What to Do with Children in Bali?
Part 1- The Beach and the Sea
By Ima Deville
Whether you are a resident or a tourist, Bali is an ideal place for families with young children. Parents often find that when they make the effort to find activities for their kids, they discover a whole new world out there. This article lists some of the best activities and personal favorites for parents who want to explore new places, revisit old ones and try activities they have never done before. Since we are on an island, let’s start exploring the fun activities on the beach and the sea. A day at the beach never fails to provide fun for kids. It is essential, though, that parents exert caution at all times because the sea can be treacherous in Bali. Different beaches lend themselves to distinct activities and age groups.
Sanur, with its protective reef, is a good option for little ones. At low tide the sea is too shallow to swim but enough to paddle. Children enjoy swimming and reach the small boats at high tide. To check the tides: www.indosurf.com.au/Tide_Charts.html.
A ride in a Jukung (Balinese outrigger) is fun and offers wonderful panoramic views of the coast. It can easily be organized by asking directly to their owners on the beach. In Sanur this activity is popular as the sea is calm. Sea kayaks can be rented from the beach in front of the restaurant Stiff Chilies and children can go solo or in a tandem. Flying a kite, especially from July to September, is exciting and children love emulating adults with huge kites, preparing for the Sanur kite festival. Choosing a kite from the various animal shapes and colors is also fun and there is always someone to help when the kite lands in a tall tree!
For the older and more intrepid, kite surfing generally takes place in the South end of the beach where it is less crowded with boats and surfers can go back and forth at incredible speed. Paragliding is popular with children going with their parents in a tandem. The ride only last 5 to 10 minutes but sensations and beautiful views are guarantied. The start is normally South of the Hyatt hotel on the beach.
Jimbaran Bay is also safe for small children and it is fun to go and buy fish from the Pasar Ikan and enjoy a seafood meal in the evening in one of the beach restaurants on the southern end of the beach. Nusa Dua and Benoa are famous for water sports off all types: banana boats, paragliding, wind surfing, jetski, “flying carpets” and many more crazy rides. At high tide, swimming is excellent and surfing is possible on the reef.
From Kuta to Seminyak, the waves are perfect to bodyboard and surfing for beginners. Body boarding is a relatively safe activity if children do not venture too far. Boards can be rented from the beach. Surf schools abound on Kuta beach and at the end of Jalan Double Six. As soon as children can swim and are not scared of waves, they can join group classes of 2.5hrs or take private lessons to learn the basics of surfing and safety. If you have a few notions of surf, it is easy to rent a children’s surfboard and help them try on their own. A popular surf school is Odysseys Surf School on
Jl. Pantai Kuta in the Mercure Hotel. www.odysseysurfschool.com Tel: +62 361 7420763. Email: odysseysurfschool@odysseysurfschool.com
Experienced surfers can venture further north and west around Canggu, Echo Beach and beyond and in the South on the Bukit around Padang Padang and Uluwatu. As spectators, it is entertaining to watch the surfers balancing on the rolling waves. From Blue Point Hotel in Uluwatu, you can buy a day pass including a snacky lunch, use of the infinity pool whilst having a great view of the best surfers down below.
Stand up paddle surf has become popular and is an excellent physical exercise. Bali Stand Up Paddle School has good instructors who can teach quickly the basics to families who want to try it out. MP Paddle Surf School on Jl.Sunset Road 18x Kuta. Phone: 081 9999 55884 Email: mp.paddlesurfbali@gmail.com.
Leaving the South of the island, on the East coast, White Beach is one of the jewels of Bali. Also named Secret Beach or Pasir Putih, it is a gorgeous cove surrounded by lush vegetation that has kept its natural feel. The water is limpid. A day outing is worth it. Many warungs on the beach grill fish and some provide loungers. A small fishing community lives there and they can take families on an outrigger to a small islet to enjoy the view of white beach and for some good snorkeling. Occasionally one can see pods of dolphins swimming back and forth across the bay. White beach can be hard to find the first time you go there. Midway between Candi Dasa and Amlapura, you need to keep your eyes open for a small sign on your right indicating Pasir Putih in a string of houses in a village called Perasi Tengah. Also on the East Coast of Bali, Tirta Gangga is a palace, home to the swimming pool of the kings. The setting is beautiful and a series of ponds abound with huge kois. There are also two large swimming pools with fresh spring water. Under an enormous sacred banyan tree by a temple, swimming in cool water, your children can imagine they are the King of this kingdom. Tirta Ayu is a restaurant overlooking the site where you can enjoy delicious Balinese specialties.
