Bali Travel Vaccinations: What Australians Need to Know in 2026

Bali is consistently the single most popular overseas destination for Australian travellers. It is close, affordable and feels familiar — which is exactly why so many people underestimate the health risks. Every year, returned travellers turn up at Brisbane clinics with infections that a simple pre-travel consultation could have prevented.

This guide covers the travel vaccinations and health precautions Australians should consider for Bali in 2026. It is general information only and not a substitute for personalised medical advice — your recommendations depend on your itinerary, health history and how long you are staying.

Do you need vaccinations to travel to Bali?

No vaccinations are legally required to enter Indonesia, with one exception: if you are arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission, you must show a yellow fever vaccination certificate. For most Australians flying directly from Australia, that does not apply.

But “not required” is very different from “not recommended.” The vaccines below are advised to protect your health, not to satisfy a border official.

Recommended vaccinations for Bali

For almost every traveller

• Hepatitis A — spread through contaminated food and water. This is the vaccine most commonly recommended for Bali, regardless of how long you are staying or where you eat.
• Typhoid — also food- and water-borne, and common across Indonesia.
• Routine vaccines — make sure your tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and seasonal influenza are up to date. Measles still circulates in Indonesia.

Depending on your trip

• Hepatitis B — considered for longer stays, and anyone who may get a tattoo, piercing, medical or dental treatment, or have a new sexual partner.
• Rabies — worth serious discussion (see below).
• Japanese encephalitis — considered for longer or rural stays, or repeat visitors.
• Cholera — occasionally recommended for higher-risk itineraries.

Rabies in Bali: don't ignore it

Bali has endemic rabies in its dog and monkey populations. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, and the monkeys at popular sites like Ubud’s Monkey Forest are a genuine risk — scratches and bites are common.

A pre-exposure rabies vaccine is worth discussing if you will spend time outdoors, in rural areas, around animals, or are travelling with children (who are more likely to approach animals and less likely to report a bite). Even if you are vaccinated, any bite or scratch still needs urgent medical attention and wound care overseas.

Dengue fever: the mosquito risk

Dengue is common in Bali and Australian health authorities have reported rising numbers of returned travellers infected after visiting popular tourist areas. There is no specific treatment, and symptoms range from a flu-like illness to severe, hospital-level disease.

A newer dengue vaccine, Qdenga, was approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration on 8 April 2026. As of mid-2026 it is only available through the Special Access Scheme and is not suitable for everyone — suitability is assessed case by case, particularly for people who have had dengue before. Talk to a travel doctor about whether it is appropriate for you.

Regardless of vaccination, mosquito-bite prevention matters: use repellent containing DEET or picaridin, wear long, loose clothing at dawn and dusk, and choose accommodation with screens or air-conditioning.

'Bali belly': travellers' diarrhoea

The most common health problem in Bali is travellers’ diarrhoea — so common it has a nickname. To reduce your risk: drink only sealed bottled or boiled water, avoid ice of unknown origin, be cautious with raw salads and unpeeled fruit, and choose busy food outlets with high turnover. Your travel doctor can also prescribe a treatment kit (including antibiotics for moderate-to-severe cases) to carry with you.

When should you see a travel doctor?

Book your pre-travel consultation 6 to 8 weeks before you fly. Some vaccines need more than one dose or time to become effective, and rushing in the week before departure limits your options. Even last-minute travellers benefit from a consult, so don’t skip it just because time is short.

At Travel Doctors Brisbane in Bulimba, we tailor recommendations to your specific Bali itinerary, provide any prescriptions you need, and can issue yellow fever certificates if your wider trip requires one. See our full Bali destination health advice or travel health services, then book your consultation.

This article is general information only and current as at June 2026. It does not replace personalised medical advice. Recommendations change — always confirm current requirements with a qualified travel health professional and Smartraveller before you travel.