We spent three months living in Bali with our kids while attending a worldschooling program and got to explore much of the island. We fell in love with the natural beauty, the kindness of the people and all the wildlife. While South Bali gets incredible busy and crowded, we loved venturing out to see the rest of the island and check out some of Bali’s less popular areas.
You can’t come to Bali and skip driving up to the North shore. There are so many waterfalls, rice fields and beaches to explore! Below I have some of our favorite spots in North Bali with kids.
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Where to stay in North Bali with Kids
Balinda Rooms and Villa was such a gem in North Bali. The pool, the included breakfast, the garden – all super affordable (less than $100/night) and just steps away from Lovina beach where we got to swim with dolphins in the wild.
Another great option is the Villa Sha San Gar. It’s right on the beach, but a bit further from Lovina. There are still boat tours that can take you straight from here to the dolphins!
Thing to do in North Bali with Kids
1. Lovina Dolphins
Swimming with dolphins is the number one highlight for sure! Make sure to ask to go a little bit later in the day, as the mad dash in the early morning can be overwhelming and unethical. We went around 8am and were one of very few boats on the water.
2. Sekumpul Waterfall
Chasing waterfalls is the other main reason for venturing out to North Bali with kids! If you’re not used to hiking in the tropics, the trails to get to these waterfalls can be a bit tricky. We loved exploring the series of waterfalls at Sekumpul with our 8, 6, and 1 yo kids at the time.
Keep in mind that almost all waterfalls have people at the top offering to do a guided tour. This is completely unnecessary in my opinion as the trails are really straight forward and I personally don’t love walking with a guide.
There are three main waterfall sections here so make sure you budget enough time to hike around and swim here. I initially thought there was just one main one but was pleasantly surprised to see how much there was to explore here. The trail down is not too hard and there’s lots of space to relax in calm waters at the bottom. There’s also a cute little cafe at the top with views of the first waterfall!
3. Leki Leki Waterfall
This is a popular waterfall so it’s best to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon (this also helps with best lighting for photos!) The trail is quite short, and it’s just a single waterfall to explore (unlike Sekumpul above)
4. Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
I thought this would be a quick stop, but the kids had such a fun time at the koi pond here! The temple itself is gorgeous and is best viewed at sunrise, but the real attraction for kids is walking around the stepping stones in the pond and feeding the koi fish.
5. Hidden Strawberry Garden
Hidden Strawberry Garden offers a sweet hands-on experience that’s perfect for both toddlers and older kids The farm uses raised beds, so the bright red berries hang at eye level for little kids. This means no wading through muddy soil or heavy bending. Kids get their own small baskets and scissors to snip the best strawberries!.
After filling your baskets, head just five minutes down the road to Asian Spice Pancasari for lunch. This cozy, garden-style restaurant is an ideal family pitstop in the mountains. We loved their menu, which features Indonesian curries and kid-friendly options like crispy satay and fried rice. The kids loved the treehouse here and the garden was absolutely stunning!
6. Banyumala Twin Waterfall
If you’re not waterfall-ed out yet, I have some more waterfall options for you! While I would not recommend trying to hit all the waterfalls in one trip, pick 2-3 that look the most interesting or are most on the way for your trip and skip the rest. At one point or another, they all start looking the same 🙂
This waterfall is a bit more tucked away near Munduk, and offers a far gentler environment for families than Bali’s more intense, high-torrent falls. It’s a relatively easy 15-minute downhill walk along a paved trail and wooden stairs, which lead to a lush natural amphitheater. The main attraction features two cascading curtains of water, with a wide, shallow plunge pool. The clear, calm water is ideal for swimming with kids, and plenty of flat rocks around the base provide easy spots to set down bags and rest.
7. Melanting Waterfall
Melanting Waterfall brings a true rainforest adventure without overwhelming crowds. The trek down involves around 500 concrete steps surrounded by dense tropical foliage, offering a rich sensory experience as the sound of rushing water grows louder. At the bottom, the sheer height and powerful spray of the falls create an invigorating natural mist. While the strong current makes the main basin unsuitable for swimming with little ones, the surrounding boulders and scenic footbridges offer incredible family photo opportunities.
8. Gitgit Waterfall
Gitgit is one of North Bali’s most accessible and famous sites, so it does get quite crowded. It’s an impressive 40-meter drop set against a vibrant jungle backdrop. The path from the parking area is well-paved and largely flat, winding past local craft stalls and over a small stream, making it one of the easiest waterfall walks for young children. There’s a sturdy viewing platform near the base, which allows you to enjoy the cool mist and dramatic views safely without navigating slippery riverbed rocks.
9. Aling-Aling Waterfall
Aling-Aling is the ultimate stop for adventurous families with older kids and teenagers. While you cannot swim the main 35-meter Aling-Aling falls, the surrounding water features smaller adjacent falls (Kroya, Kembar, and Pucuk) which have natural water slides and jump platforms ranging from 5 to 15 meters. Visiting with a certified local guide here is mandatory for accessing the jump and slide zones, ensuring everyone wears provided life jackets and helmets. We skipped this one as we had already maxed our waterfall allowance 🙂