Things to Do in Bali: Temples, Day Trips and Tips for Australians

These spots are a drive or a boat ride apart, so sort a HelloRoam Indonesia eSIM while you're still at home. Then you can book a Grab and message your host on WhatsApp the minute you land in Denpasar.

Australians made 1,628,459 visits to Bali in 2025, more than any other nationality and 23.44% of all direct foreign arrivals, according to the Bali Provincial Tourism Office. Still pricing the trip? Our guide to Bali airfares from Australian cities compares fares by departure city and time of year.

How we checked: the attraction fees, opening hours and prices in this guide come from official tourism and operator pages, read in October 2026. They change, so treat them as a guide and check before you go.

Visit Bali's Big Temples Early or at Sunset

Uluwatu Temple sits on a limestone cliff above the Indian Ocean in Pecatu, south Bali, about 45 minutes to an hour by car from Kuta or Seminyak. Go in the evening for the Kecak dance at sunset, when a chorus of men chants while dancers act out the story of Rama and Sita.

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Keep a grip on your sunglasses and phone. Indonesia.travel, the country's official tourism site, warns that the temple's monkeys grab glasses, cameras and hair clips, and Smartraveller advises against direct contact with monkeys because rabies is present across Indonesia.

Tanah Lot, a sea temple on a rocky outcrop in Tabanan, is about 45 minutes' drive from Denpasar or Kuta. Sunset is the classic time to go, but arrive earlier for a quieter visit.

Tirta Empul, near Tampaksiring and about 30 minutes from Ubud, is a water temple whose holy springs are used for melukat, a Balinese cleansing ritual. Visitors can take part: wear traditional dress or a yellow sash, skip the soap and shampoo, and go in the morning before the crowds.

Besakih, the Mother Temple on the slopes of Mount Agung, is Bali's largest and holiest temple complex, with more than 80 temples. It's 2 to 3 hours from Ubud, so give it a full day. Back in town, Ubud Palace, once the royal residence, holds traditional Balinese performances in the evening for about Rp100,000.

Ulun Danu Beratan, a water temple on Lake Beratan in Bedugul, central Bali, is known for tiered shrines that seem to float on the water. It's about 1.5 to 2 hours from Denpasar or Kuta, and early morning brings mist on the lake. Further east in Karangasem, Lempuyang Luhur, known as the Gate of Heaven, is about 2 to 3 hours from central Bali. Go early in the morning to see the clouds below, and budget for the compulsory shuttle bus from the car park, which costs Rp45,000 to Rp50,000.

Indonesia.travel lists these entry fees for foreign visitors:

Dress for temples before you set out. Cover your shoulders and knees; sarongs and sashes are usually provided at the entrance. Don't step on canang sari, the small offerings placed on the ground, and follow the directions of temple staff. The Bali Provincial Government's Do's and Don'ts for foreign tourists also ask you to dress appropriately and not to take or post disrespectful photos at religious sites. Offences can lead to legal action or deportation.

Ubud Puts Monkeys, Rice Terraces and Rafting Close Together

The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud has more than 1,000 long-tailed macaques, three temples and 12.5 hectares of forest. It's open daily from 9am to 6pm, with last entry at 5pm, and tickets cost IDR 130,000 for adults and IDR 100,000 for children, according to the sanctuary's website. Food and drinks aren't allowed inside. Don't touch the monkeys, don't feed them unless staff are supervising, avoid eye contact and keep children close.

Tegallalang Rice Terrace is about a 20-minute drive north of Ubud, and 30 minutes to 1.5 hours is enough to explore it. Jatiluwih in Tabanan is the bigger day out: its terraces are part of Bali's subak rice-farming system, which UNESCO listed as World Heritage in June 2012. It's about 2 hours' drive from Denpasar, so pair it with Tanah Lot, also in Tabanan.

The Campuhan Ridge Walk near Ubud covers about 2 kilometres along a green hill ridge. There's nowhere to buy food or drinks on the way, so carry water.

White-water rafting on the Ayung River starts about 20 minutes' drive from Ubud. In the dry season the river runs at class II to III, which suits first-timers; in the rainy season, higher water can push it to class IV. Trips usually take about 3 hours including lunch. Indonesia.travel cites ages 9 to 65, but each operator sets its own age and safety rules.

