24 fun things to do with kids in Bali that will bring out everyone’s inner child

Versi Bahasa Indonesia: https://indonesia.tripcanvas.co/id/bali/tempat-wisata-anak-keluarga/

Co-written by Dawn Pillay, Sarah Shahzad, Jiayi Ng, Edira Putri, Oceana Setaysha

Do you remember how easy it was travelling alone or before you had kids? No plans, just a rucksack and a longing for adventure! Now look at you, all responsible and grown up with little ones in tow – how did that happen?!

We love that people travel with their kids,u and we searched high and low for some awesome fun family activities that will keep your sense of adventure alive.

Also read: 

10 hidden farms in Bali you and your kids will love to explore

17 family-friendly restaurants in Bali that are kiddie heavens

24 fun things to do with kids in Bali that will bring out everyone’s inner child

No need to stay by the pool, get out and enjoy the best that Bali has to offer. Your children are the tickets to some of the best spots in Bali – the ones that the solo travelers have no idea about.

Cancel the babysitter – this one is for the whole family!

1. Dine at a bamboo tree house with suspension bridge: Temega Tree House, Karangasem

Your kids (especially the teens) will love you if you bring them to Temega Tree House – a restaurant, tree house with a view and a suspension bridge all rolled into one.

After digging into your local snacks, you can walk from your table, along the bamboo suspension bridge to the tree house where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the lush rice terraces of Karangasem from above!

The bridge is too dangerous for kids under 3 years old, and if your little ones are below the age of 10, it is recommended to walk up the bridge with them.

There’s even a little swing if you just want to chill with the younger ones!

2. How about a Pirate Dinner Cruise Party! – Dinner Pirate

Cracking your brains thinking of how to give your friends or family that one incredible experience during your time in Bali?

It’s simple. Bring them for the pirate dinner cruise party with Sea Safari Cruises! Trust us, it doesn’t get better than this.

1. You get to pretend you’re a pirate for a night – wear pirate costumes, and play fun games with the ‘pirate’ crew!

2. There’s great entertainment with live music, belly dance shows, fire dance shows, and fun games with door prizes.

3. It’s all topped off with a delectable buffet dinner aboard the cruise as the sun sets and the ship gently sails on the sea!

You’ll get some pretty fun photos of your night aboard the pirate dinner cruise party, and have a whacky and unforgettable time with your family or friends.

Sound good? It definitely sounds great to us!

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3. King of the swingers – Bali Treetop Adventure (Tabanan)

What’s the best thing for your little monkeys? A good ol’ swing through the trees! Bali is home to some of the most spectacular forests and jungles in the world – fact.

Now you can enjoy the view from a whole new angle. After walking under the sea, you can now walk high in the trees, thanks to this exhilarating treetop adventure.

With a choice of 7 circuits of varying difficulties, you can decide where you want to start, and perfect your skills with a choice of 72 obstacles.

Starting at just 2 metres up, you can get a feel for heights before advancing to the more nerve-wrecking levels, which go up to 20 metres!

You will always be attached to a safety wire, but we think that even you might hesitate on some of the challenges (we did!) – while the kids put you to shame. Just watch them scamper from tree to tree without a second thought.

For a grand finale, the stunning scenery will literally fly by as you whizz along the 160m zipline back down to earth.

The whole family will be exhausted after a day of adrenaline-filled activities, so it will be an early night for everyone.

4. Experience the life of an astronaut – Upside Down House Indonesia

This house in Bali is exactly like how it’s named – gravity plays no role here as everything is upside down!

Here’s where you’ll be able to pretend to be an alien astronaut on Earth, “floating” around everyday living areas such as kitchens, bedrooms, and even toilets.

Fly around what seems like a normal house and experience a (pretty weird but awesome) change of perspective. You’ll be surprised at how different a living room can seem when everything is turned on its head (literally).

Can you unclog a toilet without gravity holding you down? Although one wonders if a toilet would even need unclogging when everything is upside down… sorry.

Just make sure you bring a friend along when you explore the wonders of this museum. As much as selfie sticks have helped us in loner-dom, these loyal buddies won’t work here.

5. Big Tree Farms Bamboo Chocolate Factory – The Legend in Making

What’s better to do with your kids than taking a sneak peek into the behind-the-scenes of something they love?

Calling all chocoholics – it’s time to gather and witness the making of those chocolate bars you’ve been having some serious crush on.

You can do so at this perfect and exclusive place, which is also known as one of Bali’s hidden farms.

Take the one-hour tour to watch your favorite ‘substance’ being transformed from beans to bars.

The kids will love this place too – the unique structure of this factory isn’t something to miss.

