Our first timers guide to Bali

Why Bali?

With direct flights from Auckland and a simple visa process for NZ passport holders, Bali is one of the easiest holiday option for Kiwis.

Here are a few reasons so many of our customers are loving Bali.

1. You'll find fantastic luxury at great value. With private pools and kitchen facilities, five-star villas let you live like a king in for the coast of a three-star stay elsewhere. Villas offer all the comforts of refined living at a low cost, while many beachfront resorts boast balconies, ocean views and complimentary beach chairs or cabanas. It’s not difficult to find resorts where you can enjoy on-site spas, fine dining and Bali’s best surf within eye shot. Water parks, shopping malls, beach bars and traditional markets are all on the doorstep.

It's family-friendly. Family resorts often have pools, slides and kids’ clubs, while villas offer private pools and extra space. House of Travel can help arrange childproof fencing for your villa pool, as well as daily servicing and butlers. Pick locations that are convenient for restaurants, beaches and shopping.

Besides beautiful beaches, you'll find heaps to do. White water rafting, mountain cycling and country back roads in a land cruiser. Bali is the land of intrepid opportunities. Ubud’s verdant rainforest is also a Balinese highlight and we can put you in the very heart of it - staying at stylish bungalows overlooking lush green canopies.

Where to stay.

Kiwis like to stay south, because south is where it's at. 

FOR FUN: KUTA
Travel time from airport: 10 minutes north. The backpackers’ fave, chaotic but charismatic, bar-hoppers and surf dudes hit the wide, whitesand beaches in (almost) equal numbers. Bali is always evolving, as are its diverse areas, so even though Kuta was once the top-spot for holidaymakers, you can now enjoy an enriching Balinese break across the island.

FOR A STYLISH BEACH SCENE: SEMINYAK
Travel time from airport: 20-40 minutes north. North of Kuta, but more grown-up, Seminyak is saturated in restaurants, world-class resorts, all-day beach bars and endless beach. Love shops and spas? There are plenty of both, and when hunger strikes, abscond to Ginger Moon. New Zealand-born Dean Keddell will blow your mind with his fusion of Asian and Western flavours.

TO JUST SWITCH OFF: SANUR
Travel time from airport: 20 minutes north-east. With a relaxed feel, Sanur’s hotels and bars are quieter, while families particularly like the protective reef and breakwaters, delivering calm water for children. When you want to introduce the kids to traditional Balinese cuisine, try a warung. Scattered across Bali, these small, family-owned eateries serve dishes passed down from generation to generation.

BALI’S CULTURAL HEART: UBUD
Travel time from airport : 1 hour north. Cool mountains, rainforest and rice paddies, located in the uplands of Bali and in total serenity. Dotted with stunning temples, it’s naturally spiritual with an emphasis on wellness. Don’t worry about ‘squeezing in’ your spa treatment here. At Spa Bali, the doors are open from 10am-10pm, seven days a week.

IN ITS OWN BALI BUBBLE: NUSA DUA
Travel time from airport: 25 minutes south-east. A plethora of groomed, gated resorts, Nusa Dua was built in the 70s for the same purpose it serves today: Upscale accommodation, solitude and all-day beach lounging. A popular must-do here is Sunday Brunch at a five-star hotel. Try the St Regis or The Mulia. Both have great reputations for a lazy yet delicious Sunday start. Booking is essential.

FOR THE BEST WAVES: ULUWATU & BINGIN 
Travel time from airport: 45 minutes south. A dreamland for surfers, flush with cliff top resorts and villas, as well as must-see Uluwatu Temple. For the party-lovers, Bali’s most infamous Sunday session exists in Uluwatu. Clinging to steep rock, Single Fin enjoys elevated views across endless wave breaks. Enjoy acoustic jams, share plates and Bintangs dished out like ice-cold gifts from the gods.

FOR ESCAPISM: NUSA LEMBONGAN
Travel time from airport: 15 minutes east and a 30-45 minute boat from Benoa Harbour. Take a boat from Benoa Harbour and immerse yourself in the natural serenity of Nusa Lembongan Island. If you’re a fan of fresh, locally-sourced cuisine, The Deck café perches on the boardwalk along Jungut Batu beach. Offering a sleek, sand-tickling dining venue, shake off your jandals and order a smoothie.

FOR ISOLATION: GILI ISLANDS 
Travel time from airport: 2-3 hours by boat. Alternatively, fly to Lombok & catch a boat from there. Choose from Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno or Gili Air – each with their own personaility but all refreshingly uncrowded. Perfect for small boutique resorts, or you might like to consider a traditional lumbung. The Gili Islands are also a treat for foodies. For jumbo prawns and spring rolls at super cheap prices, Gili Trawangan Night Market is overflowing with local delicacies.

Where to eat, drink & chill.

Often described as a mini Melbourne, internationally acclaimed chefs arrive in Bali from across the globe. The result is high-calibre dining. If you’re staying at a villa, the markets provide plenty of fresh produce to cook for yourself, or hire a private chef and if you’re resort-bound, happy hours and drink promotions are plentiful.

Almost as delicious? The value! Food and drinks are a third of New Zealand’s prices. Gorge on delicious bowls of Mee Goreng for as little as NZ$4, and Bintang (a delicious local beer) for NZ$2 each.  

GINGER MOON, SEMINYAK
Acclaimed chefs are common in Bali, with celebrated chefs swarming there from NZ, Aussie and beyond. New Zealand-born Dean Keddell will blow your mind with his refined menu of Asian and Western fusion at Ginger Moon.

SINGLE FIN, ULUWATU
Bali’s most infamous Sunday session. Clinging to an Uluwatu cliff bluff, Single Fin enjoys elevated views across endless wave breaks. Enjoy acoustic jams, share plates and Bintangs dished out like ice-cold gifts from the gods.

LA LAGUNA GYPSY CIRCUS, CANGGU
Nothing shy of a glorified gypsy park, this one’s littered with colourful gypsy caravans. Enjoy an extensive cocktail list, golden beach, a Bohemian vibe, and a grassy lawn fronting the shoreline.

ST. REGIS BALI RESORT, NUSA DUA
A popular pastime is Sunday Brunch at a five star hotel, especially in Nusa Dua. Try the St Regis and The Mulia. Both have great reputations for a lazy yet delicious Sunday start. Booking is essential.

WARUNGS, ALL OVER BALI
You didn’t book a trip to Bali to eat burgers. Try a traditional Warung which is a small family-owned eatery serving traditional Balinese food. Gorge on bowls of Mee Goring for NZ$4 and Bintangs for NZ$2.