Lombok serves up an unusually wide range of scenery: green mountains, beaches with clean white sand, forest that is still unspoilt, and plenty of plant and animal life. Not many places on the island pack that much into one area.
Not long ago the Central Lombok government opened up a spot that would be a shame to skip on any trip to Lombok, Taman Wisata Alam Gunung Tunak — the Gunung Tunak Nature Park, usually shortened to TWA Gunung Tunak. You can fit it into one day together with the other southern beaches on a Lombok daily tour.
TWA Gunung Tunak sits in Mertak village, Pujut district, Central Lombok regency. From Lombok International Airport the drive takes around 1.5 hours. Right in front of the entrance you are met by Bumbang beach, white sand with pretty hills rising around it.
Getting in costs only Rp10,000. One of the favourite spots with visitors inside the park is Tunak beach, about 5 kilometres from the gate. You can ride a motorbike down, or, if you like working up a sweat, trekking is the better option.
Gunung Tunak is really more of a hill than a mountain, since nothing here rises into a proper peak. What you get instead are pretty green hills covered in forest that has stayed largely untouched. All along the way down to the beach, butterflies of every kind keep you company.
Because it lies in southern Lombok, the park gets very hot. Rainfall is low, so bring your own drinking water. There are still hardly any vendors around, which means you should pack enough supplies.
Tunak beach is still one of the cleanest beaches you will find. Hidden away behind the forest and the hills, it makes for a rewarding stop, and this lovely beach is flanked by two rocky hills.
Offshore stands a rock with a slightly pointed shape, and it usually ends up as the backdrop for photos taken from the hill beside the beach. Tunak beach faces the Indian Ocean head on, so the surf here is powerful.
Swimming is not recommended at this spot. If you love a good sunset, Tunak beach is one of the places you would regret missing. So what are you waiting for? Come and travel around Lombok with us.
