Visiting Bali with kids? These activities deserve a place on your bucket list! Here’s how to give your family the quintessential Bali experience – no matter where you’re staying.
If you’re planning your next family holiday to Bali, you’re in for a treat. As Indonesia’s top tourist destination, there’s no shortage of things to see and do. From mother and daughter spa treatments to hip beach clubs and epic water parks, these activities deserve a place on your Bali bucket list.
Venture a little further and you’ll find countless family attractions: stunning beaches, markets, cultural tours, wildlife encounters, and more. We’ve created this list of must-do Bali experiences, whether you’re a first-time traveller or a seasoned Bali veteran.
OAWK Tip: You can save up to 45% on Bali’s best experiences with a Klook Bali pass.
Chill out at a family-friendly Bali beach club
An afternoon lazing on a day bed or cabana by the pool sipping cocktails at a beach club while the kids splash about in the pool has become one of those must-do Bali experiences. There’s no shortage of venues to choose from, either! Here are three of the best Bali beach clubs for families:
FINNS Beach Club - Canggu
FINNS Beach Club has a huge lawn, as well as four pools, three restaurants and a couple of swim-up bars. It’s part of FINNS Recreation Club, which also offers ten pin bowling, trampolining and Cubby House Kids Club, where children aged two to 12 can partake in arts and crafts, watch a movie or play board games while their parents enjoy a well-earned break.
Potato Head Beach Club - Seminyak
Known for its wall of colourful antique shutters sourced from across Indonesia, Potato Head Beach Club also has a large grass area where kids can run amok.
Ku De Ta - Seminyak
Ku De Ta celebrates Family Sundays, with face painting and arts and crafts to entertain the little ones.
Mrs Sippy - Seminyak
Mrs Sippy Seminyak is like a Balinese interpretation of the popular brunch/cocktails venue in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. It’s a Mediterranean oasis hidden in Bali’s bustling Seminyak and a great venue for families by day. (In the late afternoon DJs spin tunes as Mrs Sippy transforms into party central in the evenings.)
The extensive all-day menu includes fresh seafood dishes, wood fired pizzas, some truly inspired salads, and a great selection of fruit smoothies and milkshakes. Parents can sip on the tropical flavours of a watermelon mule crushed cocktail, while the kids explore Bali’s largest saltwater swimming pool and face their fears on the three diving platforms, interrupting your happy hour with the occasional and inevitable “Mum, watch this!”
Bali Hai Beach Club Cruise - Nusa Lembongan
Whether it’s for a day or an overnight stay, a trip over the Lombok Strait to the Hai Tide Beach Resort is a fantastic family outing. Cruise over to Lembongan Bay and spend the day snorkelling or scuba diving on the beautiful coral reef. Or try some of the many water sports on offer on Bali Hai’s Lembongan pontoon, including snorkelling tours, banana boat rides, parasailing, scuba diving, dolphin spotting, semi-submarine rides, kayaking, village visits and mangrove tours. There’s also the resort’s Kids Attendant to supervise children aged four to 10 years, where they can spend the day taking part in the many organised activities, while you go for a scuba dive or perhaps a massage.
Cool off at Bali's best water park
Cooling off at a water park is another super fun way to spend a day on ‘the Island of Gods’. Bali’s tropical climate means there’s no shortage of water parks, including our favourite, Waterbom Bali.
This beloved Kuta waterslide park has provided a much-loved family day out for the past 30 years. The newest addition is the 1.3 hectare Oasis Gardens area, adding four slides, a lagoon pool, swim-up bar, luxury gazebos, café and massage area.
Over two dozen water slides are sure to get the adrenaline pumping; little ones can splash in the Aquaplau area while big kids can scare themselves silly on the ‘Extreme’ level rides. Are you ready for Asia’s steepest slide, The Climax? Or The Drop, an extreme tube ride with an eight-metre slide? There’s also the Smashdown 2.0, Fast n Fierce, Pipeline or the (shudder) Climax, which starts as a vertical drop as the floor opens up underneath you. You can also hone your surfing skills on the Flow Rider.
OAWK Tip: Pre-purchase your Waterbom Bali tickets on Klook to avoid queuing on the day. Discounts regularly crop up too!
