The Ultimate Guide to Dreamland Surf
Dreamland surf is great fun. The A-frame here is one of the more playful waves on the Bukit Peninsula, while low-tide rights and lefts over more variety. Good vibes. Stunning location. What more could you want?
An introduction to surfing in Dreamland
Dreamland is a rarity amid the reefs and points of the Bukit Peninsula. Sand-bottomed save for a few stray cobbles and one patch of stone reef, it offers up an A-frame at its center that we rate among the most playful waves in the region.
When there’s anything above six foot kicking, it can be a lovely spot. Fat, rippable walls peel away to the left and the right – and rights aren’t all that common down here in southern Bali don’t ya know?
There are also two lefts that work as the tide drops on the south end of the bay, with fast take offs into neat walls that are fun for pretty much any style of surfing, from mals to dagger-nose shorties.
On top of that, Dreamland doesn’t suffer from the same exclusivity of other spots in the area.
While Uluwatu and Bingin are patrolled by crews of cutbackers and rippers from all over, the vibe here is noticeably chill. People in the line up often talk – yes, they actually talk, cordially! – and locals offer up yews to learning groms and whatnot.
The setting is pure Bali from tip to toe. Rugged limestone cliffs huddle around forming an amphitheatre around the breaks. A strip of whit sand runs below. Hotels clamber up the side of the rocks offering top places to stay. A river runs through the middle of it all, crafting a nice wind channel that helps any dry-season trades remain offshore.
Depending on the size of the swell, this one can be a great choice for total beginners but also seasoned surfers. Come when it’s small to do lessons. Come when it’s big for fat walls and decently long rides.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Bali
Dreamland surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Dreamland surf?
Where is Dreamland Beach?
Dreamland Beach is on the northwestern side of the Bukit Peninsula in southern Bali. It stretches between two other iconic beaches and surf spots, Balangan (to the north) and Bingin (to the south).
Dreamland itself is about 1.5km long from north to south but you can only access it all at low tide, which is the best time to surf here. When the tide is at full low, you can actually make it all the way around to Bingin Beach by foot if you wanted to.
Dreamland has fairly good connections to Bali Airport. Fly in there and hop in a Go-Jek or taxi. They will take about 40 minutes in normal traffic, but can be over an hour if you travel at peak times.
Dreamland surf spots
Dreamland itself has four breaks in its bay – two lefts on the south, an A-frame in the middle, and a right that works off the reef at the north end.
It’s also located amid some of the most famous spots in the Bukit region, which you can either walk to (in the case of Bingin) or travel to by taxi/moped in just a few mins (in the case of Balangan).
Here’s a look at the whole lot…
Bingin Beach
Bingin Beach is an iconic surf town that sits about a kilometre to the south of Dreamland. From the top of the Dreamland cliffs, you can look over and check the surf in Bingin (and vice versa from Bingin back to Dreamland). It’s best known for its fantastic reef break, which is a perfect round tube over shallowish reef. It garentees barrels from morning until night, but is typically crowded because it’s so good. Binging can also be a paddle out point for Impossibles, a hard spot that often sections out but if made can offer some of the longest rides in the whole of Bali.
Read our full guide to Bingin Beach right now
Outside Left
The first break on the southern side of Dreamland bay is the hardest to reach because you gotta’ get through the breaking Inside Left and cover a couple of hundred meters to the take-off zone.
It’s alright though because once you’re through the sets of Inside Left you get a nice steady paddle channel all the way across. The left here is a consistent wave that like anything over 5foot and will hold well. The initial section is the hardest as its quite steep but the whole thing widens and softens really quickly as the wave bends into deeper water over the channel.
Sometimes, OH conditions will see it link up with the inside section for nice long rides but that’s kinda rare.
Inside Left
Usually the wave of choice for Bukit’s exceptionally talented grom crews, the Inside Left in Dreamland is a very playful wave that invites hot dogging. It’s quite short but rampy, offering neat almond barrel sections on bigger days and loads of opportunity to get airborne. Sit on the shore and watch the little ones flying around a bit – it’s good fun.
Dreamland A-frame
The A-frame is the most famous wave in Dreamland. It breaks right into the middle of the beach a little south of the sprawling Jumeirah hotel.
The right is probably the better side but it all depends on the angle of the swell. With dominant SW swells then the left tends to shorten and steepen a lot, barreling for a bit and then offering down-the-line rides at high velocity.
It’s still fun there but it’s harder and there’s less space/time for big turns as the wave breaks over a shallower area of limestone reef that you can’t see. It’s quite deep so not usually an issue but does mean the left hander lacks a paddle channel.
Meanwhile, the right is mellow and fatter after an initial pitching section. E offshores will groom it into a real nice wall that you can do pretty much anything with, from big stitched together turns to trims on the log. And…it’s right, which counts for something in itself in this left mecca that is south Bali!
Dreamland Right
The Dreamland Right, also known as the Inside Right, is probably the least good wave in the bay as it has a tendency to be a bit dumpy. Expect short rides and a bowly finish. Also popular with groms.
Balangan
North around the headland out of Dreamland, Balangan hooks in the SW swells throughout the dry season to create some punchy left handers.
They break on the cliff and can hold pretty much any size before maxxing out. It’s a good intermediate+ wave that can be epic on its day. Also a nice place to be based for surfing the Bukit and southern Bali (Kuta et al) in the same trip.
Read our full guide to Balangan right now
Where to stay when surfing in Dreamland?
Dreamland is kinda’ dominated by one hotel – and we’d recommend you stay there if you want to be right on the surf breaks (and get a taste of Bali luxury!). There are also some villa options close by.
- Kailani Villa – This deluxe villa is seriously nice. It’s got a gorgeous pool, designer interiors, spacious bedrooms and even a hot tub. It’s a fine option if you’re traveling as a group.
- Jumeirah Bali – This is the hotel that dominates Dreamland Beach. It’s got five stars and is utterly indulgent. Yea it’s got a resort feel that’s not for everyone but that also means idyllic pools on the clifftop, walking access to the surf spots, and luxurious suites and villa options.
There are loads more hotel options that are perfect for surfers in the southern Bukit region and around Bali. We have a dedicated guide to those, plus a guide to the top surf hostels here, just in case you’re on a tight budget.
When to surf in Dreamland?
Dreamland is a dry season wave, which means the best time to surf here is between May and September.
They key is to maximise your chance of getting a good SW-W swell and E trade winds, which will run through the river valley behind Dreamland and groom all the sets into clean wedges.
Dreamland is known to work on occasion in the wet season but the river can turn the water all murky, plus it probably won’t be at its best between November and March because the wind will more likely be S crossshore or W onshore, and there’s not too much protection from either direction.
One thing is absolutely key for Dreamland: Surf at low tide. ALL of the spots in the bay are best at low, and the lower the better.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
