For well over twenty years, the highest number of international holidaymakers arriving in Bali has hailed from Australia.
With Australians making up the majority of international arrivals in Bali, it has been evident for decades that the island is the default destination for family holidays, quick getaways, second-home escapes, and retirement dreams, but in 2026, data show that Australians’ interests are starting to move further afield.
With an average flight time of just 6 hours (far less if you’re jetting off from Darwin or Perth), it is easy to see why Australian tourists have for decades favored holiday travel to Bali. It is not only the convenient flight time, but also the enduring special relationship between Australia and Indonesia, both socially and politically, with Bali playing a huge role in bridging these two worlds.
Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport supports more than 225 weekly return flights to destinations across Australia. Bali Airport is continually adding more services to its schedule and is on a mission to become a regional travel hub on par with Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore.
While demand for Bali travel from Australian holidaymakers shows no immediate signs of slowing down, with new flight routes to other top destinations in Indonesia opening up, and with the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism set on promoting lesser-visited destinations to international visitors, travel data suggests that adventurous Australian holidaymakers are starting to explore different destinations and create multi-stop itineraries, resulting in new flight services opening up.
Both Kalimantan and Sumatra are starting to show up on the vacation option radar for Australian tourists. Typically, the off-path destinations for Australian tourists visiting Indonesia have been Lombok, Sumba, and Labuan Bajo, with surf and diving influencing the destination decision.
In May and June, low-cost airline Scoot, based out of Singapore, will be launching two new flight services to Belitung in Sumatra and Pontianak in Kalimantan. Starting on the 3rd May 2026, Scoot will launch a twice-weekly flight service from Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne to Belitung via Singapore. One-way fares start at AUD 233 and are available now.
Belitung is a real tropical oasis, boasting stunning white sand beaches and an impressive bouldered backdrop. Travelers note how the pace of life in Belitung feels even more relaxed than in Bali, and as an emerging travel destination, now is the moment to discover this untapped gem before the crowds start getting wind.
Tourists who fancy a double-stop vacation can easily achieve a Bali – Belitung loop itinerary. Not only will Scoot be offering flights from Australia to Belitung, but it is also possible to travel to Belitung from Bali, via a quick layover in Jakarta, with Citilink.
Pontianak is another destination slowly creeping onto the radar of adventurous Australian tourists seeking to expand upon their adventures in Indonesia. Fun fact, Pontianak is located exactly on the equator and lies on the delta of the Kapuas River, the longest river in Indonesia.
As the capital of West Kalimantan province, Pontianak is a thriving hub of activity and acts as the gateway to Gunung Palung National Park, where it is possible to trek to see some of the most endangered primates in the world, including orangutans, macaques, gibbons, langurs, as well as a wealth of birdlife.
Scoot will be launching a new flight service from Australia to Pontianak, via Singapore, from 29th June 2026.
For those who can’t wait to couple up Bali and Pontianak, a wild and wonderful vacation itinerary can crack on and get booking now.
Lion Air offers a direct service from Bali to Pontianak with a flight time of just 2 hours. This gives Austrian tourists the option of creating a multi-stop itinerary, e.g., Australia – Bali – Pontianak – Australia.
Alternatively, create an itinerary with an internal loop, e.g., Australia – Bali – Pontianak – Bali – Australia, depending on flight availability and cost.
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