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August 23, 2019Denpasar Ngurah Rai Bali Intl. Airport Spotting Guide
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- last modified on April 17, 2020
Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS/WADD) is THE gateway to Bali. With 23 million passengers a year it is Indonesia’s second busiest airport after the capital’s airport Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
The airfield was opened back in 1931 and is located 13km Southeast of Denpasar – the capital of the isle of Bali. After its military Usage in World War 2 mainly by the Japanese forces, the airport was extended as an terminal building and control tower were added in 1949. After another extensionproject which was ended in the late 1960s the airport was able to handle big aircrafts such as the Douglas DC8 or the Boeing 707 – this was the begin of the raise. Since this time on, the passenger numbers and the ones of movements are increasing steady while the airport was extended step by step.
Within the last 20 years, the passenger number coped with 400% due to all the airlines which opened hubs and routes here, the airport experienced a real raise along the booming tourism.
Spotting around the airport is no problems and the locals are friendly albeit didn’t speak much English. Only the police maybe watching closer at you and you might feel a bit uncomfortable. But usually they have no problem with our hobby.
Written by A. Hackenberger, Marcel Hohl and Marcos Oliveira (Spot 3). Pictures provided by Dave Potter and Dimitri Steendjik. Last update August 2019.
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety |  |
| Photo Locations |  |
| Weather | |
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 09/27 | 3000m (9843ft) |
| Terminals | |
| International terminal | All International operations. |
| Domestic terminal | Only domestic services. Opened in 2014. |
| GA gate | South of the airfield – capacity: 14 small airplanes (500 bizzer per month) |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Might be useful at some spots, but we don’t know how the airport handles spotter at the fence with ladders. Mostlikely it also possible without ladder (all provided example shots were taken without)! |
| Car/Public Transport | Public transport around the airport is quite poor, so you either take a Taxi, a Ricksha or go by foot. Driving a car in Indonesian traffic is quite hectic and parking is a big problem at most parts that’s why we can’t recommend a car here. |
| Restrooms | In the airport facilities or several hotels around the airfield. |
| Drinks/Food | In the airport facilities or the hotels around the airfield as well as in all the shops/bars, which are all over the area by the busy roadsides. |
| Hotels | There are several hotels around the airport, but especially Bali itself is full of hotels and other facilities to sleep at. Some of them offer a rooftop which have a good views onto aircraft movements. |
| Season | Definitely the time around June when the light is best and the weather is most comfortable. |
| Runway Usage | |
| General Information | Depending on the season and the monsum, but mostly you will have 09 Usage in the European summer season (~July) and 27 Usage in the European winter season (~December). No favourite Usage here, totally depending on the wind. |
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Spot #1 – H Sovereign Hotel |
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| WHERE | This spot is located on the „H Sovereign Hotel‘s“ top floor where the pool is also located at. Just search your favorite position along the edge of the rooftop and try not to disturb the swimming guests! This spot is/might also (be) useable for people who are no hotel guests, but then please support the hotel by ordering something at the bar! |
| WHAT | Arrivals onto runway 27 and departures from runway 09 as well as several activities on the ground in between the terminal buildings, but rather difficult to spot ground movements. |
| TIME | The sun is directly in a 90-degree angle above the surface in February and October, so the light is directly over the aircrafts then which makes it horrible. Between October and February this spot is rather not useable. Due to the runway‘s direction light will be best in June. |
| MISC. | Restrooms, shadow, food and drinks are all nearby. Heat haze is a problem during the day due to the high distance and obstacles in between. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | ~200mm |
The pool itsself…
…and the view into southwestern direction:
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Spot #2 – Satria Gatotkaca statue |
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| WHERE | This spot is located by the kinda roundabout next to „Jl. Airport Ngurah Airport“ road just after leaving the last apron part at the apron‘s eastern end. It can be found easily as it is just south of the „H Sovereign Hotel“ so quite close. Search your favorite position around this statue on the traffic isle depending on the view which might be disturbed at some points. |
| WHAT | Departures from runway 09 although the angle might not be the best for some aircrafts – especially smaller airplanes are already quite high. |
| TIME | The sun is directly in a 90-degree angle above the surface in February and October, so the light is directly over the aircrafts then which makes it horrible. Between October and February this spot is rather not useable. Due to the runway‘s direction light will be best in June. |
| MISC. | Shadow nearby; food, drinks and restrooms can be found in the nearby hotels. Take care of the furious drivers around here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-300mm A330 = 145mm / B738 = 210mm |
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Spot #3 – Satria Gatotkaca statue |
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| WHERE | You can easily walk to this location if your room is near otherwise we recommend to take a ride share service such as gojek or grab. Get off at “pura prapatan agung” just cross the street and get into the middle of the roundabout where you find a small park. From the park itself you can catch the arrivals but you won’t be able to see the runway line up. But there is a statue where you can get upstairs to clear the fence. |
| WHAT | Runway 27 arrivals and line up. Latter is only visible from the statue. |
| TIME | The sun is directly in a 90-degree angle above the surface in February and October, so the light is directly over the aircrafts then which makes it horrible. Between October and February this spot is rather not useable. Due to the runway‘s direction light will be best in June. |
| MISC. | Lots of shops around. This location is a 24h transisting area. Light poles disturb the sight. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A320 = 200mm |
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Spot #4 – Southern beach |
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| WHERE | This spot is located close to the northern end of „Hidden beach“ which is also known as Pantai or Kelan beach. Once reached the area here you can either place yourself right at the fence or try your luck from the nearby big stones or small „mounds“ to clear the fence.
