Bali

Bali for Families

Reading time: 3 minutes

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a first-timer to Bali, here are the top 5 things to do with your family when visiting the ‘island of the gods.’

1. Waterbom Park

Situated conveniently in the centre of Kuta, this beautiful waterpark can rival some of the best in the world. The younger kids will adore the duck mascot walking around and the park, but more importantly, Funtastic. Funtastic is a water playground designed exclusively for young children, with easy climbing steps, criss-crossing bridges and mini water slides. It’s completely supervised by trained lifeguards making this a relaxing spot for parents as well. If you have older kids or just enjoy a thrill, rides like the Climax will get your heart pumping with it’s free-fall drop and loop-the-loop. Or for a more relaxing ride, the Lazy River will carry you around the park in an inflatable tube on a slow, meandering current, under the shade of tropical trees.

2. Bali Safari & Marine Park

Who doesn’t love a zoo? Bali Safari is so much more then a zoo, consisting of 4 parks. The Marine Park is a series of aquariums featuring over 40 species of fish, including piranhas, which are fed several times per day. Next, the Safari Park sets you on a jeep safari through the habitats of Indonesia, India and Africa observing amazing animals in their natural habitats.

Bali is hot and humid, so after all that safari-ing head over to the Water Park for fun and refreshment with kids pools, adult pools and waterslides. When the family has cooled down its time to head to the Fun Park for laughs on the amusement rides including a merry-go-round, roller coaster and bumper cars.

3. Jet Skiing & Water Sports

Take a day out and head to Nusa Dua for family fun in the water, or on top of it. Nusa Dua is dotted with beautiful beaches so if you are not up for a jet ski ride, take your pick at heading to Turtle Island on a glass-bottom boat or parasailing high above the crystal blue ocean.

4. Ubud Cycling Tour

Ubud is the spiritual hub of Bali. You will fall in love with the peaceful rice paddies and lush greenery. There are several cycle tour operators to choose from in Ubud, but the plan and locations tend to be the same. The tour format includes collection from your hotel followed by a short stop at a coffee plantation. Here you can sample several types of teas and coffees, including one of the most expensive blends in the world, which is made from coffee beans pooped out of a weasel-like creature. Yes, it’s true! Afterwards you will head to a scenic lookout near the volcano, Mount Batur, before being given your bike for the downhill ride.

Young children can be placed on the back of the bikes or older kids can take their own. The route is fairly easy with more brakes needed than pedaling so it’s perfect for any fitness level. You will visit traditional Balinese living compounds, rice paddies, quaint villages and colossal ancient trees.

5. Bali Quad & Canyon Tubing

Perhaps not for the younger kids, but if you have teens in the family then this is going to be your favourite activity in Bali. Transfers will take you back to the jungles north of Ubud for a day of extreme fun.

First up is a 2-hour quad bike tour. It’s a fun, bumpy ride over pot-holed dirt roads, rice paddies, muddy banks, bamboo bridges and through masses of jungle. Once you’ve worked up an appetite a buffet lunch is provided, which also gives you time to catch your breath.

When everyone is full it’s time to get wet. You are driven towards a nearby river, before climbing down a gorgeous wooden staircase beside a waterfall, tramping over a fallen log and stepping into an individual inflated tube. Drifting down the valley is extraordinarily scenic and calming, and all the cares of the world seem to drift away. There are plenty of moments to prove your bravery, including a flying fox at the halfway point, bumpy rapids and several small waterfalls. This is an adventure you’ll remember for a lifetime.

These activities should get you started on your next family holiday in Bali, but if you find yourself craving more try a traditional cooking class, stroll through the market, take in a cultural show or visit a bird park. Whatever you end up doing in Bali, you will not be bored, and it’s likely you will be back for more.


Author

Erin Bender is an award winning family blogger. Erin has been travelling with her husband and two children since May 2012. It’s an open-ended, unplanned, round-the-world trip discovering amazing places for families. They have stayed in hostels and 5 star luxury resorts, travelled on scooters and cruise liners, danced with leprechauns and cuddled tigers. Nothing is out of bounds or out of reach for this remarkable Australian family.

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