IDR 15,000 per child at each attraction visited. Foreign visitors also pay the island levy of IDR 25,000 per adult, once on entering Nusa Penida. Some tour prices include these; read the listing.

Is Angel's Billabong worth it?

As a view and as part of a west-coast day, yes: the pool, its rock walls and the sea beyond are seen from the land side, next to Broken Beach. As a swim, no: the ban reported in January 2023 stands until further notice. In months with many high-band days, or when waves wash over the rocks, keep well back.

Sources

  1. Smartraveller states many beaches in Indonesia are unpatrolled and can be dangerous due to rough seas and strong currents. Smartraveller (Australian Government, DFAT), Indonesia travel advice, updated 21 October 2026, 2026-10-21.
  2. Basarnas Denpasar reports three tourists were swept off the rocks by a wave while taking photos at the cliff edge at Angel's Billabong on 20 March 2017; a New Zealand man aged 23 died. Basarnas, Kantor Pencarian dan Pertolongan Denpasar, SAR report (2017-04-04), 2017-04-04.
  3. The US CDC advises travellers in Indonesia to swim only in designated areas, obey lifeguards and warning flags, and always wear a life jacket when boating. US CDC Travelers' Health, Indonesia traveler view (page last reviewed 25 August 2026), 2026-08-25.
  4. Bank Indonesia's JISDOR reference rate for 12 November 2026 is IDR 18,241 per US dollar. Bank Indonesia, JISDOR reference rate table, 2026-11-12.
  5. Bank Indonesia's transaction rate (kurs transaksi) for the Australian dollar on 13 November 2026 is IDR 12,511.73 selling. Bank Indonesia, Kurs Transaksi BI table, 2026-11-13.
  6. Bank Indonesia's transaction rate (kurs transaksi) for the Australian dollar on 13 November 2026 is IDR 12,383.60 buying. Bank Indonesia, Kurs Transaksi BI table, 2026-11-13.
  7. Klungkung Regency's tourism office states the Nusa Penida Tourism Levy (Retribusi Kawasan) for a foreign adult visitor is IDR 25,000. Klungkung Regency Tourism Office (Dinas Pariwisata Kabupaten Klungkung), 'Pengumuman Penting' post and poster, 2026-08-04.
  8. Klungkung Regency's tourism office states the Nusa Penida Tourism Levy (Retribusi Kawasan) for a foreign child visitor is IDR 15,000. Klungkung Regency Tourism Office (Dinas Pariwisata Kabupaten Klungkung), 'Pengumuman Penting' post and poster, 2026-08-04.
  9. Klungkung Regency's tourism office states the Nusa Penida Tourism Levy (Retribusi Kawasan) applies only to foreign visitors. Klungkung Regency Tourism Office (Dinas Pariwisata Kabupaten Klungkung), 'Pengumuman Penting' post and poster, 2026-08-04.
  10. Klungkung Regency's tourism office states the Nusa Penida Tourism Levy is paid once, on entering the Nusa Penida area. Klungkung Regency Tourism Office (Dinas Pariwisata Kabupaten Klungkung), 'Pengumuman Penting' post and poster, 2026-08-04.
  11. Klungkung Regency's tourism office states the Tourist Attraction Levy (Retribusi Daya Tarik Wisata) for an adult is IDR 25,000 at each attraction visited. Klungkung Regency Tourism Office (Dinas Pariwisata Kabupaten Klungkung), 'Pengumuman Penting' post and poster, 2026-08-04.
  12. Klungkung Regency's tourism office states the Tourist Attraction Levy (Retribusi Daya Tarik Wisata) for a child is IDR 15,000 at each attraction visited. Klungkung Regency Tourism Office (Dinas Pariwisata Kabupaten Klungkung), 'Pengumuman Penting' post and poster, 2026-08-04.
  13. Klungkung Regency's tourism office states the Tourist Attraction Levy applies to all visitors, foreign and domestic. Klungkung Regency Tourism Office (Dinas Pariwisata Kabupaten Klungkung), 'Pengumuman Penting' post and poster, 2026-08-04.
  14. Klungkung Regency Regulation No. 4 of 2026 applies the recreation levy, which includes the per-attraction levy, one month after the regulation's 1 August 2026 start (the tourism office poster of 4 August 2026 had announced 12 August 2026): 2026-09-01. Klungkung Regency, Perda Kabupaten Klungkung No. 4 Tahun 2026 (JDIH Klungkung), 2026-08-04.
  15. The Klungkung Regency and Easybook levy poster published in February 2026 (under Perda No. 8 of 2023) states one levy ticket covers Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. Klungkung Regency Tourism Office, post on e-ticket and e-payment for retribusi collection (featured poster), 2026-02-19.