Relax with a mum and daughter massage
Indulging in a mother and daughter spa treatment has also become a popular pastime in Bali. If you’re looking to indulge with your little one, here are three Bali spas with kids’ packages:
Body Temple Spa - FINNS Beach Club, Canggu
Body Temple Spa has a special ‘Mommy and Me’ package that includes a rose petal foot bath, a massage and facial.
Ashoka Spa by Theta - Bali Dynasty Resort, South Kuta
The Princelicious mums and daughters’ treatment at Ashoka Spa begins with a soothing hand massage, followed by a foot bath and a full body massage. As a bonus, every booking includes a complimentary flower nail art session.
Heavenly Spa by Westin - The Westin Resort Nusa Dua
Little divas will love the special kids’ spa menu at Heavenly Spa by Westin in Nusa Dua. Here, children can be pampered with mini facials, temporary tattoos, manicures, pedicures and get their hair braided.
Visit Bali’s famous zoos and wildlife parks
If your clan includes a little animal lover, you’re in luck! Bali has loads of attractions that will get you up close to various critters. Be sure to add these Bali animal experiences to your itinerary:
Bali Bird Park & Reptile Park - Ubud Region
Located at Gianyar, Bali Reptile Park is home to everything from adorable geckos to venomous snakes, crocodiles and Komodo dragons. Bali Bird Park, next door to the Reptile Park, features a variety of exotic birds in tropical gardens, with walk-in aviaries and an open-air restaurant where you can grab a bite for lunch.
Pre-purchase your tickets here:
Bali Zoo - Sukawati
Bali Zoo offers the chance to see over 500 rare and exotic animals from around the world, including Sumatran tigers, Asian elephants and orangutans, housed in open-plan enclosures. Kids can take part in an orangutan encounter and feed elephants, lions and tigers, under the supervision of zookeepers of course.
It’s great place to get up close with some of Indonesia’s wildlife, which the zoo also helps to protect through various conservation projects, as well as via the education of the zoo’s guests. Most of the animals at the zoo have been rescued and now form part of a conservation and breeding program. The zoo has successfully bred and released several species so far, including Sunda porcupines and Javan deers which were released onto Menjangan Island in the Bali Barat National Park.
For the complete Bali Zoo experience, have a sleepover at Sanctoo Suite and Villas.
OAWK Tip: You can pre-purchase tickets on Klook with optional transfers and add-on encounters.
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary - Ubud
The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud is well worth a day trip. Up to 900 macaques can be spotted frolicking amongst the temples in the jungle. Be careful, though: these cheeky animals are avid collectors of sunglasses and cameras.
Taman Safari Bali - Gianyar
Head to Taman Safari Bali (formerly Bali Safari and Marine Park) at Gianyar for a full day of family fun. The action starts with a piranha-feeding demonstration in the freshwater aquarium, followed by a ‘safari journey’ through the open zoo to see Sumatran tigers, elephant and African wildlife.
Kids can cool off in the Water Park and enjoy the Fun Zone’s amusement park rides, including everything from mild carousels to roller coasters, and jungle river rides to dodgem cars. For a visit to remember, end the day with dinner in the Tsavo Lion Restaurant.
Learn to surf on Bali's beaches
Bali is synonymous with surfing, and there are countless schools keen to teach the kids how to hang ten. For kids surfing lessons in Bali, here are our top picks:
Surf School in Bali - Seminyak
Surf School in Bali at Seminyak has a three-day course for kids on soft foam boards taught by instructors with Australian bronze lifeguard-certification.
Enjoy Wipeout - Canggu
Enjoy Wipeout at Canggu also has classes for families and children aged six and over who are able to swim, with optional pick up by motorbike or car if you’re staying in the area.
Surf Buddy Bali - Canggu
Surf Buddy Bali at Canggu offers one-on-one lessons for children at a nearby beach covering ocean safety, paddling techniques, balancing and standing up, as well as half-day trips.
Tour a Balinese temple for a touch of culture
Over 80% of Bali’s population is Hindu, and there are thousands of temples in Bali, with festivals and ceremonies observed year-round. Each temple is unique, but colours are a defining theme, and many temples boast lovingly-tended gardens filled with brightly-hued flowers.
Uluwatu Temple - South Kuta
It’s worth pencilling in a visit to the Pura Luhur Uluwatu, an 11th Century temple about half an hour from Jimbaran. Perched high on a steep cliff that overlooks the ocean, the location is even more remarkable than the temple itself and the perfect spot to view one of Bali’s spectacular sunsets.
