It’s very much the case that the tourist trips have their favourite waterfalls to visit and near Ubud this is definitely Tegenungan. We visited Tegenungan back in 2019 (see bottom of page) and whilst it is amazing, we wanted some where a little quieter of visitors, and for better swimming this time around. With a bit of research on google maps and boarding our trusted steads i.e. our mopeds, we set of for a day of chasing waterfalls with the kids. These 3 waterfalls are all within 10 minutes drive of each other, and are located around 30 minutes drive east of Ubud.
Goa Rang Reng waterfall
Our first stop on our waterfall day was Goa Rang Reng which was easy to locate with google maps to navigate us. There are signs from the main road (to this and other waterfalls) and as you turn in there is parking, a ticket hut and a small stall selling snacks and drinks. There is also a changing room available for us if you haven’t come fully prepared. The fee to ‘enter’ the waterfall is 20k/£1 each, and then you embark on the journey down the hill. This is probably the most amazing of the walks to the waterfall as the paths are lined with ornate carvings throughout the stone walls, hindu shrines and moss and vines all around. The steps are easy to navigate although can be a little bit slippy at times so take it steady.
After around 5-10 minutes we heard the sound of water crashing and then rounded a corner to spot our first glimpse. This waterfall is one that cascades over rocks. There is a pool at the top which some people were sat in, but I wouldn’t advise it with kids. We decided to enter at the bottom of the waterfall and the kids messed around in a section there, using some of the rocks as small slides, before we perched at the foot for the obligatory photo. The water does come down quite forcefully and Nyle was not so sure at times, preferring to be in the pools at the bottom. We shared this first waterfall experience with around 4 other couples so definitely a quieter spot. We’d definitely recommend water shoes for all these waterfalls if you have them. The climb back up the steps was rewarded with a cake snack and cool drink from the little stall, where prices were the same as a supermarket – around 30p for a can of sprite. Definitely no ripping the tourists off here.
TIBUMANA WATERFALL
Tibumana is undoubtedly the most touristy of the 3 waterfalls we visited, and we encountered a fair few instagrammers filling their camera reels with various poses! It was also the largest in terms of falling cascade from the hills above.
As you arrive in the car park, there are several restaurants and shops which you walk past to head to the waterfall. The entrance fee this time is 50k/£2.50 per person and the walk takes a bit longer than Goa Rang Reng but the walkway is easy and sturdy, you pass over bridges and can marvel that this amazing bamboo water-pipe structure bringing the water down the cliff face into the river – think marble run but with bamboo sticks and water!
On arriving at the waterfall around 15 minutes from the car park, there is a small rocky beach for stripping off and capturing photos before heading in for a swim. There were also 2 ‘life guards’ sat on stools – I doubt it would do the tourist numbers much good if anything did happen – and they are very quick to tell you if you swim too close to the waterfall or to the edge of the circular pool that it spills into. The water isn’t clear, but that’s just from the silt and power I imagine as the area is very clean.
After a swim and photo moment, we walked back up the steps (just over 100 Nyle counted) and grabbed lunch at the restaurant directly by the car park. The kids enjoyed pancakes, and we had indonesian rice and noodles, and fresh juices were buy one get one free – again very reasonably priced for what is a tourist hotspot. There is also a swing for kids to play on – not quite the bali swings, but it was larger than a play ground and still swang over rice terraces so they were very happy.
On arriving and leaving Tibumana waterfall you drive along this amazing road lined with palm trees and the rice fields are full of white storks, and if you are lucky even a farmer preparing his paddy for the next crop of rice.
TAMAN SARI WATERFALL
You will have driven past Taman Sari on the way to Tibumana, but we opted for this one last as we read it was the best for swimming and it definitely was. The car park for this is on the opposite side of the road to the waterfall but the walk to the fall itself is the shortest of the three. Entrance to this waterfall is 80k/£4 for 2 adults and 2 children.
On arriving at the fall there is a large pool for swimming and the waterfall cascades over the rocks into it. The water was very fresh, but very welcome in the heat! There was a lifeguard on hand again and this time he supplied our two with inflatable rings i.e. old car tyre inner tubes for floating around in as the pool is deeper than they could stand at times, especially for Nyle.
There is a further cascade up the hillside which you can stand at the foot off (again there was one very focussed instagrammer taking up all the time possible for photos) which falls into a pool before then falling over the rocks into the swimming pool, so this spot is a 2-4-1 on the waterfall count!!
As with the other two, there is a small shop half way between the fall and the car park for snacks and drinks if needed.
We set off from Ubud around 9am and arrived back at our little house around 3.30pm after visiting all these sites, having lunch and the travel so it felt like quite a perfect route and day out for us – our day chasing family friendly waterfalls.
Tegenungan Waterfall
Back in 2019 we visited the most popular waterfall in Ubud, Tegenungan. There are a lot of steps to reach this beauty spot and it does get very busy – we heard even more so nowadays so recommend a very early start to beat the crowds. But there is a large pool for swimming and the view as you walk down the steps is incredible, as you just glimpse the waterfalls in the distance. We managed the steps with a 3 year old and 8 month old (in a carrier) at the time so it is very doable with young children.
