North Bali rewards travellers who leave room in the day. After a morning on the sea, head inland slowly instead of trying to fit every waterfall and temple into one route.
Choose one natural stop, find lunch somewhere local, and let the drive itself become part of the experience. The roads pass rice fields, small villages, and cooler mountain landscapes.
A local recommendation is especially useful here. Distances can look short on a map, but the best route depends on weather, traffic, and where you want the day to end.