By infatuation or fated obligation, Bali is inevitable for Australians who travel. The tropical Indonesian island is for weddings, birthdays, and multigenerational hangs amid the colourful processions of Bali-Hindu tradition. It’s a meeting point for distance-challenged relationships, an easy escape, and a place to recover a mislaid soul. And it serves all these purposes with the promise there will be a daybed somewhere glorious with your name on it.
Then comes the downside of broad appeal; with mass tourism comes the crush of overdevelopment. And in Bali that means traffic, crowds, or just finding yourself in a chlorinated version of Balinese culture. Get it right, though, and there is brilliance to be discovered. Our guide has been road-tested by us to pinpoint resorts where luxury runs deep. This is not the Bali that has “something for everyone”, it’s more distilled than that. With relatives, with friends or a partner… this is how GT does Bali.
BEST FOR SECLUSION
Set in 23 hectares of lush, tropical gardens and native jungle, seclusion is the name of the game at Bali’s newest super luxury resort, which opened in Jimbaran Bay in late 2021. Each of the property’s 32 private villas sits enclosed behind a gated front