Avoid getting too close to the fence because some days the security of the airport comes up and “you take a picture of yourself”. |
| WHAT | Departures from runway 27 and other ground movements as even departures are quite low here. |
| TIME | The sun is directly in a 90-degree angle above the surface in February and October, so the light is directly over the aircrafts then which makes it horrible. Between February and December is rather not useable. Due to the runway‘s direction light will be best in January from here, but still quite sheer then. |
| MISC. | Restaurants/bars and restrooms quite close. Heat haze might appear as a problem. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 738=170mm; ATR72=260mm |
The spots itsself is suppossed to look like THIS.
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Spot #5 – Northern beach |
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| WHERE |
This spot is located right at the beach or the nearby rocks/dams just north of the airport’s western end. The beach called Pantai Melisan/Jerman is public and easily accessible from diverse streets/paths. |
| WHAT | Aircrafts arriving on runway 09 and the ones passing on the taxiway infront on their way to treshold prior departure on runway 09. Western apron is also partly visible. |
| TIME | Best in the late evening or early morning. |
| MISC. | Heat haze is a big problem right now! Apron and arrival path mostly not shotable due to objects, taxiway still quite okay. Everything you need as shadow or snacks can be found in the nearby hotel resorts. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Runway: B77W = 320mm Taxiway/Apron: B737 = 270mm / ATR72 = 310mm |
Due to construction works of the new apron infront, the spot is almost not useable. Before, it looked beautiful – like THIS. But now, these are the best results from there:
Area itsself looks like this now – you can also shoot form the rocks/dams infront:
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Spot #6 – Airside domestic departures |
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| WHERE | This spot is located inside the domestic terminal on the departure level and no exact area rather just along the glassfornt inside the terminal. You can walk all way along the glass at the western front, so there is a southern and a northern end – look at the map and overviews below. To reach this area, pass the security check and proceed to the southwestern corner, where you have the best view from. |
| WHAT | Actually all runway movements and plenty taxiway movements as well. In addition the nearby parking spots are also shotable, too. |
| TIME | Runway/Taxiway are best during the day; nearby parking positions may be better in the morning/evening, depending on their exact position and angle. |
| MISC. | All you need is inside the terminal. This spot is AIRSIDE and can only be reached with a VALID Boarding pass as it’s located AFTER Security Check. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-200mm Taxiway: B738 = 95mm /// Runway: A333 = 110mm |
Example shots were all taken from the southern end:
Southern end (look at map mark):
Northern end (look at map mark):
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Spot #7 – Airside international departures |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot is located inside the international terminal on the departure level and no exact area rather just along the glassfornt inside the terminal. You can walk all way along the glass at the southern front, so there is a western and an eastern end – look at the map. To reach this area, pass the security check and proceed to the southwestern corner, where you have the best view from. |
| WHAT | Actually all runway movements and plenty taxiway movements as well. In addition the nearby parking spots are also shotable, too. |
| TIME | Runway/Taxiway are best during the day; nearby parking positions may be better in the morning/evening, depending on their exact position and angle. |
| MISC. | All you need is inside the terminal. This spot is AIRSIDE and can only be reached with a VALID Boarding pass as it’s located AFTER Security Check. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-200mm Taxiway: B735 = 95mm /// Runway: B788 = 130mm |
9 Comments
Hello, I am coming to bali next month and will take few pictures there but for going back to home from bali at night. My question is do the security allow small tripod for my camera to take picture inside the terminal at night? I’m flying out of bali at night. I want to get ready before I decide to bring my small manfrotto tripod to take picture thru the window inside the terminal before I depart to fly out at night. Thank you
Hello, normally there is no problem, I often took photos at the terminal and honestly never worries, and I think with a tripod it’s the same.
Thank you very much for the answer.
Yes Anjin, but in the wet season from November to March they do not land by the beach, so the terrace of the hotel is no longer a good spot for spotting. It is under the Toll that one must go or at the end of the bay of Benoa.
The H Sovereign Hotel is excellent in every respect. The aircraft tend to depart over the Hotel and this gives great photo opportunties.
In my view top 5 Hotels for pics/spotting in the world
Hello Severin,
Security takes your picture, I think it’s like France in some airports, to have proof that you were there today and that next time it will be more severe. That is my opinion.
Sincerely
Pascal
Hi Pascal!
Merci, I see.
-Severin
Hello,
I have been spotting Bali since my installation 3 years ago. I just have a comment to make on position # 4 (Southern Beach), avoid getting too close to the fence because some days the security of the airport comes up and you take a picture of yourself. The best solution is to go on the slopes and if you are lucky it’s good.
Sincerely
Pascal
Hi Pascal!
Thanks, added your information. What do you exactly mean with “take a picture of yourself”?
-Severin