8 Thrilling Family Fun Adventures in Bali
Ahhhh, Bali. “Island of the gods,” paradise on Earth, renowned for its idyllic beaches and soul-lifting meditation retreats. It might not be the first destination that springs to mind when planning a family vacation. However, hidden beneath its tranquil exterior lies a treasure trove of exhilarating activities waiting to be discovered by families with kids in tow.
From adrenaline-pumping, thrill-seeking rides to once-in-a-lifetime experiences, Bali presents a diverse range of activities for a last minute getaway that will create positive memories in the minds of your children, even in years to come.
In this guide, we’ll delve into the vibrant world of family fun in Bali. Families seeking excitement and adventure will find no shortage of thrills and spills to embark upon together right here!
THRILL LEVEL: 😯😯
Pony Practice
You might not be able to make unicorns come alive for your kids, but giving them a horsie holiday may just be the closest thing. At the Bali Equestrian Centre, pony camps are a magical event for kids to interact with ponies all day long.
Not only do they get to ride on a pony, they will also learn more about ponies and what exactly goes into caring for them, from washing and grooming to feeding and saddling. And unlike some basic “pony rides” elsewhere, here we’re talking about learning some real riding skills; how to mount a pony, how to keep your balance, steer, and how to get your pony to follow your instructions as to when to trot, or when to stop.
These two-day pony camps are available for kids aged 6-12 years old, and can be tailored depending on the riding experience of each group of kids. You can even book a private family camp if you’re travelling with extended family and have at least four kids in your group.
THRILL LEVEL: 😯😯
Elephant Experiences
Being able to personally interact with an elephant even just once in your life — such a majestic, grand, towering icon of the jungle — can really be such a profoundly amazing experience that will leave wonderful memories for forever.
At Mason Elephant Park & Lodge in Bali, incredible life-changing elephant experiences await. Imagine riding bareback atop an elephant into their bathing lake (apparently one of their favourite rituals of the day!), scrubbing an elephant down to keep them clean, walking an elephant so it gets its daily exercise, and going on a twilight elephant trek in the misty forests of Taro.
You can also stay over at the lodge and simply watch them engage with each other in play, right from your accommodations. Some room packages even include an elephant chauffeur — yes, it is exactly what it sounds like, where an elephant comes to pick you up from your doorstep!
Activities with elephants abound in Indonesia, but what sets the Mason Elephant Park & Lodge apart is being the first elephant park in Asia to be awarded the Gold Certification from the Asian Captive Elephants Standards (ACES).
After a few rescue operations from Sumatran ‘containment camps’, 27 elephants were brought 1,700km to this area in Taro-Ubud, so they could experience true sanctuary in an environment as close as possible to their original habitat in the Sumatran jungle. Since then they’ve even welcomed five little ones!
Knowing that the park works closely with ACES to ensure that all their elephants are receiving the highest level of welfare possible is important for us as visitors. This assurance that they are being well taken care of, and that our interactions with them are not harming their wellbeing, all contribute to us truly being able to enjoy our experiences with these unfortunately critically endangered gentle giants.
THRILL LEVEL: 😯😯😯
Wet and Wild
Sure, Bali is full of beaches where you can experience the sun and waves, but what if you’re looking for a little less chill and a little more thrill?
Well, Waterbom Bali is where it gets wet and wild with 16 water park attractions, more of which are extreme rather than mellow!
Amongst its array of heart-pounding slides, the Climax pretty much sudden-death drops you vertically down before whipping you into a loop under 2.5G’s of force (min. 120cm), while the Boomerang literally shoots you up a wall only to slide back down the other way (min. 122cm).
Considering most of the height restrictions are at least 120cm, with only one or two at 100cm, it’s probably best to visit Waterbom Bali with the bigger kids.
The little ones may not be able to experience the crazy slides, but they sure can enjoy the Funtastic water playground, lazy river that meanders through lush tropical landscapes, and a kids-safe bungee that catapults them up to nine metres in the air.
Psst, if you’re able to get your other half to watch the kids for a bit, you can even sneak off to their spa section to enjoy a little me-time massage, reflexology, manicure, or even hair braiding!
THRILL LEVEL: 😯😯😯
Bouncy Blasts
If water slides don’t challenge you enough, then the ninja water parkour course at Aqualand is sure to present a real challenge for every member of the family.
Touted as Asia’s largest inflatable water park, Aqualand consists of a massive looped obstacle course made up of “rock” walls, climbing cages, stepping stones and gigantic slides — all of which are inflated and safe for bouncing and landing on!
It’s the perfect setting to challenge your family members to see who can finish the circuit the quickest, or simply have fun seeing who gets wiped out first.
Aqualand is located right in Bali Wake Park, which features a five-hectare cable park lake. Kids as young as 5 years old can try out knee-boarding, wakeboarding, waterskiing, or skurfing — the combination of skiing + surfing on water!
So if your kids are sporty energiser bunnies, then make sure you make a full day out of it, and hope that the obstacle course plus wakeboarding will tire them out, while you sip on a Mai Tai in the infinity pool!
THRILL LEVEL: 😯😯😯
Indoor Imaginations
If you love the idea of family challenges but you’d rather not be in the sun or get wet, then head over to Trans Studio Bali, a completely indoor theme park that doesn’t skimp on the thrills.
One of the activities you can do here is a simulated Ninja Warrior-type training course, where you get to challenge your family members to see who beats the course in the shortest time.
The highlights at Trans Studio Bali, however, are the adrenalin-pumping rides that will transport you from one world to another through the combination of motion, action, and technology.
