Why do Australians Love Bali?

The question has been asked of me many times since I moved to Indonesia.

Why do Australians love Bali?

The answer is not a simple one, nor is it hard to explain. The problem is that when you come from such a beautiful country as Australia, people from other countries struggle to understand. Why would we want to leave our country to holiday somewhere like Bali, when we have such a beautiful backyard ourselves?

So why do Australians love Bali?

I will try to explain.

Bali Is Cheap

That pretty much says it all. Do I need to go any further?

Now, not for one second am I saying that Australians lack culture and only base their holiday plans around the price of the destination, but it certainly helps. Especially in a country that has seen a lot of hard times. With Bali, families can take their kids and visit a whole other country for the same price as they can spend a long weekend on the Gold Coast. For the average family of 4, that is a big attraction.

During the times of covid-19 and international travel being taken away, families are suffering. Sure, there are plenty of places to see in your own country, but even with Pandemic Specials in place, there is still no way that a domestic holiday is going to shape up to the prices normally available in Bali. In the end, it’s not exactly rocket science.

Bali Is Close

Why do Australians love Bali so much? Because it’s close!

To get to Bali you only have to spend 6 to 7 hours on a plane. If you live in Perth that comes down to 3 and a half hours. Compare that to anywhere else in the world.

New Zealand is close, but that’s hardly overseas. So when you compare the 17 hour flight to Europe or America, to a holiday in Indonesia, the 6 hour flight wins hands down.

A Totally Different Culture

From a place as remote as Australia you have to go a long way to find such a completely different culture. For a parent who is interested in exposing their children to a different culture and teaching them about diversity, Bali being so close is a dream come true.

Local dances, ceremonies, funeral processions and cultural holidays happen all around you when you are in Bali. You literally LIVE the culture, and it is not uncommon to stop in the middle of your shopping trip to witness a cultural ceremony in the middle of the street that you have never seen before.

From Temples to Rice Paddies, you can’t go very far in Bali without your eyes widening at just how different the island is from anything that you are used to. Just wait until you see your first Bamboo scaffolding!

The Variety

Another reason that Australians love Bali is the amazing variety that exists on the island. Now, for many that have actually visited Bali, you may not have seen beyond the southern tourist districts. Places like Kuta, Legian and Seminyak have so much to see and do that many who come here for a week will not venture further than Jalan Legian. The travesty of this is that the rest of the island has SO much to offer.

Jungles, temples, waterfalls, rice paddies, mountains. The list is endless. Bali has it all, and on such a small island it only takes a couple of hours to get anywhere, depending of course on traffic and what time of day you head off. Spend a day in East Bali and soak up some history and culture. Head to Ubud to see some wonderful Rice Paddies and shop in traditional markets. Go to Munduk and see what real mountains are like and how beautiful waterfalls really can be. Take a trip to Uluwatu and Surf some of the best waves in the world.

At heart, Australians are an outdoor bunch. And Bali offers it all.

The Food

It goes without saying that the food in Bali is different to what you are used to. But just HOW different is the thing.

Most Australians that visit Bali are happy to eat in the local restaurants, or even in their resort whilst on holiday. They get to try the Nasi Goreng and some of the other local dishes. But for those that REALLY want to try something local, this is the place to come!

Visit the street food vendors and taste what a REAL sate is like. Watch them cook it over the coals right in front of you, then eat it sitting on the footpath. Take a trip up into the villages and find open air warungs under the trees beside the road and eat the best Babi (pork) that you have ever tasted. There are plenty of reasons that the people from Java, Jakarta in particular, are lining up to visit Bali, and food is the main one!

The Amazing People

What can I say about the people of Bali except that they ARE amazing. And I never really appreciated HOW amazing until I got out of the tourist areas and started to move further around the island.

In the southern part of Bali you meet some truly wonderful people. But it wasn’t until I ventured out into the other areas of the island that I really had my eyes opened. It was a trip to distant Pemuteran in the North West that I experienced some true hospitality. I was on my scooter, and every day that I was there I could not ride down a street without every single child calling out and waving to me. Even adults wanted to stop me to ask where I was from, for no other reason than just being friendly.

Everywhere you go in Bali you are greeted with a smile, and sometimes locals just wanting a photo with you. They love everyone, and if you are a stranger they seem to love you even more. It is something you have to experience for yourself to truly understand.

They Feel At Home

It’s a simple thing really. Australians love Bali so much because they can be so far from home, and still feel at home at the same time.

Don’t get me wrong, this IS a completely different country, and people have to respect that and respect it’s laws and culture.

The thing is that Australians can come to Bali and still not miss their Sunday Footy. The bars screen Australian sports live, and you can sit and actually chat to someone from home while you watch it. Down on the beach you can have a laugh with someone that is enjoying the same holiday as you, and you can have a joke with the person beside you in the morning buffet line.

Then there are the people, as I already mentioned above. Australians are a very friendly lot and don’t suffer rude people very easily. So they feel akin to the Balinese, and even drawn to them due to their naturally friendly nature. I know many people who holiday in Bali that have truly made life long friends with locals who they only see for one week a year.

At the end of the day people like to feel comfortable, and Australians simply feel comfortable in Bali.

So yes, Australians love Bali. This is a place that you can come back to time and time again, and every holiday will be different.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking it is just the Australians though. Take a trip anywhere on the island (right now I am remembering a trip to Mt Batur) and you will meet Americans, English, French , Russian, and don’t even get me started on the amount of Germans! So no matter where you are from, drop in for a visit.

Bali is waiting.

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Interested in Visiting Bali?

Check out these other articles!

Flights to Bali from Australia – Review and Guide for information on what airlines to fly, and why.

Complete Guide to Bali for all the information you will need, such as what to do and where to say in Bali.

7 Reasons to Visit Bali for inspiration and insights on WHY so many people choose Bali for their holidays time after time.

Why do we Love Waterfalls? Did you every wonder WHY we love waterfalls so much? Bali is brimming with some of the most amazing waterfalls on the planet. Check out why find them as peaceful as they are amazing.

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