ERCHED above the roaring surf and chanting devotees of Tanah Lot Temple, the Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort, Bali, is a study in green and stress-free release. It has earned a reputation, and rightly, as one of the best Bali golf resorts and luxury getaways on the Island of the Gods. Set away from the hustle of Kuta yet close enough to access nightlife and entertainment, the resort is set in 103 generous hectares of landscaped green dominated by an award-winning golf course, soothing rice terraces and coconut trees all with a stunning backdrop of cloud-wreathed volcanoes.

Just 45 minutes from Bali's Ngurah Rai international airport, Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa Resort offers a hedonistic spread of 278 rooms and suites including six one-bedroom villas, six two-bedroom villas and a Presidential Suite. Expect marble bathrooms, pampering amenities, sweeping views and versatile conference facilities.

There is no dearth of sports and recreation possibilities. Your options include splashing out in one of the four swimming pools, tennis, squash, cycling, jogging, or a less taxing round of indoor snooker. The 18-hole Greg Norman course is ever-beckoning and traditional spa treatments are on hand to soothe tired limbs and refresh the spirit.

Of course, one of the main attractions, of Bali is, well, the island itself, its haunting scenery, temples silhouetted by the setting sun, verdant paddy fields and genuine smiles. The resort offers various excursions and activities including cultural shows and shuttles to Ubud and Kuta. And for typhoon tykes, there's a Penguin Club to keep them happily entertained.

Not only is the Le Meridien one of the best Bali conference hotels with a capacity for up to 350 persons, it is a gourmet escape as well, serving up everything from Mediterranean to Asian, with the Rijstaffel dinners being a centrepiece of the culinary distraction.