Bali for kids: best things to do

Hit Waterbom – Asia’s best water park

If there were a prize for Bali’s top attraction voted by kids alone, experiencing Waterbom in Kuta would win hands down. With slides named Smashdown 2.0, Climax and Fast ‘n' Fierce, how could it possibly lose? As well as twelve slides over 3.8ha, Waterbom boasts beautifully landscaped gardens and an international range of food options that outshine the usual theme park offerings.

If your kids are old enough to run wild, grab the opportunity to take a tube-for-two and float the Lazy River, or sample the tropical offerings at the swim-up bar. Truly, fun for all ages.

Get crafty at Pondok Pekak

For less adrenaline-driven families, at Pondok Pekak in Ubud the kids can get hands-on with the crafts they’ve seen throughout the island. Bali’s rich artistic heritage is covered, with classes in fruit carving, woodcarving, silversmithing, Balinese dance, Balinese painting, gamelan and offering making. Kids as young as five love the dance classes – performed in traditional costumes – and budding silversmiths can take home their handmade creations. The library here has plenty of kid’s books in English, and it’s free to enjoy them on the upstairs reading terrace.

Kids’ surfing lessons at Legian

What better way to put all that beach time to good use? There are loads of surf schools on Bali’s beaches, so your kids can learn the right techniques to surf safely and with confidence. (Plus, you get some relaxing beach time.)

Along with Kuta Beach, Legian is a great spot for beginner surfers, with a sandy break and gentle waves from one to three feet. Plus, some of the best surf schools are here: for kids, the ‘Little Ripper’ classes at the Rip Curl School of Surf, the intro to surf lessons at the Quicksilver Surf Academy and the kid’s and family lessons at UP2U Surf School are highly recommended.

Pedal together on a family bike tour

Change the pace by taking the family out to explore Bali’s back roads on a mountain biking tour. Starting out from Ubud, the local guides of Bali Bike Baik Tours lead groups through the peaceful villages and picturesque rice paddies of the countryside, where you’ll witness rural life and sync in with the daily rhythms of the local rice farmers. Bikes are available for kids as young as seven, and there are baby seats for the littlies (and tandems if you want to let your partner do all the hard work).

Ride the Ayung River rapids

The Ayung River, Bali’s longest, runs through a lush valley close to Ubud. Its relatively gentle flow – between class I and II rapids – mean that you can go on a family paddling adventure even with younger children. The journey is usually a mix of paddling and steady cruising (with a little boulder-dodging to keep things interesting), winding through some of Bali’s most verdant landscapes. You’ll float through lush rainforest and rice fields, passing through stunning cliffs (look out for the scene from the Ramayana carved into the rock face), and experiencing Bali’s spectacular scenery from a new perspective. Rafting trips with Bali Sobek include lunch by the river, and are suitable for children from 7 years.

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