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8 Things to do in Bali with Kids

Going to Bali with kids? Great idea!

Beautiful family villas, gorgeous beaches, incredible temples, stunning nature and enchanting culture, Bali has a lot to offer! The local people love children and there are plenty of things to see and do for an unforgettable family holiday.

There are traditional villages as well as trendy beach towns with western supermarkets, restaurants and family cafes. Bali is a great destination for an east-meets-west holiday. Need some inspiration for your travels? Here are 8 things to do in Bali with kids:

1. Check out Parklife Canggu: endless fun for the kids while parents can sit back and relax

Credit: Parklife Bali

Park Life is the newest family hot spot in Canggu. A place where parents and kids can lounge, eat, drink, have fun and play all day long. No matter what weather it is, Parklife is always a great option as there are indoor and outdoor playgrounds. Stunning rice paddy views are what mom and dad will love the most. Grab a beanbag and put in on the grass to take in the view while the kids are running, bouncing, climbing and having the time of their lives.

For the littlest kids (babies and toddlers), there is The Rainbow Room, a safe and colourful indoor area where sensory play is key. Older kids can go check out The Madhouse featuring a bouncing zone, climbing structure, slides and toys.

The on-site cafe is also lovely, serving healthy and yummy food and excellent coffee. Single entry to Parklife Canggu is Rp. 150,000 per child/adult. If you want to drop your kids at the kids club where they are supervised by professional and loving staff, you pay an additional fee of RP. 55.000 per house with a minimum of 2 hours.

2. Get your inner Tarzan out at Bali Treetop Adventure Park 

Located in the central highlands of Bali, in the beautiful mountain lake resort area of Bedugul lies Bali Treetop Adventure Park. Right next to the Botanical Gardens of Bedugul, this place is great for active kids, nature lovers and those who like to get away from the hot temperatures in the south. In Bedugul, the air is fresh and the temperature is pleasant, perfect for climbing and ziplining from tree to tree. A great place to conquer fears and expand boundaries. Moms and dads, get ready to get your inner child (or Tarzan) out! There are different circuits to suit beginners, intermediate and experienced zipliners. Kids as young as 4 years old can join.

3. Beach fun and beach clubs

Why did you come to Bali? That’s right, the beach! Nothing better than playing with sand and water, running around with the sea breeze in your hair and watching the sunset with those you love most. Beach Clubs area perfect for the combination of beach fun and modern conveniences such a great-quality food and drinks, clean toilets, a pool and lounge beds.

KU DE TA Beach Club in Seminyak has special kids activities on Sundays. Finn’s Beach Club has 4 swimming pools, 6 restaurants and 9 bars. Artotel Beach Club in Sanur was designed especially for families with an outdoor playground, a lagoon-like kids pool and an adult-only pool with a pool bar.

4. Family time at the villa

One of the best things about holidaying in Bali is the wide range of private pool villas to choose from, scattered around the island. In Bali, you can have a private holiday home with a swimming pool, living room and kitchen all for yourself and it won’t break the bank!

Villas come in all shapes and sizes from hypermodern to traditional Balinese and there is something for every holiday budget, too. Especially when travelling with kids, it is just wonderful to have your own place with all the comforts you have at home instead of 1 tiny hotel room. One of the most popular destinations for families with kids is Seminyak. Check out some great family villas in Seminyak here.

5. Rafting & canyoning on the river

The riverside is a great cool alternative from hanging out on the beach. In the deep river gorge near Ubud, you can go whitewater rafting on the Ayung River and it a great, thrilling family adventure! The rafting trip takes approximately 2,5 hours but you should reserve at least half a day with the pick-up and drop-off at your villa.

Rafting on the Ayung River is perfect for beginners and families as it is super fun and exciting but never scary. The surroundings are beautiful and you can also swim in the water or take a waterfall shower. After the tour, you get to enjoy a traditional Indonesian lunch and a hot shower. Perfect!

6. Exploring the underwater world

Whether you want to go diving or snorkelling, both are great experiences in Bali. The best spots around the island include Menjangan Island in the west, Amed and Tulamben in the east and Nusa Lembongan in the south (30-minute boat ride from Sanur).

You can explore beautiful coral gardens and spot all kinds of funny-looking and colourful sea creatures. Are your kids too young for diving and snorkelling? You can also take them a different underwater adventure, walking on the bottom of the ocean and feeding fish. Check out Bali Seawalker in Sanur.

7. Family surf lesson

What could be more fun that a family surf lesson in Bali? After all, Bali is a celebrated surf destination! The beach in Legian, Seminyak or Canggu are perfect for beginners and there are plenty of local surf schools around, as well. Many of them offer lessons for kids or for the entire family.

Within no time, you can be standing on your board, riding to the shore and it is a wonderful experience – a sport that is quite addictive, even (or even more so) for the little ones! For the more experienced surfers among us, head over to Uluwatu, West Bali or Nusa Lembongan where the waves are more challenging.

8. Explore Bali’s amazing wildlife

Close encounters with monkeys, elephants, manta rays and dolphins, you can have it all on the island of Bali! Go to the clifftop Uluwatu Temple to spot monkeys, see the sunset and get enchanted with a traditional Balinese dance and music performance. It’s pure magic! Another great place to meet and feed the cheeky macaque monkeys is in Ubud at the Sacred Monkey Forest.

Do be careful with easy-to-grab items such as sunglasses and hats. The macaques can be great little thieves! To get up-close-and-personal with elephants, you can visit Mason Elephant Park and Lodge in the village of Taro near Ubud. Lovina in the north of Bali is the place where you can spot dolphins out at sea in the early morning and if you go snorkelling around Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, you can swim with manta rays which is an incredible experience!

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Janine Mergler

Janine Mergler is a veteran Queensland teacher, graduating from QUT with a BEd majoring in Social Sciences. After many years in the classroom, Janine moved on to academia. She has proudly trained new generations of teachers in her role as a lecturer at Queensland University of Technology Faculty of Education. She has also worked in the Queensland Government as an education specialist, developing education resources and delivering community awareness programs to help families conserve water. Currently she is the owner and editor of Families Magazine, a publication specifically targeted at parents who value a quality education for children.  Janine leads a team of professionals who write about family lifestyle, early childhood, schools and education information and family-friendly events.

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