For adult travellers, Bali’s allure comes in the form of sandy beaches, luxurious spa treatments and cultural excursions rich with local flavour. But before you reserve the island for a romantic couple’s getaway, consider its many kid-friendly offerings as an opportunity to holiday as a family.
Bali’s natural landscape alone is enough to captivate children and even teenagers - volcanoes that cast looming peaks against the skyline, jungles and wildlife sanctuaries where adventurers can (safely) interact with monkeys and elephants, and oceanfront access to every major water sport.
Now factor in all of the unique excursions and activities available throughout the destination (think temple tours and Balinese dance shows), and it’s easy to envision a relaxing retreat free from the stress that comes with keeping kids amused while travelling.
Here are seven Bali adventures your family shouldn’t miss.
1. Fly a kite
Look up into the sky on almost any day on the island and you’ll likely see handmade kites (some up to 10 metres long) floating in the breeze. Flying kites is a centuries-old tradition in Bali - thought to deliver messages to the Hindu gods asking for abundant harvests - and almost every child here knows how to craft their own. At many of the hotels, families can learn the intricate art of building a kite’s framework from bamboo, attaching plastic and strings before launching their flying machines from the beach.
2. Get airborne
When the kids are ready to take to the sky themselves, head to the Bali Treetop Adventure Park located in the Bali Botanic Garden. Here, seven airborne circuit courses challenge visitors to travel from tree to tree via ladders, nets and bridges. The courses vary in height and difficulty and are safe for children ages 4 and older.
3. Learn to eat local
Cooking schools abound around Balie. At the Four Seasons Hotel Jimbaran Bay, adults and children can attend morning classes where they’ll tour a local market before learning to make authentic Balinese, Asian or Indonesian fare. The best part about playing chef? The mouth-watering menus are served up for lunch at the end of each session. In case anyone in your family has a sweet tooth, the school offers a complimentary pastry class to kids and teens every Wednesday.
4. Go birding
Venturesome travellers will appreciate the many attractions that showcase Bali’s abundant wildlife. At Bali Bird Park, families can walk through aviaries that have been designed to replicate the natural surroundings of jungles and rain forests found in Indonesia, Latin America and South Africa. While you scan the nearly 1,000 birds that have found sanctuary here, keep an eye out for the Bali starling, one of the rarest birds in the world.
5. Step into the animal kindgom
Continue your family’s walk on the wild side at the Bali Safari & Marine Park, where visitors can witness more than 60 species of animals representing different regions around the world. Expect to see endangered species like the Komodo Dragon and the orangutan as well as wild cats like the Indonesian leopard, who lounges in 40 hectares of beautifully landscaped habitats. A forerunner in conservation initiatives, the Park also provides sanctuary to elephants rescued from conflict in Sumatra.
6. Make a splash
If your troop prefers surf to turf, we recommend the Sea Walker tour courtesy of Club Aqua. During this adventure, participants (who must be more than nine-years-old and taller than 140 cm) don helmets that allow breathing while they walk on the seabed amid coral outcrops and hundreds of brightly coloured fish and turtles. Families with younger children should check out Waterbom Bali, one of the island’s best waterparks and home to more than 21 adrenaline-pumping water slides.
7. See a show
Ready to sit back and relax after a full day of activities? After dinner, head to the Bali Nusa Dua Theatre to see Devdan - a spectacular show with music, dance and acrobatics inspired by Indonesian cultures.
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