Amed, further up the East Coast, is a perfect snorkeling spot. Waters are transparent and calm with coral gardens starting in front of some of the hotels. Many colorful tropical fish can be seen and a small Japanese wreck lies in shallow waters about 20 meters from the shore. It is a good place to ask a fisherman to take your family on an outrigger and if the weather is clear, you will see the coast of Lombok and mighty Mount Agung. For aspiring divers, Tulamben and its WW2 Liberty wreck, a torpedoed US cargo ship, is accessible for children who are already confident swimmers. Only about 30 meters from shore, in relatively shallow water, children marvel at the sight of the broken wreck and the myriad of sea life living on it. It can be accessed from the pebble beach from the shore at the level of Puri Madhya Bungalows. Diving the wreck is also an unforgettable experience for young divers.
Perhaps the best snorkelling in Bali is around Menjangan Island off the North West coast. Many companies from all over Bali organize day tours but it is also possible to drive to Mimpi Resort Menjangan and contract a boatman from there. The visibility, coral and fish are amazing.
Odyssey Submarine has a sightseeing submarine and children of all ages can enjoy the underwater world in a safe and comfortable atmosphere. It is a good initiation to the seabed, coral and fish. Submarine Safaris Asia, Jl. Raya Kuta No. 9X Kuta. Tel: +62-361-759777 reservation@submarine-bali.com
Scuba diving is possible for children above 10 years old. Several dive operators offer the Junior Open Water Diver scuba certification course and some even have the Bubblemakers and the Seal Team programs for 8 years old and above to teach the basics of breathing underwater and safety rules.
Cruises are popular with families who enjoy sharing a very special moment out at sea. Day cruises to Lembongan Island are excellent for snorkelling at various spots around the island. Sunset cruise from Benoa harbour is very special too. Bali Hai Cruises offer six excellent daily cruises to choose from. Bali Hai Cruises +62 361 720 331 sales@balihaicruises.com
Dolphins fascinate children and they can swim with them or go and observe them in their natural environment from a boat. In Lovina on the North coast, Melka Excelsior Hotel offers packages or it is also possible to walk in and buy a ticket to see and swim with the dolphins. The encounter lasts around 20 minutes and children are accompanied by supervisors who know the dolphins. The contact with dolphin is said to be very soothing and therapeutic. Parents can join too. info@bali-dolphin-swimming.com. A similar activity is also offered on Serangan Island near Sanur. Info: www.balidolphins.com. Dolphin tours start from Lovina beach in the North and leave around 6.00am. Tours usually combine the highest waterfall in Bali (Gigit Waterfall) and the visit to a temple in the lake Bratan (Ulundanu Temple). Whether you will see the dolphins depends on your luck and tours can get crowded. The issue of not fully respecting the dolphins has also been raised but if your families really want to see these mammals in their natural habitat, this is where to go. www.bali-day-trip.com. Email: info@bali-day-trip.com
In the North of the island, many waterfalls provide excitement for children but you must be very careful. Locals can tell you if it is safe to swim. Flashfloods happen and currents can be strong so children must be good swimmers and you should not go in the river during periods of thunderstorms. However, it is great fun to drift down the river and jump from rocks. Worth visiting are Git Git waterfalls near Singaraja and Sing Sing waterfalls outside Lovina. The staff in hotels and guesthouses can always direct you to lesser-known local waterfalls.
Hot springs are a curiosity for children and many can be found in the North of Bali. Yeh Sanih has swimming pools and pleasant gardens. Air Panas Banjar, near Lovina, has three swimming pools and is set in a lush tropical setting.
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
