Huge, diverse and truly fascinating, when you travel across Indonesia you can’t fail to miss the enthralling landscapes and cultures. Stop off at one of the beaches of the wild, natural Sulawesi coastline, packed full with pure white sand, azure seas and diving spots. Then venture on to Sumatra, home to a fascinating set of over one-hundred active volcanoes. Bali's beaches are the stuff of dreams and the real beauty is you don't have to travel very far to enjoy the unspoilt stretches of sand in Nusa Tengarra away from the crowds of tourists. The Banda islands in Maluku, Derawan in Kalimantan and Pulau Weh off Sumatra are also well worth a visit to see the stunning scenery and amazing wildlife.
As the world’s fourth most populous country, Indonesia is home to 261 million people, mainly situated in the sprawling cities. It's a land of vastly different cultures, religions, communities, wildlife, sights and cuisines so that it seems like two hundred smaller countries all moulded into one. Over the years, traditions and values have evolved, from those of the spiritual indigenous Balinese to the utterly non-Western belief system of the Asmat people of Papua. Crucially though, the very essence of traditional Indonesian life is never far away.
Whatever you plan to do on your trip to Indonesia you’re sure to find plenty to captivate the whole family.
5 Things You Need to Know About Indonesia
Here are five things you may not have known about Indonesia, which you’ll want to make note of before packing your bags:
Time Difference: UTC +7 hours
Currency: Indonesian rupiah
Native Language: Indonesian
Weather: Indonesia has an almost entirely tropical climate, with the coastal plains averaging 28°C, and the inland and mountain areas averaging 26°C. In the higher mountain regions, the temperature dips to around 23°C. The area's relative humidity is quite high, and ranges between 70 and 90 percent.
Sales Tax: 10%
Flying to Indonesia from Australia
Here’s everything you’ll need to know about flying to Indonesia from Australia, including flight times and entry requirements.
Flight Times
Flights from Australia to Indonesia generally take around five hours, with direct flights available from Alice Springs, Canberra and Sydney.
Flights from other cities in Australia, such as Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane, will have to take indirect routes, which will take a little longer.
Entry Requirements
If you stay less than 30 days and have an Australian passport then you do not need a visa. At the immigration counter Australians will get a “Visa Exemption Stamp”.
Airlines That Fly to Indonesia
The following airlines offer direct flights from Australia to Indonesia:
- Air New Zealand
- Qantas
- Malaysia Airlines
- Cathay Pacific
- Emirates
10 Must-Dos in Indonesia
If you’ve never visited Indonesia before and are wondering what the ‘must-see’ sights and attractions are, here are our top ten:
- Waterbom Bali
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
- Raja Ampat Islands
- Sekumpul Waterfalls
- Merese Hill
- USS Liberty Shipwreck
- Mount Semeru Volcano
- Tirta Gangga
- Purpa Fine Art Gallery Seminyak
- Tanjung Puting National Park
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