This is a guide to having a family holiday in Bali. Sound like you? Keep reading. If you’re short on time, use the Quick Menu to jump around.
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What to Do | What to Eat | Where to Stay
Bali. It’s an Australian holiday icon.
You’ve probably heard your friends and colleagues talk about it – “it’s Amy’s thirty-first birthday, so we’re off to Bali for a quick celebration”, or “it’s Dan’s last week as a bachelor, so we’re going to Bali for some fun with the boys”.
Maybe you’ve read an article or two about the island’s incredible culture, about its traditional cuisine and vibrant array of temples.
It’s possible that you’ve heard Bali marketed as an outdoors paradise, with its incredible natural landscapes and icons like Mount Batur drawing visitors from around the globe.
But have you ever thought of Bali as a family holiday destination?
Have you ever envisaged your kids roaming the bustling streets, giggling at mischievous monkeys, or splashing in the white-capped surf?
If you haven’t, it’s time to start, because Bali isn’t just Bintang and beaches or cocktails and clubs – it’s one of the best places to take your little ones in South-East Asia.
We’re about to lay our guide to a Bali family holiday, including our recommendations for where to stay, where to eat and what to do.
If you’re travelling with your kids and you’re looking to take them to one of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations, then keep this post in your back pocket.
What to Do in Bali
1. Waterbom Park
Touted as Asia’s top water attraction, Waterbom Park is on par with the sprawling theme parks found in places like the Gold Coast and Orlando.
Designed to complement Bali’s beautiful natural landscapes, Waterbom’s sinuous green slides snake between stretches of forest and scrub, home to endangered native species.
Explore this awesome space with your kids, or let them roam free as you kick back in one of the four on-site restaurants.
47 minutes from Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali.
Onsite Food: Yes.
Entry Cost: Starts from IDR 327,000 (AUD 34)
Hours: 9:00am-6:00pm
2. Splash Waterpark
While not quite as large as Waterbom, Splash Waterpark is still definitely worth a visit, particularly if you’re visiting in summer.
With twisting curls of multi-coloured slides and the dizzying Bali Super Bowl, Splash is perfect for families who want to dodge the crowds and get more time in the water.
If you’ve had enough of the sun, settle into a chair at Splash Poolside Bar & Dining with a hand-crafted cocktail by your side.
1 hour 15 minutes from Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali.
Onsite Food: Yes.
Entry Cost: Children 3-12 years (IDR 270,000, AUD 28), Adults (IDR 400,000 AUD 41)
Hours: 9:00am-6:00pm
3. Ubud Monkey Forest
Home to families of Balinese long-tailed macaques, the Ubud Monkey Forest is a unique Balinese experience that you and your family definitely shouldn’t miss. This unique natural phenomenon is home to around 700 wild monkeys, as well as 186 species of trees.
To make the most of your experience, explore the forest with a guide, and remember not to try and approach the monkeys – although they may appear friendly, they are wild animals, so it’s important that they’re treated respectfully.
1 hour 48 minutes from Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali.
Onsite Food: No.
Entry Cost: IDR 80,000 (AUD 8) for adults, IDR 60,000 (AUD 6) for children
Hours: 8:30am-5:30pm
4. Pirates Bay Bali
This creaky oceanfront playground is a throwback to the good old days when pirates used to roam the seas.
Get your kids into the pillaging spirit as they clamber aboard a wooden pirate ship and embark on a guided treasure hunt designed to test their puzzle-solving skills.
As the little ones keep themselves entertained, say ahoy to a delicious meal from the Pirates Bay restaurant, or embrace a bottle of rum at the on-site bar.
40 minutes from Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali.
On-site Food: Yes.
Entry Cost: None.
Hours: 10:00am-10:00pm
5. Casa Luna Cooking School
Would you feel satisfied if you visited Bali and didn’t attend a cooking class? Learning how to make tasty Indonesian chow is one of those skills you and the kids can bring back home after your holiday.
Casa Luna is one of the best cooking schools in Bali, with an international reputation and years of satisfied customers.
Although children under 5 aren’t allowed to participate in the class for safety reasons, Casa Luna offer a babysitting service for guests, charged at IDR 50,000/hour (AUD 5.23).
Roughly 1 hour 50 minutes from Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali.
On-site Food: Yes.
Entry Cost: children (5-10 years) IDR 200,000 (AUD 20.91), adults IDR 400,000 (AUD 41.83).
Hours: Upon Booking.
6. Canyon Tubing
Bali’s pristine natural environments are often overlooked in favour of its touristy attractions. Get your dose of the outdoors by floating down an isolated canyon in an inflatable raft.
Run by Bali Quad Discovery Tours, this little adventure is perfect for the little ones, because there’s no paddling or physical exertion required. Just kick back, enjoy the ride and listen to the guides pointing interesting landmarks and rare animals.
Roughly 1 hour 40 minutes from Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali.
On-site Food: No.
Entry Cost: children (5-15 years) IDR 752,878.35, adults IDR 1,135,697.85
Hours: Upon Booking.
7. Learn to surf
Don’t know how to surf? You’re an Aussie! It’s time to learn.
