Located atop Bali’s magnificent southwest coast and set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Indian Ocean and renowned Tanah Lot temple, the 103-hectare Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort, with its award-winning Greg Norman golf course, seeks to provide authentic Balinese hospitality through its tranquil location and lush natural surroundings.
Text by Melani Semuel | Photo courtesy of Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort
My very busy schedule often leaves me no time to get in touch with friends. My best friend Merry and I had been planning to spend a girls’ weekend for as long as we could remember but had not got round to it. We both have birthdays in June and had been planning a weekend escape for months.
Then, came a phone call: Merry’s husband had to go away on a business trip, so Merry had to take her three-year-old son, Alex, with us. To be honest, I’d not travelled with kids before and didn’t know what to expect. Don’t get me wrong, I love children, including Alex, but the thought of spending a weekend with a three-year-old boy never really crossed my mind. I was looking for a family-friendly venue when I remembered some of my friends enjoyed a very good family holiday at Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort.
Following a US$10 million refurbishment, families staying at the resort can enjoy a wide range of family-friendly activities and experiences. So I booked a room for myself and a family room for Merry and Alex. After arriving at the airport, we travelled along the southwest coast of Bali, our journey taking us through picturesque Balinese villages, lush paddy fields and rice terraces. We eventually found ourselves in the wonderfully rich and green regency of Tabanan. The ever-changing patchwork of rice terraces and spectacular backdrop of mountain ranges led us to Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort.
The award-winning resort is just minutes from town, yet in a world of its own. Surrounded by emerald rice fields and overlooking the sacred Tanah Lot Hindu Temple, it offers a true taste of Bali. The breathtaking vistas and completely natural ambience set it apart from other resort hotels in Bali. Panoramic views from the hotel lobby include the crashing surf beyond, forming a stunning backdrop to the entire resort. The seat of Bali’s mystical culture is just next door where the enchanting Tanah Lot sea temple, perched on a rocky outcrop, is dramatically set off against an orange-hued sky at dusk and can be viewed from the main areas of the resort. The atmosphere of the resort is utterly relaxing and tranquil.
We went to Merry’s room and I was stunned when I saw it. The room was well-appointed with queen-size beds, bunk beds for children, a 30-channel TV and Nintendo Wii video game consoles to entertain the little ones. It could accommodate up to four people and even had a kids’ bed which was very comfortable: Trust me, I tried it. No wonder this type of room is very popular with families.
The resort boasts recreational facilities such as a three-tiered swimming pool, 54-metre water slide, tennis courts and, if that is not enough, the athletic can work out at the fully-equipped fitness centre with state-of-the-art, high-tech cardio and physio exercise equipment. Those who enjoy beautiful scenery can either trek or travel on bicycles as they embark on guided tours of local villages, rice paddies, artisan markets and the 19 temples within the resort grounds.
As for me, I just couldn’t wait to check out the spa. Focused on well-being and vitality, Nirwana Spa offers an extensive range of spa and beauty treatments in a variety of indigenous treatment rooms to enrich the mind, body and spirit. I imagined myself and Merry relaxing, restoring and rejuvenating our senses with traditional Balinese treatments administered by professional therapists, using exotic ingredients and wholly natural products. So we booked ourselves a couple of spa treatments during our stay.
Before we could really relax and enjoy the resort, it was time to check on the Kids’ Club where Alex would be spending some time. I’d never really inspected a kids’ club so I didn’t really know what to expect. When I saw it – I have to be honest – I was very impressed. In addition to having Nintendo Wii video game consoles, children aged four to 12 may take part in a wide range of activities such as pottery, dancing, cooking, painting and swimming under the supervision and care of qualified staff. Other recreational facilities for children include the children’s pool, a 54-metre water slide, a swimming lagoon, as well as a sand and ball pit, jungle gym and outdoor playground. With these kind of facilities I was sure Alex would probably enjoy the holiday more than we would.
We had a blast staying at Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort, Merry and I pampering ourselves with spa treatments, simply relaxing at one of the bale (Balinese gazebos) overlooking the majestic scenery or walking to Tanah Lot temple. With eight distinctive restaurants and bars matched with a diverse range of international and local cuisines, our palates were pampered with epicurean specialities.
The resort is also a favoured vacation venue for golfers as it is home to the 18-hole Nirwana Bali Golf Course, an award-winning course designed by Greg Norman, one of the foremost players of our time. Overlooking Tanah Lot temple and beautifully set amid manicured gardens and rice paddies, the diverse and meticulously maintained course provides resort golfers and seasoned professionals an unparalleled golfing experience with its five ocean-side holes, three cliff-to-cliff tee shots and eight holes sculpted into the terraced rice fields.
Come to think of it, there is no reason to doubt that Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort is ideal for families. Dad can enjoy a round of golf or engage in the range of sporting activities such as tennis, squash, surfing or diving. Mom can sign up for a yoga session by the cliff lawn overlooking Tanah Lot temple or be pampered by the selection of indigenous spa treatments available at Nirwana Spa. And don’t worry about the kids: Just like Alex, they will have an excellent time at the Kids’ Club and even make new friends. The only thing you need to worry about is when kids have so much fun and don’t want to leave, just like Alex.
The resort offers a truly exceptional experience for the whole family. Set amid a spectacular setting backed by volcanoes, peppered with rice terraces, coconut groves, lush tropical vegetation and cliffs abutting the Indian Ocean, Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort is where the true Balinese experience begins.
Pan Pacific Nirwana Bali Resort Jalan Raya Tanah Lot, Tabanan Bali, Indonesia Phone: +62 361 815 900 www.panpacific.com ¬
