Bali Travel Guide for Australians: What to Know Before You Go

Bali is roughly 6 hours from Sydney or Melbourne and costs a fraction of almost any other destination at that distance. That’s why 1.3 million Australians visit every year. The trick is not letting the tourist infrastructure swallow your trip whole.

Here’s how to do it properly.

Where to Stay (and Where Not To)

Seminyak is the right base for most first-time visitors. Better restaurants than Kuta, less chaotic, and close to the beach. The hotel strip along Jalan Kayu Aya is convenient and well-priced.

Canggu is where younger travellers and digital nomads have migrated. Good surf, excellent cafes, and a more local feel than Seminyak was 10 years ago. Now developing quickly — go before it becomes what Seminyak became.

Ubud is mandatory for a night or two. Stay in the rice paddies — accommodation like Komaneka at Bisma or the cheaper options along Jalan Bisma give you jungle and valley views that reset your nervous system. The Monkey Forest is worth skipping. The markets are not.

Avoid Kuta unless you’re 19 and looking for a specific kind of trip.

What to Actually Do

Tegallalang Rice Terraces

The classic Ubud photo spot. Yes, it’s crowded. Go at 7am before the tour buses arrive and you’ll have it to yourself for 45 minutes. Worth it.

Tanah Lot at Sunset

Built on a rock formation offshore, Tanah Lot is one of Bali’s most photographed temples. The sunset is genuinely spectacular. Get there 90 minutes early to walk the surrounding area before the crowds peak.

Cooking Class (Ubud)

A half-day Balinese cooking class is one of the best uses of time in Ubud. You visit a market, learn 5–6 dishes, and eat everything you made. Paon Bali and Lobong Culinary are both excellent. Book ahead.

Mount Batur Sunrise Hike

A 4am start, 2-hour hike in the dark, and a sunrise above the clouds over the caldera. Physically easy, logistically straightforward (guides are mandatory and prearranged). One of the best things you can do in Bali.

Practical Notes

Visa: Australians get a visa on arrival (VOA) for 30 days, extendable to 60. Cost is around $60 AUD. Pay at the booth before immigration, not from touts outside.

Money: ATMs are everywhere. Avoid airport money changers — terrible rates. Use ATMs in Seminyak or Ubud, and always take the local currency option (not AUD conversion).

Scooters: The fastest way to get around. If you’ve ridden before, rent one. If you haven’t, use a rideshare app (Grab is reliable) or hire a driver for the day — extremely cheap and removes all the stress.

Food safety: Eat at busy warungs (local restaurants). Avoid ice in non-tourist areas. Don’t drink tap water. The street food is excellent and generally safe — just apply basic common sense.