So you're heading to Indonesia? Let's get it right.
We've put together the ultimate guide to visiting Indonesia — everything you need to know. Bali done right (south to north) and the islands most Aussies fly straight over. The surf you came for, the volcano hikes you didn't know existed. Where to stay, our favourite warungs and hostels, the long-term rents that turn three weeks into three months, the deep-east islands (Flores, Sumba, Raja Ampat), how to get around — and so much more. Over 1,000 hours of research, time on the ground and community submissions. This is the guide you need.
Every review is from a paying Aussies In member — unfiltered, unedited.
"Did Bali + Lombok + the Gilis in a month. Used the itineraries as a starting point and tweaked. Hit every spot they recommended. Zero regrets, came home wanting to go straight back."
Bali for our anniversary. The Canggu vs Ubud breakdown helped us pick the right base. Two kids and full-time jobs mean we don't have hours to research anymore, so having it done for us was the whole point.
Honeymoon in Bali. Felt like I'd been handed a cheat code. Skipped the tourist traps, ate where locals eat. Came home wanting to write a thank-you email.
Solid. Maybe a touch heavy on Bali vs the rest of Indonesia. But Bali content is what most people need, so fair call. The scooter advice probably saved me a fine.
Bought the Italy guide. Then the Vault. Then Pro. That's how good these are. I'm pre-ordering every guide before they exist. The community alone is worth it.
Reviews are from verified Aussies In buyers. Names abbreviated for privacy. No reviews have been removed or edited beyond grammar.
4 preview chapters are free below. 8 chapters — the bulk of the guide — unlock with purchase.
Most travellers spend 20–40 hours researching a trip like this — scrolling Reddit threads, saving Instagram videos, watching YouTubers in monetised content loops, comparing 12 blog posts that all say the same thing. This guide is what those hours should have given you.
"Knowing what to skip is worth as much as knowing what to do."
Bali South, Bali Central + Rural, Bali East + North, Lombok + the Gilis, Java, the truly remote islands
Uluwatu, Padang Padang, Bingin, Canggu, Keramas, Medewi, Desert Point, Lakey Peak — when each works, who they're for
Mt Batur sunrise (Bali), Mt Rinjani 3-day trek (Lombok), Bromo + Ijen at 3am (Java) — lead times + gear lists
Monthly villa rents A$800-A$2,500, co-living costs, the gyms (Body Factory, S2S, Hustle), the cafés (Open House, Dojo)
10 days, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 2 months. Pick yours, copy the route
Airport taxi mafia, scooter damage, money-changer short-changing, fake ticket sellers — every angle, every defence
Indonesia is the rare country where the e-VOA is mandatory before flying, Bali's new tourist tax catches people out, and the inter-island ferries don't run if the seas are too rough. Walk through this 8 weeks out and you'll arrive ready — not haggling at immigration.
Indonesia replaced the visa-on-arrival counter with an e-VOA in 2023. Apply at molina.imigrasi.go.id 2-7 days before flying. Same cost as the airport VOA but no queue + you can extend it once for another 30 days.
Bali has a low-level rabies problem — stray dogs + monkeys can carry it. Pre-exposure vaccine (3-dose course, A$300+) over 28 days means a bite becomes manageable. Japanese encephalitis recommended if you're spending time in rural Java or Lombok.
Komodo liveaboards + Rinjani guided treks book 1-3 months ahead in dry season (May-Sept). Top Bali surf camps (Padang Padang area) fill 6 months ahead in peak swell windows.
Bluewater Express + Eka Jaya are the reliable fast boats — book 2+ weeks ahead in peak season. Cheap public ferries exist but unpredictable schedules + rough seas in monsoon (Nov-Mar).
Sunrise + sunset entry to Borobudur is now limited + needs pre-booking. The best Borobudur sunrise tours (from Manohara Hotel) book 2-4 weeks ahead. Skip if travelling Ramadan — both temples close earlier.
Grab + Gojek are the dominant ride-shares — Gojek is locally bigger + handles food delivery too. English is OK in Bali tourist zones but thin elsewhere; Bahasa Indonesia translation app is essential.
Mandatory since Feb 2024 — pay via love-bali.baliprov.go.id before flying. You can pay on arrival but the queue is brutal. Get a QR receipt to your phone.
Indonesian SIMs are cheap but require passport scan + a queue. eSIMs (Airalo, Trip.com) work instantly + cover most of the islands. Note: signal drops on remote islands (Sumba, parts of Flores).
Dengue + chikungunya are present in lowland Indonesia. Reef-safe sunscreen is now required on many Bali + Lombok beaches. Both expensive at airport pharmacies — bring from home.
Denpasar (Bali) airport touts are aggressive — quoted 3-4x meter rates. Bluebird (blue cars at the taxi rank) are metered + safe. Grab + Gojek work from outside the airport perimeter (5-10 min walk).
These are Indonesia's major banks with reliable foreign-card ATMs. Avoid standalone ATMs in tourist zones — skimming is common in Bali. Max withdrawal is usually IDR 2-3 million (~A$200) per transaction.
Indonesia runs on Gojek and Grab — two ride-share apps that do bikes, cars, food delivery, and groceries. Cheaper than a taxi by 70%, no haggling, every driver speaks app-English. Plus a scooter for the day. Plus ferries between the islands. Plus AirAsia + Lion Air domestic flights when distance gets serious. Skip taxis from the airport — pre-book Gojek/Grab or pre-pay the official kiosk inside the terminal.
Both work the same — book a bike (cheaper, faster through traffic) or a car (air-con, group). A 30-minute ride across Canggu costs A$3-A$5 on a bike, A$8-A$12 in a car. Install both — Gojek is stronger in Java + central Bali, Grab is stronger in Bali tourist zones + Lombok.
TIP — Pay with cash (most reliable) or load an Aussie debit card. The drivers' English is functional via app translation — drop your pin precisely and don't rely on chat.
Universal in Bali + Lombok + the Gilis. ~A$6-A$8/day for a 110-125cc Honda Scoopy or Vario, A$10-A$15 for a 150cc auto. Monthly rentals A$60-A$100. Helmet provided (always wear it). International Driving Permit is technically required — police set up checkpoints on tourist routes and fines without one run A$30-A$50 cash.
TIP — Rent from your accommodation or a long-running shop (BIG Bike Rental in Canggu, Bali Bike Rental Service Ubud). Photograph every existing scratch BEFORE you ride off. Don't leave your passport — leave a copy + IDR 500,000 deposit. Get an IDP from your local Aussie post office for A$50 — covers you here.
Bali → Gili T fast boats (Padangbai or Serangan port) A$30-A$40, ~1.5hr. Bali → Lombok ferry A$10, 4-5hr. Domestic flights via AirAsia, Lion Air, Garuda: Bali → Yogyakarta A$60, Bali → Komodo (Labuan Bajo) A$80, Jakarta → Sumatra A$60-A$100. Book on 12go.asia for ferries, direct on airline apps for flights.
TIP — Eka Jaya and Gili Gili Fast Boat are the better-rated fast-boat operators — slightly more expensive than the cheapest but less likely to overload or break down. The May 2022 Eka Jaya capsizing was a wake-up call; do not take the absolute cheapest boat.
Every mistake below is one this guide prevents. The numbers aren't theoretical — they're sourced from our community's actual reported losses on previous trips. Add them up and the math becomes hard to ignore.
You'll get every avoidance technique, every booking lead time, every scam-dodge, every Aussie-tested workaround. Lifetime updates. Money-back if it doesn't earn its keep.
Where to go. Where to stay. What to eat. How to get around. What to skip. Every answer in one place — researched by Aussies who've actually been.