  16. Klungkung Regency Regulation No. 4 of 2026 lists the island of Nusa Lembongan-Ceningan as a tourism area (kawasan wisata) subject to the recreation levy, separate from Nusa Penida island. Klungkung Regency, Perda No. 4 of 2026 amending Perda No. 8 of 2023 on Regional Taxes and Levies (JDIH Klungkung, scanned PDF, OCR), 2026-07-29.
  17. Klungkung Regency Regulation No. 4 of 2026 lists 17 'one gate one destination' attractions on Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan that charge an attraction levy. Klungkung Regency, Perda No. 4 of 2026 amending Perda No. 8 of 2023 on Regional Taxes and Levies (JDIH Klungkung, scanned PDF, OCR), 2026-07-29.
  18. OpenStreetMap places Broken Beach at latitude -8.73313, longitude 115.45081 (WGS84). OpenStreetMap (read via Overpass API) and Wikidata.
  19. OpenStreetMap places Angel's Billabong at latitude -8.73353, longitude 115.44902 (WGS84). OpenStreetMap (read via Overpass API) and Wikidata.
  20. Klungkung Regency stated in 2025 that the 1 km road to Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong would be widened from 5 m to 9 m, with physical works planned for 2026. Klungkung Regency, news item on land survey for the Broken Beach-Angel Billabong road, 2025-04-03.
  21. Coconuts Bali reported in January 2023 that swimming was banned at Diamond Beach, Kelingking Beach and Angel's Billabong until further notice, with the beaches staying open. Coconuts Bali news report, 2023-01-13.
  22. BMKG's high-wave warnings cover four categories; 'Gelombang Sedang' (moderate) is a significant wave height of. BMKG Maritime, Peringatan Gelombang Tinggi (high-wave warning page).
  23. BMKG category 'Gelombang Tinggi' (high) is a significant wave height of. BMKG Maritime, Peringatan Gelombang Tinggi (high-wave warning page).
  24. BMKG category 'Gelombang Sangat Tinggi' (very high) is a significant wave height of. BMKG Maritime, Peringatan Gelombang Tinggi (high-wave warning page).
  25. BMKG category 'Gelombang Ekstrem' (extreme) is a significant wave height of more than. BMKG Maritime, Peringatan Gelombang Tinggi (high-wave warning page).
  26. BMKG warns that maximum waves may reach the significant wave height multiplied by up to. BMKG Maritime, Shipping Bulletin (Douglas Sea Scale table).
  27. Places and straight-line distances. OpenStreetMap and Wikidata points (© OpenStreetMap contributors); distances are great-circle lines between two points, not routes or travel times
  28. Tour listings: stops, minutes per stop, stated lengths and listed prices. GetYourGuide, Viator and Klook product pages as listed on 13 November 2026: each listing's itinerary (stops and the minutes it gives each stop), its stated length and its listed price per person, in the currency the listing shows
  29. Waves and sea temperature by month (share of days over several years, not a forecast; wave shares count days in BMKG's moderate band, 1.25 m and up, high band, 2.5 m and up, or very high band, 4 m and up). Daily highest significant wave height: ERA5 wave reanalysis (ECMWF, Copernicus Climate Change Service; 0.5° grid) for the south coast, 1991 to 2020, and Meteo-France MFWAM (about 0.08° grid) for the Badung Strait, 2022 to 2025, both via Open-Meteo; sea surface temperature from NOAA OISST v2.1 (0.25° grid), 1991 to 2020; wave bands from BMKG. Shares of days, not a forecast
  30. Rupiah in Australian dollars, US dollars and British pounds. Bank Indonesia: AUD and GBP transaction rates (mid of buy and sell), 13 November 2026; USD JISDOR reference rate, 12 November 2026

Photographs

  1. Angel's Billabong. Photo: Georgi Kovachev / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
  2. Angel's Billabong. Photo: Aaron Rentfrew / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
  3. Penida cliffs. Photo: Harshitmann15 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
  4. Angel's Billabong. Photo: Haryanti / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
  5. Broken Beach. Photo: Aaron Rentfrew / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0