The temple is also inhabited by a bunch of mischievous monkeys. Hats, sunglasses, and cameras are particularly popular among the pilfering primates.
Patal Temple and Pura Blanjong
These two stunning temples are located close to the coastal town of Sanur, on Bali’s eastern shore.
Tanah Lot
Tanah Lot is one of the most famous temples in Bali. Its picturesque setting surrounded by the sea means many come to view it in spectacular silhouette at sunset.
Shop up a storm at Bali’s vibrant markets
It’s easy to lose track of time browsing Bali’s colourful markets. Each region and local shopping spot has its own specialty, including handmade souvenirs, local delicacies, and an endless supply of affordable clothes and toys. Here’s where you can find some of Bali’s best shopping hotspots:
Gianyar Night Market
Known to locals as Pasar Senggol Gianyar, this night market in is a must-visit for delicious Indonesian street food. About half an hour from popular attractions like Bali Zoo, it’s worth fitting this one into your itinerary.
Ubud Art Market
Ubud is the best place to shop for authentic Balinese carvings and handicrafts. This flourishing craft centre is located just an hour’s drive from Bali’s main resorts.
Kuta Art Markets
Not far from Segara Beach, Kuta Art Markets are a fantastic spot to find handicrafts, souvenirs and clothing (including those all-essential Bali sarongs!)
Where to stay in Bali with kids
Bali’s family-friendly resorts are packed with fun things to do: kids clubs, water parks and luxurious spas are just the beginning. In our experience, there’s no such thing as ‘enough time’ in Bali – in fact, the kids will never want to leave!
Bali Dynasty Resort - South Kuta Beach
Bali Dynasty Resort at South Kuta Beach is ideal for families. With a 56-metre waterslide flowing into the pool, a kids’ club, teens’ club, playground and loads of fun activities. It also has an adults-only pool with a swim-up bar and a gym.
Tuck into a delicious curry at the Queens of India restaurant, Chinese cuisine at the Golden Lotus, or enjoy a range of international dishes at H2O overlooking the main pool. Happy hour happens twice a day at the Sunset Bar, or you can head to the only Irish bar on the island, Gracie Kelly’s.
Rooms have two sections divided by a floor-to-ceiling partition. The Family Room sleeps up to five people, with a king bed, bunk bed and a trundle bed. The beach, bars, clubs, shops, restaurants, art market and a 24-hour medical centre are all within walking distance.
Sanctoo Suite & Villas - Bali Zoo, Ubud
Bali Zoo has its own accommodation, and we’re not talking safari-style tents – Sanctoo Suite & Villas, offers a true luxury experience. Suites have a private terrace and direct access to the lagoon pool, while villas each have their own private entrance and plunge pool.
All this within a five-minute walk from elephants, tigers, meerkats, komodo dragons, to name a few animals within their care. A stay here allows you discounted access to animal encounters and add-on experiences. Spend the day exploring the zoo or kick back in the pool and await your after-hours tour.
Menjangan Dynasty Resort
Menjangan Dynasty Resort, Beach Camp and Dive Centre is an eco-resort that sits on the north-western most point of Bali looking out over the West Bali National Park, reached from Denpasar on a 4.5-hour drive that winds through the mountains. Beyond the grand-looking reception area, an inviting infinity pool that looks out over the bay and the lowland forests of the West Bali National Park.
This eco-friendly resort has luxury tented accommodation, with striking communal spaces crafted in bamboo and “alang-alang” thatched roofs. Rooms are decorated in African-safari style, with a minibar concealed inside an old chest and bedside lamps that look like lanterns. Two-bedroom ‘tent villas’ are also available which include a large living area and balcony.
Guests can enjoy a guided snorkelling and diving trip to Menjangan Island, a 30-minute boat ride from the resort, where you’ll find lots of pretty coral gardens, teeming with marine life (including the odd turtle) and ridiculously clear water. There are also stand up paddle boards and kayaks available for use free of charge.
In partnership with Bali Dynasty Resort
Opening image: A mother and daughter spa treatment at Ashoka Spa at Bali Dynasty Resort
Content contributors: Angela Saurine, Elisa Elwin, Deborah Dickson-Smith, Jane Milojevic