In fact, CNN even named this world’s largest commercial bamboo structure as a bamboo cathedral!

6. Where to play, and stay for the ultimate fun family vacation! – Waterbom Bali

One super fun family thing to do? Head to Waterbom for a day (or more) packed with many thrilling activities! Kids can get pretty cranky in the Bali heat, so cool them off with a day at this incredible waterpark – which also happens to be number one in Asia and number 3 in the world!

With 22 rides and attractions available, including a swimming pool with a swim-up bar, whether you want to relax, eat and drink, or go absolutely crazy on all the fantastic rides – Waterbom Bali has it all.

What is your favourite kind of ride? The kids might have a ton of fun challenging each other on the latest Fast ‘n’ Fierce ride with 2 open slides positioned side by side – so challengers get to slide ‘n’ race all the way down!

If you are a family of adrenaline junkies, have a go on Climax – we dare you! Stand in a small chamber before the trap door opens, and you plummet 16 metres down a near vertical drop. Fly through the rest of the ride at 70kph, and don’t forget to breathe again when you get to the end.

For something a little more educational, make sure to bring the kids to Flowrider, where you learn to surf the waves! (We have surfer friends who love the flowrider too!) Whether you want to surf standing up or laying down, the choice is entirely yours (and you just might be able to bring your new surfing skills to a safe beach!).

Finally, make sure to check out the lazy river! In the baking afternoon heat, there is nothing better than floating through the gorgeous park and enjoying the cool refreshing water – the perfect opportunity to relax after all those heart-stopping rides!

When you’re hungry after an amazing day of water fun, there are restaurants available in Waterbom with different types of delicious cuisines. Better yet, there’s a super convenient cashless payment system you can use to pay for your food! (All you need to do is simply charge your wristband by topping it up at various points in the park.)

7. Climb Up the Craziest Treehouse – Rumah Pohon Desa Batu Dawa Tulamben Karangasem

Explore one of nature’s amazing quirks when you visit the Tree House at Batudawa Karangasem.

With its branches wrapped around the little house, the tree looks like it pushed the house up in the air as it grew out of the ground!

Apart from the unique Tree House, there are other interesting structures you and your kids may explore, and climb up – like the little stone terraced hill with steps for you to climb all the way to the peak.

One of the many off-the-beaten-path finds you’ll be glad to visit, don’t miss out on the quirky little Balinese wonders here!

8. The warung with incredible views and activities – Warung Rekreasi Bedugul

If you’re in Bedugul, it’s a given that you should dine at a place that gives you a view that lives up to Bedugul’s picturesque reputation.

This is where Warung Rekreasi comes in with its stunning views of the mountain and the lake.

First, fill up with food like betutu and grilled chicken (we hear these are delicious!), and then wander around the restaurant/hotel complex to check out other activities you may do.

There’s a playground for the kids, an orchid garden and organic farms, a coffee plantation, and even a bamboo forest where you will definitely take photos at, and more!

Dining at Warung Rekreasi is something like an all-in-one experience where you get to not only eat, but take in the stunning views, and hop along to other activities too.

9. Finding Nemo – The Ultimate Seawalker Experience (Nusa Dua)

Confused by the title? Well, there will be no miracles today; no one is walking on water! Instead, you are going to walk under it. Even the non-swimmers in the family can enjoy this underwater discovery.

It does not get better than this, getting up close and personal with the fish and stunning aquatic life – you won’t even get your hair wet.

Just a short boat trip from the Grand Mirage Resort takes you to the purpose built ‘dive site’. Prepare to be amazed as you put on your special helmets and descend down the steps into the aquatic paradise.

You can hand feed the fish (how fun!), or just watch as they swim around the unbelievably gorgeous live coral formations.

Our favourite bit? You get to look like an Astronaut in the cool space age helmets. The kids will be so excited about showing these photos off when they get back to school.

10. You won’t believe your eyes – Gallery Trick Art 3D (Seminyak)

When the kids see what is on offer at the Trick Art 3D gallery, they’ll be sure to have the best time of their lives.

With over 80 incredibly realistic paintings in a variety of themes, you won’t be stuck for choice. The best part? You can stroll around and pose for photos at your leisure.

The kids will love taking photos of you being chased by a dinosaur or squirted with water by an elephant. There are plenty of family-friendly backgrounds too, where you can all ride a horse together or recline in a cart.

Your little Picassos can choose their background pictures and get creative with their poses. There is free wifi available so you can send the grandparents a photo straight away.

This gallery not only guarantees hours of family fun but also the best holiday photos – making it the perfect time to get snap-happy!