Mount Batur's Sunrise Hike Starts in the Dark

Mount Batur, an active volcano in Kintamani, is Bali's best-known sunrise hike. You start before dawn and climb to the 1,717-metre summit, where a sea of clouds fills the caldera and Mount Agung sits on the skyline.

Smartraveller lists Mount Batur among the treks on or near active volcanoes. Its advice: always go with a guide, check how hard the trek is, follow exclusion zones and check volcano alerts on MAGMA Indonesia before you set out.

It's much colder at the top than on the coast, so pack a warm layer. Indonesia.travel says the dry season, May to September, gives the clearest views. After the hike, the natural hot springs on the edge of Lake Batur are a good place to recover. Travelling in the wet months? Check what Bali's weather does each month before you book a sunrise trek.

Nusa Penida Is the Day Trip Worth an Early Start

Nusa Penida, the island southeast of Bali, is a popular day trip. Fast boats leave Sanur, Kusamba and Padang Bai for Toyapakeh or Sampalan, and the crossing takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on the weather.

On the island, hire a car with a driver or a scooter, because roads are hilly and some are still rocky. Kelingking Beach on the southwest coast is famous for its T-Rex-shaped cliff, but the path down to the sand is steep and dangerous. Broken Beach, a cove with a natural stone arch, is about 3 kilometres northwest. Crystal Bay is known for clear water and is popular with snorkellers and divers.

Indonesia.travel suggests going in the dry season, April to October, and booking boats well ahead in holiday periods. Smartraveller warns that boat operators may not meet international safety standards and lists recent accidents, including a Nusa Penida fast boat that capsized in Sanur Harbour in August 2025. Check your boat carries enough life jackets, wear one for the whole crossing, and delay the trip if the sea is rough.

Dive the USAT Liberty Wreck or Look for Mantas Off Nusa Penida

The USAT Liberty, a US Army cargo ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in January 1942, was beached at Tulamben on Bali's northeast coast. A later volcanic eruption pushed the wreck just offshore. A dive guide published on Indonesia.travel puts it 3 to 28 metres down and calls it a shore dive from Tulamben or Amed, best early in the morning or at night.

Nusa Penida's waters are known for manta rays and mola-mola, and divers head to Manta Point to see the mantas. Currents there are strong, so many sites suit experienced divers. Whichever you choose, Smartraveller says to check your travel insurance covers diving.

Pick Activities to Suit Families, Couples or Young Adults

For families, these are easy wins:

• Waterbom Bali in Kuta has 28 slides and attractions and opens daily from 9am to 6pm. Check the park's slide restrictions before you go.
• Taman Safari Bali has a safari park, a night safari and a water play zone.
• Green School, a bamboo campus beside the Ayung River, runs public tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30pm and Wednesdays at 10:30am (all tours start at 10:30am in school holidays). Reservations are required.
• Kids pay IDR 100,000 at the Sacred Monkey Forest, and older kids can raft the Ayung River once they meet the operator's minimum age.

For couples, try:

• The Kecak dance at Uluwatu at sunset, or a sunrise hike up Mount Batur.
• A dive trip to Tulamben's wreck or Nusa Penida's mantas.
• A quad bike tour through the jungle and rice fields of the Ubud highlands.
• Waterfalls: the Banyumala Twin Waterfalls in Buleleng, or Tegenungan Waterfall near Ubud.
• Penglipuran, a village in Bangli that keeps its traditional Balinese houses.

For young adults and groups of friends:

• Learn to surf at Kuta Beach, where surf instructors and board hire operate along the beach. Hiring a board costs about Rp100,000 to Rp200,000.
• Spend an afternoon at Desa Potato Head in Seminyak, whose beach club opened in 2010.
• Save Nusa Penida and a Batur sunrise for the big adventure days.
• Be careful with drinks. Smartraveller warns that Australians have died from methanol poisoning in Indonesia, and advises drinking only branded, sealed drinks and never leaving a drink unattended.