Fly over the Indonesian archipelago, hold onto your raft to survive the rapids, and defy gravity in freefall skydiving — all indoors. With a little technological magic, even things like zombie escapes and werewolf hunting suddenly become possible.
There’s also go-karting, stunt shows, Instagram-worthy illusions, and an entire trick house waiting to be experienced.
And the piece de resistance has got to be the roller coaster perched right on top of the mall’s roof! Where else will you be able to say you’ve tried a rooftop roller coaster?
THRILL LEVEL: 😯😯😯😯
Crazy Jungle Cart
Go-karting isn’t the only thrilling way to cart around. Introducing Jungle Cart, Indonesia’s first mountain carting experience, minus the mountains, of course.
This genius German innovation came about so that everyone could experience the thrill of tobogganing down a mountain all year round, even without snow.
A three-wheeler with thick wheels, this “jungle cart” features a low centre of gravity and a wide wheelbase for extra stability.
Interestingly, it doesn’t even have an engine nor pedals! How does it move forward, you might ask. Well, it runs on gravity!
The unique 4.5km track is completely downhill and whizzes through Balinese jungles, rice fields, temples and traditional villages, giving you a complete tour of the wonders of Bali in an extremely unique and exciting manner.
While you can’t exactly press down on a gas pedal, you can still be the master of how fast you go, thanks to a hydraulic dual-circuit braking system that you can control. Release all the brakes, and you could be flying up to 60 km/h!
The full track takes anywhere from 15-25 minutes to complete, and kids under 14 can share a cart with an adult for free. Older kids who are confident of their steering ability can ride on their own.
THRILL LEVEL: 😯😯😯😯
Roaring Rendezvous
You might be wondering how a zoo can top the thrill of carting downhill.
Well, the Amazing Taman Safari Bali is no normal zoo. Firstly, it offers a Rainforest Trail experience, where you actually trek a winding path through a lush tropical rainforest teeming with life. On your hike you’ll come across flamingoes, gibbons and a majestic black jaguar (safely in its enclosure, of course).
Secondly, it’s a zoo that also has roller coasters and flume rides and a water playground.
But most of all, it’s a zoo where you get to interact with the animals on a whole other level. We give this attraction such a high thrill level specifically for its Feed the Predator experience, where you ride a specially designed cage tram, and where tigers WILL jump on top of your vehicle demanding to be fed meat (that you will feed)!
If that’s a little bit too close for comfort, try their safari tram ride, where you can still witness the animals in all their glory while staying safe in the tram. Or experience their Breakfast with the Lions option, and chow down a hearty breakfast while watching the lions laze, stretch, roar, and (play) fight.
THRILL LEVEL: 😯😯😯😯😯
Swinging Sensations
If there’s one Balinese thing that’s been taking the Instagram world by storm, it would have to be the Bali swings. Sitting on a rustic rope swing, flying out in the air, surrounded by the gorgeous Balinese landscape on all sides, enveloping you in a captured moment of serenity and peace… It's been one of the hottest Instagram spots in the world for some time and the world is still flocking to it.
There are many operators who offer the Bali swing infrastructure all across Bali, but the original one seems to be Bali Swing Ubud. To get the best shot, you can even rent a flowy dress and hire an on-site photographer, so that you don’t have to worry about ironing a dress in your hotel room, or relying on your other half’s questionable camera skills.
There are a couple of different swings of varying heights from 10m to 78m up in the air. It’s generally recommended that you start with a lower one to get used to the feeling before attempting the highest. It’s a giant swing after all, so imagine a theme park pirate boat ride just for one, and you’ll get an idea of the adrenalin rush that comes with being on a Bali swing.
Is the Bali swing safe? There are ropes and harnesses to hold you in place, but it’s probably ideal if you just sit instead of trying any dangerous stunts in the name of a good photo op. Check that the operator of your choice has the necessary permit, and call ahead if you have concerns. Of course, we’d recommend having your kid with you on the swing instead of letting them do it alone.
You can also get the Bali swing experience from the Zen Hideaways swing (you have to be staying there), Tegalalang Rice Terrace Swing, or the Sidemen Bali Swing. Essentially, you get to choose your background: from rice paddy fields to a beach complete with coconut trees. Check out this guide to the different Bali swings available.
Important Travel Tip!
Bali Tourist Levy
From 14 February 2024 onwards, Bali has established a “Tourist Levy” for all international tourists, which is a one-time fee of IDR 150,000 (about SDG$12.80) per person per trip. This tourist tax will help preserve Bali’s unique cultural heritage while supporting the island’s commitment to sustainable tourism, i.e. make Bali an even better tourist destination in years to come.
How to pay the Bali Tourist Levy:
Step 1: Visit the Love Bali website, or download the LoveBali app on your phone.
Step 2: Click on “Pay Tourist Levy” and enter your personal and payment details.
Step 3: Your Levy voucher will be sent to your email address. You may want to take a screenshot of it as proof at all Bali checkpoints, even if you’re offline.
And so, we hope with this article, you’ve discovered a couple more reasons to put Bali on your family vacation bucket list. Whether feeding majestic tigers, bathing gentle giants, or spearing through the treetops on giant rope swings, Bali offers exhilarating adventures beyond its idyllic beaches that will surely bring excitement and joy to your family, as well as a treasure trove of cherished memories.
Before heading off on your Bali family adventure, don’t forget to get your family travel insurance (kids go for free!) and pay the Bali Tourist Levy! Enjoy!