Trick 3D Gallery (Seminyak) has been open for less than a year and is growing in popularity every day, so it’s well worth a visit before everyone finds out about it.

11. Horsing around – Aravina Restaurant @ Bali Equestrian Centre

Whether your kid is prepping to be a Horse Whisperer or just wants to have some fun in the sun, they’ll surely enjoy the Aravina Restaurant, located within the Bali Equestrian Centre at Canggu.

Your little animal lovers will be delighted at the pony rides available, and if that’s not their thing, the premises are also equipped with a wide variety of toys and play areas – a sandpit, cubby house, swings – you name it.

There’s also a TV room where you can keep the kids quiet and content with a movie, and a swimming pool right beside the restaurant, so your child will always be in your line of sight.

Imagine sipping at a glass of wine leisurely and digging into one of the restaurant’s popular sunset platters as you watch your children have the time of their lives – doesn’t that sound like a great outing already?

12. Your ticket to the chocolate factory – Charly’s Chocolate Factory

Have you always wanted to know what the inside of Charlie’s Chocolate Factory looked like? Well, you don’t need a Golden Ticket to get to this Charlie’s Charly’s Chocolate Factory.

The only difference is, this chocolate factory was not built by an eccentric Willy Wonka, but by an American expat named…(surprise, surprise!) Charly.

15 minutes away from Candidasa, this cluster of wacky bamboo houses situated at the end of Jasri beach look a little out of place. In fact, some visitors even compare the quirky infrastructure to a smurf’s hut!

Here, they sell healthy raw dark chocolate made from cocoa beans grown on the island. Be prepared for some chocolate tasting as the staff brings you around on a sampling tour.

How could you resist a snack that is both decadent, and guilt-free?
In Charly’s Chocolate Factory, there is also a small soap studio where you can purchase delicious smelling handmade soaps.

Best of all, there is even a giant swing outside, where you can have fun with your little ones. Swing yourself towards the ocean, or take an Instagram photo to end this scintillating tour that engages all your senses!

Check out this video!

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A video posted by TripCanvas (@tripcanvas.travel) on Aug 2, 2015 at 8:02am PDT

13. Off the Caribbean seas – The Pirate’s Bay

If you’re after a slightly more unique experience for your kids, The Pirates Bay is a once-in-a-lifetime experience of eating in a treehouse and being a pirate for a day.

That’s right, they’ll no longer scream and run around or pretend to climb a tree as though it’s the mast of a ship.

Located just off the Nusa Dua beach, The Pirate Bay’s authentic-looking pirate ship and treehouses will definitely awe the little ones.

They’ll even be able to try out various activities such as pirate games, swings and ropes.

Meanwhile, you’ll be able to go for a quick swim at the nearby beach and enjoy your meal in peace for once – other happy parents have satisfied their taste buds with special dishes like the fried banana with cheese and grilled tuna.

Imagine listening to your child’s euphoric “ahoy!” as you dig into your sumptuous meal and down a cup of ice cold juice on a sweltering hot day.

Doesn’t that sound simply idyllic?

14. Dive (and dine) into Ubud’s very own rabbit hole – Maha Restaurant

As much as we can’t get enough of cat and dog cafes, how about a rabbit cafe for a change?

Dining at Maha Restaurant will leave you feeling a little like Alice in Wonderland – bringing you up close and personal with the cutest bunnies you will ever see.

Especially if you have kids who are tired of walking around Ubud, bringing them to Maha Restaurant will be a great refresher for them, as they get to pet the bunnies and interact with them.

Order coffee, pancakes, crepes, juice, or even an espresso martini (we hear they have fantastic cocktails!) and get set for one of the many lovely afternoons to be had in Ubud.

Watch the Maha rabbits hop around, do bunny binkies (google it) and nibble away as you steal a restful moment from your packed itinerary of plans – your kids will thank you for it.

15. Take a walk on the dark side – Safari with a difference (Gianyar)

This adventure will guarantee that you are the coolest parents around. Wild animals, fire, and getting to stay up way past their bedtime – it’s every kids’ dream and you won’t be bored either.

Bali Safari & Marine Park boasts a mind-blowing array of over 60 species of animals from small to tall, and cute to just plain ugly.

The freshwater aquarium, feeding displays and animal and cultural shows will keep everyone entertained and enlightened.

Is piranha feeding too dull for you? Surely you aren’t bored of elephants already? Have you already eaten dinner with tigers? Well, how about a night safari?

Once darkness descends, you will begin with a guided walk around the park. It might look quiet, but this is when most of the animals really come to life.

Watch the komodo dragons roam below you, or visit the bat cave to experience the flurry of night-time activity.

