INDONESIA

Indonesia is probably most well known for cities like Bali and of course the Gili Islands. I was fortunate to have gone to Bali and Gili Trawangan, but this country is absolutely jam packed with nearly 18,000 islands! 8,000 are reportedly named with 922 of those which are permanently inhabited. This is an extremely popular holiday destination for Australians, with only a 4 hour flight from Perth so you will find some areas like Kuta just absolutely packed with them.

There is something for everyone here: beautiful beaches and islands, tons of leisure and sporting activities, amazing food, cheap massages, culture. What more can you ask for in a vacation?

Good to Knows

  • Currency: Indonesian Rupiah
  • 12,000 rupiah = $1USD
  • Visa: No, max 30 days
  • Entry fee: FREE

Getting Around

I flew in from Perth which was a total of 4 hours. The best airline by far is Garuda Indonesia which provides individual TV screens for all your entertainment needs, food, and unlimited drinks for the duration of the flight.

  • Garuda Indonesia: $560AUD round trip
    • Peak holiday season: December 26 – January 4

Once you arrive the most popular means of getting around is shuttle or cabs, although be very weary of those that will rip you off! Once you arrive at the airport there will be hundreds of cabbies trying to get your attention. The airport is not far off from Kuta, the main city center, so you should not pay any more than $5 each unless of course you are staying further away. If you want to completely avoid the chaos then I recommend organizing pick-up service through your accommodation.

To get to and from the Gili Islands the best way is via ferry, although most of the ports are about 45-60 minutes from Kuta Beach. Be also aware that the ferry ride is very long, with stops to each island before Gili T. Total travel time is about 6 hours.

Featured Places

  • Bali
  • Gili Trawangan

Time of Year

We traveled to Bali at the very start and end of our trip, spending time in Bali during January and April, and Gili during April as well. Both times were very comfortable and warm temperatures. There were a few storms in Gili during April however they always seemed to pass over Gili T or briefly come through for a couple of hours.