Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali

Balinese holidays seem synonymous with affordable luxury resorts, but the Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali is much more than just another lavish stay.

Looking out from a thatch-rooved bale, the Bali Sea rolls and retreats, frangipani lingers in the air and an apple mojito is delivered as I towel off after a dip in a nearby swimming pool. To most, this is what holiday dreams are made of.

First impressions

You’ll find such a heavenly setting at Pan Pacific Nirwama Bali in Tabanan, about 20 kilometres north-west of Seminyak – a well-known haunt for travelling foodies, shoppers and spa-goers alike.

Yes, it’s another Balinese resort. And yes, it comes with the usual resort trimmings – buffet breakfasts, day spa and uber-comfortable rooms. However, this is not JUST another Balinese resort. There’s something else here that sets Nirwana apart from most.

The location

The location, for instance, set atop a sheer cliff with oceanfront views, takes in a whopping 103 hectares. It’s this wide open expanse of frangipani trees, rice paddy fields and an award-winning 18-hole golf course (designed by none other than Mr Greg Norman), that immediately deflates any preconceived notions of “resorstrophobia".

That is, resort-claustrophia – where there’s just too many guests in too small a space. You know the feeling – where it’s like you’re eternally in a queue, a crowded elevator, or an overpopulated pool. But no, Nirwana has space, and it has it in spades.

Nearby attractions

Temples

Dotted throughout this vast patch of paradise are 19 temples, among most impressively is the Tanah Lot Temple. Perched on a large rock just offshore, Tanah Lot is said to date back to 15th Century, and has become an integral part of local Balinese mythology and Hindu culture.

View from the resort across to Tanah Lot Temple

The beach

To get there from the resort is a scenic little stroll across the grassy headland, past souvenir markets and down a path onto the surrounding beach.

Aerial view of Nirwana, overlooking Tanah Lot Temple and golf course

Turtle Conservation and Education Centre

But the Nirwana difference doesn’t end there. Just beyond the resort boundary is a Turtle Conservation and Education Centre, which works closely with the property to form a hatchling program. Yes, that’s right, an impossibly-cute-baby-turtles program.

To help promote the survival rate of endangered sea turtle populations here, a number of hatchlings from the conservation centre are regularly re-housed at the resort’s onsite Kids Club, where tiny travellers are taught about looking after the ocean and sealife. Then after a few weeks when the turtles are a little bigger, a little stronger, and no doubt a little cuter, guests are invited to join the weekly hatchling release where they’re blessed by a local priest before being sent off into the sea.

A word of warning – there is nothing more adorable then watching these little guys flap their way to the waves then torpedo towards the horizon. So if you’re not one for overt gushing, best stay by the poolside…or the spa….or the golf course.

Speaking of, even Nirwana’s “usual" features are a far cry from the typical resort standard.

The food

A run-of-the-mill buffet breakfast for instance, is in fact a stomach-stretching foodie extravaganza with a side of ocean views, while udeng-wearing musicians gently tinker a Balinese xylophone in the background.

Resort cooking classes may not be a revolutionary new experience but here they centre around fully-equipped outdoor cooking stations, resembling something from a high-budget cooking show.

The pool

And the likely resort pool is nothing short of a four-tiered masterpiece; incorporating jacuzzis, waterfalls, a 54-metre waterslide, bars, and countless sunbeds.

Yes, this is far from just another Bali resort, but rather a destination in itself. And this seaside bale is one destination I don’t plan to leave anytime soon.

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The Details

How to get there:

In the heart of Bali’s southwest coast, the resort is about a 55-minute drive from Denpasar International Airport.

Need to know:

Additional activities available at Nirwana go far beyond the pool and golf course. There’s also a paintball and ropes course for guests to use, as well as rice planting experiences, an indulgent day spa, turtle hatchling releases, Indonesian cooking classes, private beachfront dinners, outdoor yoga plus much more.

Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali resort is part an exclusive collection of properties handpicked by LuxuryEscapes.com to provide unique high-end accommodation packages so you can holiday like royalty at a fraction of the cost. To stay up to date on travel deals to Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali or other Luxury Escapes properties, visit luxuryescapes.com

How much?

There are over 10 luxury room and suite types to choose from, starting from $202 per night

Contact?

Call +62 361 815900 or visit panpacific.com/en/Bali

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali – more than JUST a resort