Choose Your Base by the Activities You Want

Bali's sights are spread out, so stay near the things you'll do most. Ubud has the Monkey Forest in town, with Tegallalang and the Ayung River about 20 minutes away. Pecatu in south Bali is home to Uluwatu Temple and its sunset Kecak. Sanur has fast boats to Nusa Penida, Kuta sits close to the airport with beginner surf and Waterbom, and Amed or Tulamben suits divers. For hotels and areas, see our guide to where to stay in Bali.

Use a Driver, a Ride App or a Metered Taxi to Get Around

Smartraveller advises using only licensed, metered taxis or rideshare apps, or hiring a driver who knows the local roads. At the airport, Grab's pickup point is the GrabCar Lounge in the international arrivals terminal. For a full day of sightseeing, GrabCar Rental books a car and driver for 4 to 12 hours.

Thinking of hiring a scooter? Smartraveller says you need an Indonesian licence or an International Driving Permit as well as your Australian licence, and it has to cover the type of vehicle you ride. Insurers will deny claims if you're unlicensed or hold the wrong licence. Australians have been seriously injured and killed in motorbike accidents in Bali, so always wear a helmet. Our Bali safety guide for Australians covers the other risks to know.

Sort Your Visa, Arrival Card, Levy and Cash Before You Fly

As of October 2026, Smartraveller and Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration set out these steps for Australians visiting Bali as tourists:

• Arrival card: complete the All Indonesia arrival card online within 72 hours (3 days) of travel. Use only official sites with go.id in the address, because fake sites charge a fee.
• Visa: the e-VOA (apply online at least 48 hours before you fly) and the visa on arrival both cost IDR 500,000, and the e-VOA adds a small processing fee. Both cover a 30-day stay that can be extended once, to 60 days in total. Some immigration checkpoints take only cash for the visa on arrival.
• Passport and ticket: your passport needs at least six months' validity from the day you arrive, and you need a return or onward flight booking.
• Bali tourist levy: IDR 150,000 per person, paid once and separate from the visa. Payment is cashless: pay online through the Bali Provincial Government's Love Bali site ahead of your trip, or at counters at the airport and seaport.
• Medicines: some prescription medicines, ADHD medication and all cannabis products, including medicinal cannabis and CBD, are illegal in Indonesia, even with a prescription. Check with the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra before you pack them.

Bali uses the Indonesian rupiah (IDR). Change money only at authorised money changers, as both Smartraveller and Bali's Do's and Don'ts advise, and declare cash over IDR 100,000,000 when you arrive and leave.

Entry rules can change at short notice, so check Smartraveller and Indonesia's official e-Visa site before you go. Our guide to Bali visas for Australians covers costs and extensions in more detail.

Nyepi Shuts Bali Down for a Day on 8 March 2027

Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence, falls on Monday 8 March 2027, a national holiday in the Indonesian Government's 2027 calendar. For 24 hours, Balinese Hindus observe no work, no fire or light, no travel and no entertainment, and visitors are asked to stay indoors with lights and noise kept low.

In past years Ngurah Rai airport has stopped operating for the full 24 hours, so check with your airline before you book flights around that date. Stock up on food, since hotels run on minimum staff. The night before, locals parade giant ogoh-ogoh effigies and set them alight, a ritual meant to send away evil spirits.

Have Mobile Data Ready for Grab, Boats and Maps

Your phone does a lot of work in Bali: Grab bookings, fast-boat tickets, maps and messages to your driver. Smartraveller says visitors staying under 90 days can buy a tourist SIM card or eSIM for the Indonesian mobile network. Stay longer than 90 days with a phone bought overseas and you'll need to register its IMEI number with Indonesian Customs. Smartraveller also notes that reception and Wi-Fi aren't always available in remote areas and on some resort islands.

Roaming is the simplest option, but it adds up. For Telstra customers on a plan, for example, the International Day Pass costs A$10 a day in Indonesia with 2GB of data a day, so a week of use is A$70.

An eSIM is the other route: you install it at home and turn it on when you land. First check your phone works with eSIM, then compare eSIM and roaming costs for your trip length.

HelloRoam sells Bali data plans for that route, and our support team answers 24/7 if something goes wrong mid-trip.