Wediombo Beach

Wediombo means broad sand, and the bay is one of the wider ones on the Gunungkidul coast, a crescent between headlands with a scatter of rocks at the western end where a natural pool forms - a basin in the reef flat that fills at high tide and holds clear still water while the ocean breaks on the far side of the rim, which is where people swim, since the open beach is dangerous. From the eastern headland fishermen cast for tuna and other pelagics directly off the cliffs, a local speciality. Above the bay is a viewpoint with sunset over the water, unusual on a south-facing coast because the bay opens west of south. Access is down a long flight of steps and the bay has warung but limited facilities.

What you actually see

• A natural rock pool - filling at high tide and safe while the ocean breaks outside.
• Cliff casting - fishermen taking pelagic fish directly off the eastern headland.
• A west-facing bay - giving sunset over water on a southern coast.
• A long stair down - the descent from the car park to the sand.

When to go

May to September; high tide for the pool. Half a day.

Honest expectations

The open beach has strong currents - use the rock pool. Reaching the pool means walking over sharp reef. The stairs back up are steep. Facilities are warung and little else.

Nearby

Timang and the other Gunungkidul beaches are west; Yogyakarta is inland.