Nearly every guest arrives the same way: a flight into Sultan Hasanuddin in Makassar, then a road trip south-east to the tip of the peninsula. It is about five hours, depending on traffic and whether you stop to eat. A night drive without stops can be closer to four. On a shared Kijang or a bus, budget six.
That is the whole journey in one paragraph. The rest of this page is the part people wish they had read first.
The four ways people get here
There is no single right answer — it depends on how many of you there are and how much of the day you are willing to spend.
- A car we arrange for you. Tell us your flight and a driver waits at the airport. IDR 950,000 one way per car, comfortable for up to three adults. Let us know 48 hours ahead if you can.
- Public Kijang from Terminal Malengkeri. The cheapest option, with regular departures from Makassar. It leaves when it fills up rather than at a fixed time.
- Minibus. More predictable than the Kijang, with less room for luggage.
- Bus. Frequent, but it terminates in Bulukumba — you will need local transport for the last stretch to Bira.
If you come by public transport, tell us before you leave Makassar and we will collect you from Bira harbour ourselves, free of charge. The harbour is about ten minutes from us.
The entrance fee nobody mentions
Tanjung Bira is a designated tourism area, and there is a government levy collected at a post on the way in. It catches almost everyone by surprise, so it is worth having cash ready:
- IDR 16,000 per adult
- IDR 41,000 for foreign visitors
- IDR 10,000 per car
Basic insurance is included in the fee. If you booked a transfer through us, the driver settles it for you and you will not need to do anything at the post.
Arriving after dark
The coastal road is well surfaced, but there is no street lighting once you are near Bara. Arriving before dark is simply easier, especially if you are driving yourself or riding a motorbike.
If you do arrive late, it is not a problem — just tell us in advance.
Reception is open 07:00 to 22:00 Sunday to Thursday, and until 23:00 on Friday and Saturday, and we answer WhatsApp within 30 minutes during those hours. Outside them, either somebody stays at the desk for you, or we send a short video showing how to let yourself in, and we finish the check-in paperwork over breakfast the next morning.
Your first morning
Breakfast is included when you book direct with us, and it is served from 07:30 to 10:00. If you are leaving early for a dive or a long drive, tell us the night before: we will open earlier or make up a breakfast box.
After that, the day is yours. The beach is in front of the property, the harbour is ten minutes away, and everything else — snorkelling, diving, a motorbike, a table at dinner — you can ask us about at the desk.
Before you leave Makassar
- Send us your arrival time, so we know whether reception will be open.
- Keep small cash for the entrance post.
- Aim to arrive before dark if you are driving yourself.
- Tell us if you are coming by public transport, so we can meet you at the harbour.
That is genuinely all of it. Message us on WhatsApp and we will sort the rest out with you before you get on the plane.