There’s plenty of surf schools in Bali, but, if you’re travelling with kids, it’s a good idea to choose a larger business that can accommodate English-speaking children.
Infinite Wave Surfing is a surf school in Pecatu that offers equipment hire as well as beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons, so it’s perfect for families like yours who might not have had a huge deal of surfing experience.
20 minutes from Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali.
On-site Food: No.
Entry Cost: from IDR 250,000 per lesson (AUD 26.14)
Hours: Upon Booking
8. Bali Treetop Adventure Park
Bali Treetop Adventure Park is one of those awesome experiences that you definitely won’t want to miss. Wander through the treetops via tightropes, Tarzan swings, monkey tracks and more, and get an adrenaline rush by zipping along a flying fox.
Don’t worry – you’re wearing safety harnesses the whole time, so there’s no chance of falling. For very small children (4-6 years, minimum reach of 110cm), the Park offers the Yellow and Green Squirrel Circuits, which lets them get a taste of being off the ground without going too high.
2 hours 35 minutes from Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali.
On-site Food: No.
Entry Cost: children (under 12 years) IDR 226,840 (AUD 23.72), adults IDR 354,437 (AUD 37.06)
Hours: 9:30am-6:00pm
9. Bali Paintball Arena
Nothing says ‘fun’ like creeping around a jungle battlefield, waiting to snipe your friends and family with paintball bullets. This is an activity best suited to older children, mostly because getting shot tickles a little.
That said, if your kids are tough and ready for battle, Bali Paintball Arena is a great way to spend a few hours of your holiday. Who knows? Maybe it’ll even result in some family bonding!
2 hours 35 minutes from Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali.
On-site Food: No.
Entry Cost: 10+ years IDR 400,000 (AUD 41.83)
Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm
10. Jenggala Pot-Painting
Let the kids unleash their inner artists with a trip to the Jenggala pottery store in Jimbaran. If you love the idea of your little ones hand-crafting clay pots and painting them with their own designs, then this is the perfect way to spend a few hours. There’s no age or skill requirement – you can even join in if you’re feeling a burst of artistic inspiration. Their on-site cafe offers a range of sandwiches, cakes and hot food, so, after you’ve finished creating, duck in for a bite to eat.
20 minutes from Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali.
On-site Food: Yes.
Entry Cost: None. Pot painting starts at IDR 100,000 (AUD 10.38).
Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm
What to Eat in Bali
Knowing where to eat in a foreign country can be tough with kids, particularly if they have sensitive tummies or are a bit picky.
Knowing where to eat on your family holiday in Bali? Even harder.
Balinese food is particularly tricky for Westerners, because the flavour palette is so unlike what we’re used to. Expect lots of fried food – fish, chicken, duck, banana, and so on – served alongside generous portions of rice and sambal, a type of spicy sauce popular across Indonesia.
Satay skewers are generally a safe choice for the little ones – they’re very common in the West, and the peanut sauce they’re served with is fairly mild.
Nasi goreng (fried rice) is a good option, although traditional Balinese recipes are a little different to what you might’ve eaten before. Jajanan pasar (dessert cakes) are also delicious.
If your children get easily-upset stomachs, keep them away from street-cooked meat; although it’s normally fine, undercooked chicken, fish or pork runs the risk of carrying bacteria. Play it safe and dine at a licensed restaurant instead.
Anaphylactics, be warned: most Indonesian foods contain traces of nuts, so you might have to dine in Western-style restaurants to avoid any kind of contamination.
It almost goes without saying that drinking tap water is a big no-no – many places provide bottled water, but, if they don’t, definitely buy your own.
Where to Stay in Bali
If you’ve been to Bali before, chances are you’ve visited one of the island’s top three tourist hot-spots: Ubud, Kuta or Seminyak. These party zones are hugely popular with international visitors, and, although they can be a lot of fun, you’re probably not looking to take your precious angels to people-packed nightclubs.
Our recommendation? Pecatu, one of the island’s least-frequented regions.
Located at the southernmost tip of Bali, Pecatu is a region bounded by ocean, perfect for a relaxing family holiday. With great surf breaks and stunning attractions like Uluwatu Temple, it’s not hard to see why Pecatu is known as Bali’s hidden gem.
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to accommodation, but one place really stands out from the crowd: Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali.
Just four minutes’ walk from Pecatu’s famous Dreamland Beach, this luxury resort is the kind of holiday accommodation that’s an attraction unto itself. Choose from deluxe rooms with stunning beachside views, ultra-luxe suites and opulent poolside villas.
If you’re after the ultimate family holiday experience in Bali, go with the Two Bedroom Pool Villa.
This sprawling building offers 163m2 of lavishly-appointed rooms, including a bedroom for you and your partner and a separate one for the kids. Relax in the adjoining living room’s 42-inch flatscreen, or go for an after-dinner swim in the Villa’s private pool.
Regardless of what type of room you want to stay in, you’ll have access to the standard Wyndham luxuries: safety deposit boxes, bottled mineral water, flatscreen TVs, high-speed WiFi, rain showers, air con and more.
