We understand that governments want to keep their citizens safe, and they should be commended for that. At the same time, however, sometimes the state seems to cross the line from watchful guardian to full-time nanny, and that’s not so handy. 
So, when the Smartraveller site launched its brand new warning regarding travel to Indonesia in May 2025, a warning that includes Bali, there was much hullabaloo in the press, but should you be worried or should your holiday plans go up in smoke?
What Did Smarttraveller Actually Say?
You can read the advice provided by Smarttraveller on their website, but this is the basic gist of things:
- Australians are advised to exercise a “high degree of caution” when travelling to Indonesia
- Australians are warned to ensure that they understand their visa conditions and their entry and exit requirements. They note that the Indonesian government has strict standards for passports and that travellers have been refused entry into Indonesia with damaged passports. This includes passports that have water damage, minor tears or any rips on the pages, particularly the photo page.
- Australians are encouraged to read the Bali Provincial Government’s do’s and don’ts for foreign tourists. They say that failure to comply with these guidelines and failure to respect the local culture, religion and places of worship might lead to criminal penalties and/or to being deported.
- Australians are warned that drinks might be spiked or mixed with toxic substances and that methanol poisoning has occurred through drinking alcoholic drinks. They note that cases have been reported in Indonesia.
- They also mentioned that Australians have been known to drown in coastal waters in Indonesia, as the beaches are generally unpatrolled and without lifeguard supervision.
So, let’s take a look at what these actually mean for people travelling to Bali.
A High Degree Of Caution?
The briefing mentions that you shouldn’t travel to Papua, Papua Highlands, Central Papua or South Papua unless it’s an absolutely essential journey. These areas are currently witnessing huge political disruption and demonstrations.
However, it’s 2,569 kilometres from Bali to Papua (that’s about 60% of the length of Australia), and the two islands share nothing in terms of culture, sentiment towards the government or even language.
Overall, while we’d agree that it’s always a good idea to stay away from local politics, you are not likely to find any major disturbances in Bali.
There are some other safety issues mentioned in this warning notice, but while it’s true that petty crime can occur in Bali, it’s fairly minimal and more likely to happen on the streets of Sydney or Melbourne than in Bali.
It is a good idea to check the latest volcanic activity on the Volcano Observatory Notice, but volcanic eruptions are unlikely to cause any real threat to you in Bali, though they may delay your flights.
We would also agree that boat or ferry trips can be somewhat sketchy, but there’s no need to go on a boat at any time during your trip to Bali. This is a big island, there’s plenty to see and do right here.
Visas And Passports
We completely agree that everyone should understand their visa terms and conditions and the entry and exit requirements. This is true wherever you go on holiday, though it’s not unique to Bali.
It is true, however, that Indonesia can be very strict about damaged passports. We strongly recommend that you replace your passport if it’s at all damaged before you travel. 
Having said that, last year over 7 million people arrived in Bali and were permitted to stay on the island, so they’re not sending very many people home because of their passports.
The Bali Do’s And Don’ts
This is both a very real problem and something that’s nowhere near as problematic as it sounds. By and large, the Balinese people are very friendly and welcoming to foreign visitors.
However, in the past few years, a small number of visitors to the island have acted very badly in the local temples and towards local people.
These incidents, in the age of social media, usually go viral and upset a lot of people in the process.
However, Balinese people are not wandering around looking for excuses to deport foreigners, and the majority of the advice in this list is completely common sense.
While the occasional foreigner is deported each year, given the huge volumes of visitors, it’s very unlikely that you will get in trouble with the local authorities unless you go looking for it.
Methanol Poisoning?
It is true that methanol poisoning has occurred in both Bali and Indonesia. However, this is one of the easiest things to avoid and methanol poisoning is rarely, if ever, due to “drink spiking”.
The issue is that here in Indonesia, alcohol is quite expensive. This is because, as a Muslim-majority nation, alcoholic drinks are seen as fair game for the taxman. So, what ought to be a relatively cheap drink quickly becomes expensive when the tax is figured in.
Now, compared to Australia, the UK, the USA, etc., the prices are still reasonable, but budget tourists are occasionally tempted to see if they can find the cheapest possible drinks.
This leads them to buy a local spirit known as “arak” from dodgy backstreet vendors. This is often brewed in less than sanitary conditions and may become contaminated with methanol during the brewing process.
We should note, at this point, that if you buy arak in a supermarket, it’s perfectly safe to drink. The drink is now produced commercially and is sold not just in Bali but also in export markets, with a recent contract coming from China.
If you want to avoid methanol poisoning, buy your drinks from clubs, bars, restaurants, minimarts and supermarkets. We guarantee that FINNS Beach Club buys all of its alcohol directly from the main suppliers, and you cannot get methanol poisoning from it.
Risks Of Drowning?
It’s true, many of Bali’s beaches are not great for swimming. There are often sudden riptides that can drag even a strong swimmer out to sea.
Though, there are exceptions to this rule and Sanur Beach, in particular, is a great place to swim with no threat of strong currents.
However, there’s no need to swim in the sea here in Bali, either. Almost every hotel or guesthouse has a swimming pool, and you can swim safely there to your heart’s content.
Or you could come and join us at FINNS Beach Club, we’ve got an amazing oceanfront infinity pool calling out for you to come for a swim, and you can even enjoy a nice sundowner in the pool while watching the world’s most glorious sunset.
Oh, And Don’t Take Our Word For It – The Australian Government Says Bali Is Safe
Finally, after all that, you don’t have to take our word for all of this. While obviously, we want you to come and have the holiday of a lifetime here in Bali, we’re not the only ones saying that Bali is safe.
In fact, just after the warning came out, the Australian government issued a clarification confirming that it’s perfectly safe to travel to Bali.
They noted that over 1.5 million Australians came to Bali in 2024 and that most of them came home happy and content. 
FAQs
Is It Safe To Go To Bali Right Now?
Yes, it’s very safe here in Bali, and while there are, of course, minor health and safety risks as there are in any other part of the world, the vast majority of visits to the island are problem-free.
When Should I Avoid Travelling To Bali?
Never. There’s never a bad time to visit Bali. Though we do understand that some tourists prefer to avoid the day of silence known as Nyepi, because everything closes down for a day and people stay in their homes to enjoy quiet contemplation.
But we find that Nyepi provides a very nice break from the pace of modern life and can be enjoyed by visitors with the right mindset.
What Are The Biggest Risks In Bali?
The number one biggest risk is probably Bali Belly, which is a catch-all phrase for anything from traveller’s diarrhoea to food poisoning. Mostly, it’s a swift 24-hour stomach bug that goes away by itself, but occasionally it can need medical attention.
Other risks include traffic accidents, money exchange scams (easily avoided if you just use an official money changer offering the official exchange rate), and petty crime.
Do I Still Need The Monkey Pox Form For Bali?
Yes, despite the absence of any monkey pox outbreaks anywhere in the world at the moment, this is still required to enter Ngurah Rai International Airport.
It takes two seconds to complete online and is completely free, so it’s not really a big deal to bring one with you.
Final Thoughts On Australia’s Bali Travel Warning
Yes, Australia issued a travel warning for Indonesia in May, but as the Australian government cleared up in June, this isn’t really a reflection on travel to Bali.
However, they did raise some valid points that can help you make your Bali trip a little safer, so it’s worth reading through the notes above to ensure you have an amazing experience here on the island.