After meeting the owls and lemurs in the Bali theatre, it’s time for the highlight of the night – the safari! You will be perfectly safe in a cage as you spend 20 minutes journeying through the African Savannah.

Top off the evening with a traditional Balinese fire-dancing show, and a delicious BBQ in the N’kuchiro Bar & Grill.

The only downside? With this much excitement after bedtime, you are going to have some grumpy overtired little monkeys of your own the next day! 

16. Living, loving and learning – Pondok Pekak Library

Most kids probably don’t appreciate ‘a trip to the library’ or ‘a trip to an art gallery’, but they will definitely love the Pondok Pekak Library.

Whether you want to learn how to make traditional Balinese offerings, carve fruit, play the gamelan or dance your heart out – this is a library with a difference.

Of course, it has a fantastic display of books if reading is your thing, but wouldn’t you rather learn how to make some beautiful jewellery or a lovely wooden mask?

The children can make something special to take home and show their friends – although we aren’t sure how long a carved watermelon would last in a suitcase!

The fantastic teachers at Pondok Pekak Library go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome, while offering a fantastically authentic Balinese experience that you just can’t replicate anywhere else.

Learning really can be fun, for kids and adults alike. Plus you will sound super smug at the school gates when you tell the other parents that your children loved visiting the library and art galleries during your amazing holiday at Bali!

17. In time for a time out – Jiwa Spa at The Conrad (Tanjung Benoa)

This is the perfect excuse to get a little bit of ‘me time’ whilst still keeping the whole family together. Make your little ones feel like princes and princesses with some special bonding time at the spa.

Jiwa Spa specialises in treatments for ‘little souls’ and offers a fantastic ‘Mum & Me’ package. Don’t worry dad, we wouldn’t leave you out. There is an equally good ‘Dad & Me’ package too!

Mum can unwind with a foot bath, ocean flow massage and express facial, whilst her little ‘Jiwa Princess’ gets a foot bath, a mini massage, sparkle manicure and mini facial – just like her mum.

The men of the family won’t need much encouragement when they see what is on offer. Dad gets a revitalising vitamin scrub, whilst the ferocious ‘Jiwa Warrior’ of the household gets a foot bath, mini massage and chocolate mud bath.

After such an action-packed holiday, we think everyone will be ready to relax. And what better way to relax than treatments for mum, dad and the kids!

18. Take an Eco Tour – The Green Village

Yes we know – all the villages in Bali are green with all those rice fields and tropical vegetation, but this one is super special.

The Green Village was designed in 2006 by jewellery designer John Hardy, and later finished by his daughter. The result? A collection of bespoke, luxury bamboo homes all seamlessly integrated into the Ayung Valley nature.

Can you imagine a spectacular mansion made from only bamboo? You have to see it to believe it.

Take a tour of the village to learn more about this amazing eco project. Visit the bamboo factory and see bamboo being harvested, treated and crafted into building materials and furniture.

The Green School is where you can turn your hand to model workshops, building and joinery classes, and so much more.

Got green fingers and would love to find out more gardening tips and tricks? Stop by the Kul Kul farm to learn the art of permaculture and sustainable farming.

If you are blown away by what the village has to offer, you can always look at staying in one of the beautiful houses. They are all available to rent for the week, so you can wake up in the village every morning.

19. Mud, mud, glorious mud – Mepantigan (Ubud)

You spend your lives trying to keep your little ones clean and tidy – now it’s time to let them run wild and get filthy with some wholesome family fun.

If you already know what Mepantigan is (without googling it) then we are very impressed with your Balinese knowledge. Basically, it means mud games!

Mepantigan are traditional cultural games, which usually take place in the rice fields as a token of respect to Dewi Sri, the rice goddess.

Join Putu and Ayu for an afternoon of wrestling, frog catching, tug of war and mud horse racing. These lovely locals offer an authentic Balinese experience that you will never forget.

Let kids be kids and burn off some energy wrestling in the mud. If you are really lucky, they might even learn something about the tradition of Mepantigan. Mums can also have a relaxing mud massage – it might be a bit different compared to your usual spa experience though.

No point bringing the baby wipes for this one, you are going to need something more substantial when it comes to cleaning up. Maybe a hosepipe!

20. Save the sharks – Eco Tour (Denpasar)

The whole family can earn some karma points with this marine conservation and eco tour.

Your fantastic tour host Wayan rescues young sharks from local fishermen,  rehabilitates them in his shark conservation nursery, and releases them back into the wild.

This is an incredible experience to get up close and personal with these majestic animals. And if you are really brave, take up our challenge and have a swim with them – if you dare!

