Bali Geography
Located just 3 hours and 45 minutes from the west coast of Australia, Bali is a stunning tropical paradise renowned for its dreamy beaches, verdant jungles and volcanic mountain ranges. Just one of the 13,677 islands that make up the nation of Indonesia, Bali covers an area of 5,636km and stretches 80km from north to south and 140km from east to west.
Bali lies approximately 8 degrees south of the equator between neighbouring islands Java and Lombok, and shares the same time zone as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Perth.
The population of Bali is approximately 4.8 million people and the capital city is Denpasar. Denpasar is also home to the international airport, known as Bali Ngurah Rai International, and is Indonesia's third busiest international airport.
Bali's landscape features many mountains and volcanic peaks which influence much of the islands weather and climate. The highest peak is Mount Agung, which towers 3,142m above sea level. The second highest peak is Mount Batukaru which sits at 2,275m above sea level and can be trekked on a nine hour journey to the summit.
As a tropical island destination, Bali enjoys a warm and balmy climate all year round. Bali's weather is characterised as a tropical monsoon, where the summer months receive high amounts of humidity and rainfall.
The island of Bali is surrounded by stunning coral reefs that are ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving. The beaches in the south of Bali tend to be white, while the beaches in the north are darker in colour.
Popular tourist regions in the south of Bali include Kuta, Legian and Seminyak which are all connected by a long golden arch of coastline. These are also the busiest and most developed areas on the island. Ubud is located in the centre of Bali and is perfect for visitors looking for an authentic Bali experience. Calmer areas of Bali include Nusa Dua and Sanur and are popular for surfing and snorkelling. Jimbaran Bay is located further down the south coast and is home to stunning beaches and spiritual temples. Lombok, Nusa Lembongan and The Gili Islands are located just a short boat ride of the east coast of Bali and offer a more unspoiled tropical landscape that is perfect or enjoying adventure activities like snorkelling, scuba diving and jet skiing.
To learn more about the regions of Bali, head to our Bali region guide.
