Discover Bali

About our Bali flights

Air New Zealand flies seasonally to Bali, offering daily flights non-stop from Auckland to Bali from 31 March - 5 May and from 3 June - 1 September 2024, and five flights per week between 6 May - 2 June and 2 September - 26 October 2024. Connections across our domestic network from Air New Zealand serviced airports make it easy to access flights to Bali from almost anywhere in New Zealand.

Flights from New Zealand via Singapore with our airline partners are also available.

The non-stop Auckland to Bali flight time is just over nine hours and you have a choice of Economy, Economy Skycouch™, Premium Economy and Business Premier™. All seats include an on-demand seatback entertainment system.

Bali and yoga were made for each other. If you've ever toyed with the idea of going on a live-in yoga retreat, it's time to turn thoughts into action.

Did you know that you can assemble all-inclusive package deals using our site? While you're booking flights, you'll have the option of adding travel insurance. After payment we'll give you the option of booking accommodation through Expedia.

Bali's gateway, Ngurah Rai International Airport, is near Kuta at the southern end of the island. The airport is 15 minutes from Kuta, 22 minutes from Seminyak, 22 minutes from Nusa Dua, 25 minutes from Jimbaran, 50 minutes from Uluwatu and 75 minutes from Ubud.

Where to go and what to see in Bali

Bali's reputation as a holiday nirvana began in the region south of Denpasar, however new and better roads have made it easier to explore the mountainous interior, northern and eastern coasts, as well as the off-the-beaten-path western coast. Consider spreading your holiday across two or three locations - or even more - to get a bigger picture of this divine destination.

Holiday dollars go a long way

In Bali, everyone can afford a luxury holiday. Wherever you stay and whatever you do, you can count on extraordinary value for money. If you have an average budget, Bali can deliver a four-star experience for around NZD $200 a night including breakfast. Or you can go the whole hog with a multi-bedroom private villa, including pool and maid, for about NZD $400 a night. If you usually travel lean, you'll find comfortable hotel rooms for as little as NZD $40 a night.

The same concept applies to spa treatments. At a reputable spa in Seminyak or Ubud, a 60-minute massage costs as little as NZD $40. A one-hour Balinese-style facial is about NZD $40. And a luxury manicure is generally less than NZD $20. It's easy to look beautiful when you're on holiday in Bali.

Renewing body, mind and soul

Bali and yoga were made for each other. If you've ever toyed with the idea of going on a live-in yoga retreat, it's time to turn thoughts into action. You can be hard core about it, with an advanced course that will have you head-standing with the best of them. Or you can find a programme that's lighter on intensity and heavier on fun. There are also programmes that combine surfing and yoga, because the two are complementary. In Amed it's also possible to mix yoga with a freediving course.

Meditation retreats are another Balinese speciality, particularly in and around Ubud, Sanur, Tabanan and Singaraja. Some include yoga; others focus on the inner journey. You can even go on a Bali Silent Retreat at a self-sustaining eco-sanctuary surrounded by rice fields and jungle.

To transform your health, there are wellness retreats in Bali that offer programmes based on Balinese or Ayurvedic rituals and treatments. You can find programmes for stress release, anxiety, weight loss and ageing - whatever you need, Bali can provide.

Discover the flavours of Bali

Traditional Balinese breakfasts are so good, you might never want to eat cereal or toast again. Shrimp nasi goreng with a fried egg and salad accompaniment is an enlivening way to start the day. Balinese coffee (kopi) is famously different, because the locally-grown beans are processed in a traditional way (wet processing). The flavour is bright and distinctive.

For casual meals you can find almost anything your appetite craves. Bali's café and restaurant culture embraces western food as well as Indonesian specialities. Traditional dishes are invariably delicious, with a marvellous balance of salty, sour, sweet and spicy, but the real eye-opener is the cost. For lunch at an average neighbourhood café you'll pay as little as NZD $10 per person, including drinks.

In the evening, check out the hip and happening bars, restaurants and beach clubs in Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Ubud, Jimbaran and Canggu. Chefs in Bali are quick to pick up international hospitality trends, which they interpret in a cleverly Pan Asian way. Decors get as much consideration as the menus, so your eyes can feast on beautiful interiors while all your other senses are busy enjoying the food and drink. As with accommodation, affordability is a certainty. In a moderately-priced restaurant, a three-course dinner for two people will cost around NZD $70.

Between meals look for locally-made patisseries, cakes, ice creams, gelatos and sherbets. Kuta is one of the best places to go in Bali for sweet treats. Also keep an eye out for locally-produced cashew snacks at the mini marts.

You can transport Bali's delicious cuisine home in your memory by taking cooking classes. Ubud has a wide range of options, including some that will have you cooking and eating within a traditional Balinese family compound.

Bali's captivating culture

Contact with Balinese culture is a given. The entire island is infused with Bali's unique brand of Hinduism, which is rich with deities, heroes and stories. The most noticeable religious landmarks are the ornate temples (pura) and split gates (candi bentar) in every town. Temples contain shrines and pavilions and follow a three-zone layout. Most temples welcome guests, but it's important to follow the dress code - covered upper body, sarong around your legs and no shoes. If you visit the temples in Ubud's Monkey Forest, secure your valuables - although cute, the monkeys are sometimes known to pinch your belongings. Bali's most famous temples include Besakih, Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, Goa Gajah and Ulun Danu Beratan.

Bali also has unique music, dancing and theatre attractions. You might get lucky with a free performance at your hotel, however the sure way to catch a show is to find a venue - Uluwatu Temple Amphitheatre, Surya Mandala Cultural Park at Tanah Lot, Bali Nusa Dua Theatre, Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Park in Jimbaran or the Arma Museum and Resort in Ubud. Batubulan in the province of Gianyar also has superb cultural shows. As a soundtrack for your holiday, download some traditional gamelan music. Like Bali, it's exotic and spellbinding.

Memorable adventures on land and sea

Surfing locations have been a major attraction in Bali since the early 1970s. There are well-behaved novice breaks on the Bukit Peninsula, including Padang Padang Right and Dreamland. Kuta, Bali's original surf town, is another place for learners. And the recently-developed Canggu area has black-sand beach breaks for beginners. For adventurous surfers, the south end of Bali has advanced challenges like Padang Padang Left (a barrel wave), Impossibles and Balangan. Off the east coast of Bali, the tiny island of Nusa Lombongan is also a legendary place for surfing; it has great snorkelling too.

Land-based Bali adventures range far and wide. You can bike through the paddy fields of Tabanan, climb Mount Batur to see the sun come up, go whitewater rafting on the Ayung River and swing over a river gorge in Ubud. On a hot day nothing beats screaming down the water slides at Waterbom Bali, possibly the most fun thing to do in Bali for families.

Shopping also falls into the adventure category in Bali, especially if you're the sort of person who would rather energetically haggle for the 'best price' than rage down a river in a raft. From classic street markets selling colourful beachwear, batik cloth and ornaments to designer tailoring shops that will make anything you want, shopping in Bali is all-encompassing. In recent years the island has become a major hub for ethically-conscious consumerism, so there's an emphasis on natural dyes and fabrics, and community-centric manufacturing. As well as cotton clothing, look for leather bags, fashion accessories, unique jewellery, hand-woven homewares and original art.

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