Prefer smaller aquatic animals? Then the sea horses might just be the highlight of this adventure. Just watch them curl their tails around each other and sway in the current before they swim away.

And if you love turtles, you will be blown away by the visit to the Turtle Conservation and Education Centre.

Your kids will be simply delighted to interact with the baby turtles. If you are really lucky, you might also get to see them be released back into the wild.

This is an amazing educational and enlightening experience for the whole family. And better yet, the profits from this activity are re-invested into the shark conservation programme.

If the great tour wasn’t enough, then knowing that you are also making a difference to the otherwise declining shark numbers will definitely make it worthwhile.

21. Monkey Madness – Ubud Monkey Forest

Now if you think that your cheeky little monkeys are a handful, just wait until you see these critters.

This will be the highlight of your family holiday, and at only USD$2 per pax, it’s definitely a great bargain. With over 600 Balinese long tailed macaques in the forest, that is a lot of monkey for your money.

Before the children spend all their pocket money on monkey treats, we must offer a few words of warning; if you leave any food in your backpack or pockets, the monkeys will sniff it out and can get a little scary.

The most entertaining/terrifying part of your visit will be watching greedy monkeys jumping on people who have smuggled in some food.

Remember that monkeys are wild animals, and while all the monkeys in Monkey Forest are frequently screened for diseases such as rabies, a bite can ruin your holiday and this incredible experience.

Enjoy watching the monkeys from a safe distance and make sure to remind the children about the dangers of wild animals.

If you are really keen to feed the monkeys, then you can buy bananas at the forest entrance –  just dont say that we didn’t warn you!

In Bali, monkeys have considerable cultural significance, and in Balinese Hinduism, they are thought to embody both positive and negative forces. As such, the Balinese both love and hate them. In any event, these monkeys are well-loved and protected.

22. When in Rome – Go for a Balinese cooking class

Not all Balinese food may fit your tastebuds, but it’s doubtless that this tiny island houses some of the greatest food out there, and its tropical dishes are getting increasingly popular.

And since you’re visiting, why not add some of these exotic dishes to your cooking repertoire?

You can sign up for cooking classes with Bumbu Bali, an award-winning Balinese restaurant and cooking school. Classes are helmed by Heinz von Holzen, a famed chef and cookbook author.

You’ll be introduced to the exotic history behind traditional Balinese dishes, shop for ingredients yourself, and even get to make popular dishes such as fried rice, grilled chicken and lamb stew.

By the time the lesson is over, you’ll be able to return to your home country with your Balinese Master Chef certificate.

23. Go out to sea on glass-bottomed boats

Want to see the beautiful coral reefs, but afraid of getting wet?

No worries, you can definitely do so, and we promise, it doesn’t involve any aquarium visits. You just need to go out to sea in a glass-bottomed boat.

These boats are specially built with a pane of glass at the bottom that acts as a mask under the water, to allow even non-swimmers to experience the underwater scene, just like dry snorkeling.

As the boat glides over the reef, you’ll be able to see in detail the fish, corals and other marine life in their natural habitat. You can even take photos and feed the fish, all from the safety of the boat.

The best ride? Try Nusa Lembongan day tour, where the reefs are blooming!

Also read: The complete guide to the Maldives of Bali – the Nusa islands

24. Cirque du Soleil meets culture of Indonesia – Devdan Show

What makes the Devdan dance and culture show so different from the many traditional dance performances in Bali?

It perfectly reflects the “Zeitgeist” of Indonesia, marrying the rich culture of the country with modernity and contemporary elements. The 90-minute world-class show takes you on a journey throughout Bali…

Sumatra, Java…

Borneo and Papua.

One minute you are admiring an intricate traditional dance performed by an array of dancers on a state-of-the-art stage, bustling with excitement and countless stage effects ranging from torrential rain to flame bursts.

In the next, you are taken by surprise with modern solo and duo acrobatic aerial acts, so beautifully choreographed and performed.

Devdan Show is perfect for all ages; and the stories are easily understood with discreet signage of the various acts in numerous languages throughout the show.

Those eager to learn about different Indonesian regions will be leaving the visually and artistically delightful show with memories well beyond the exit door.

PS: Stage and artistic directors of the famed Cirque du Soleil were involved in the acrobatic training and stage creation when Devdan Show was launched in 2011. Devdan Show was awarded Indonesia Travel and Tourism Awards (ITTA) Foundation’s prestigious “Indonesia’s leading tourism show 2014/2015” shortly after!

Do you know of other amazing things to do with kids we’ve missed? We’d love to hear about it!

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