I will always remember the moment I stepped foot on Bali soil. Humid. People—people everywhere, spilling into the arrival terminal. Crowds shuffled along the hallway past towering wooden sculptures of Hindu gods and sunshine poured in through the windows. After a few days of exploring, I could see why Bali is a favourite of many New Zealanders’: it’s not too far, affordable, reasonably safe, friendly, and full of cultural delights. But, while I expected it to be different, it was the little things that caught me off guard. From supermarket shops to eating out, let’s look at Bali vs New Zealand: the differences that nobody tells you about.

Contents

1. Supermarkets
2. Tax fantastic
3. Food flavours
4. What’s the deal with ice?
5. Minimum Spend
6. Animals abound
7. Hustle culture
8. Conclusion

1. Supermarket Fruit

A supermarket is a supermarket. Right? Until it’s a supermarket overseas, full of all sorts of goodies and brands you’ve never seen. My favourite supermarket in Bali was the PepitoMart, a bit like New World in New Zealand—but with different songs looping on repeat (still stuck in my head). And tropical fruit… wow. In Dunedin, where a bruised mango is >$6, in Bali you’re mesmerised by the freakish shapes and bountiful colours in the fruit isles: shiny persimmons, mangosteen, starfruit, the infamous durian, dragon fruit, mangos, and even other oddities like the strange snakeskin fruit (aka salak) that you peel like lychee.

Anyway, let’s go for an imaginary shop: you’ve grabbed a bag of mangoes, and you head to the checkout—but oops! Unlike New Zealand and Australia where the checkout operator weighs everything, in Bali you often need to find a store person who weighs them in the fruit section where there is a scale. As you can imagine, long lines form around the fruit scale during rush hour.

2. Taxes

Eating out in Bali was on average, far cheaper than the equivalent in New Zealand. Think: typically $15-30 for a delicious main course, $10-17 for an entrée, and < $10 for dessert. But be mindful when you get a menu: it doesn’t factor in the extra mandatory taxes. Service charges are commonly +10% of the bill and function as a tip, plus the government applies a 10% value-added tax (VAT) to food and drink charges. So,you’ll want to factor in an extra ~20% on the bill.

3. Food Flavours

Fresh, delicious, and unlike anything you’ll find in New Zealand, Bali has fantastic cuisine. In touristy areas you’ll discover everything from traditional Indonesian fare (if you’re in Canggu, I recommend Casa Tua for an ambient experience) to European grills, Indian, Chinese, and even pizza places.

It didn’t take long for me to notice a pattern. Most things tasted sweeter: coffee, tea, satay sauce, curries… Even snacks at the local dairy we’d consider savoury in New Zealand, like roasted nuts, were often coated in sugar or honey. Also, while salt and pepper are the usual accompaniments to New Zealand meals, in Indonesia, it’s chilli sambal and soy sauce. (Never imagined one of the things I’d miss about New Zealand was table salt!). Generally speaking, food is not only spicier, but also sweeter. 

4. Ice is dicey… but sometimes nicey

Ah… The dreaded Bali belly. You’ve probably heard stories of this dreaded malady. Tourists are known contract Bali belly by accidentally consuming unsafe water (including tap water) or contaminated food. As a result, doctors advise: ‘Never get ice in your drink, because it might be made with tap water.’ Which is fair. Better to err on the safe side! Why travel across the oceans only to explore the short expanse from the ensuite to your bed, while battling crippling stomach cramps?

The thing is, ice can be ok sometimes. I drank iced beverages more times than I remember, BUT only from reputable places. Quite a few high-end resorts, cafes, and restaurants in the touristy areas buy their ice from specialist suppliers, so it’s safe to consume. Ask – or give it a pass. If in doubt, go without.

5. It’s a bit Like Aeroplane seats…

You know those airlines that make you choose a seat and then sting you with a selection fee?

This was another one of those small Bali vs New Zealand surprises that snuck up on me. Say you’re walking along a hot sandy beach, craving a cold drink. You detour to the closest resort, order a glass of bubbles at the bar, and carry yourself to a comfortable chair facing the sea. Bliss! You’re about to sit down when suddenly: “Halo! Excuse me!” A man, dressed in a smart white resort uniform, waves anxiously. “Sorry miss, you can’t sit here.”

“Oh sorry, I didn’t realise,’ you reply.

“This seat has a minimum spend. For 500,000 rupiah, you can stay.”

“Are there other seats I can go to?”

“Yes miss, by the bar.” He gestures to the shadowy restaurant area.

“Ok, thank you.” You embarrassedly hide your face from the other tourists who watch you move eats with amusement.

Private beaches owned by resorts are common in Bali, so if you see a good chair in a premium location… it probably comes with a price. Sometimes you pay a fixed fee, other times you need to order enough food and drinks to go above the required minimum spend. It’s a good idea to make a day of it – enjoy the sunny hours of warm evenings where musicians begin their set.

6. Animals on every corner

In New Zealand, you’ll see the odd dog trotting along the road with its owner, and the neighbourhood cat perched on the fence. Whereas in Bali, there wasn’t a day that passed where I didn’t see at least 4+ dogs roaming the neighbourhood or even hitching a ride on a motorbikes! Also, expect to see plenty of cats and free-roaming chickens.

At dusk, the wildlife comes alive. Listen for the patter of frogs hopping on the grass, or the ‘me-hoo’ call of the tokay, a bright speckled gecko that scales walls. During the night, tiny bats that whiz through the air like bullets. It’s pretty amazing.

7. the hustle

One of the stark differences I noticed was Bali’s vs New Zealand’s attitude to sales. I feel like New Zealand could learn a lot from Bali, particularly when it comes to being proactive. Many tourists expect to negotiate for prices when they shop for fake Prada handbags and Bintang singlets. But reputation is also a sought after commodity…

What was so different from NZ?

The outright requests for 5-star reviews. And tips. Even before you’d received your order. On Grab (the equivalent of Uber/UberEATS for Indonesia), I recall a two delivery drivers who accepted my order and then immediately messaged, ‘Tip pls miss? 🙏” I did give them a tip and they did a good job. But it still felt strange being put in the hot seat. What if you said no? Would you ever see your ice coffee?


Another time, I was paying for a restaurant meal at the till when the waitress presented me with a QR code to scan then and there, asking for a Tripadvisor review. By contrast, in New Zealand requests for reviews are feebler, like “if you have time, we would really appreciate your feedback.” Although, you hardly hear them at all. Bali certainly reinforced the idea that 1) timing is everything, and 2) if you don’t ask, you won’t get, so you might as well ask.

Conclusion: Bali vs New Zealand

Bali is a magical place, alluring and memorable like a mysterious dream. Months later, I still think of the smiles, laughs with locals, and uplifting atmosphere of gratitude. Also, the warm evenings walking along the beach as candle lights danced at supper tables, and gamelans chimed in the distance. If you’re thinking of visiting Bali from New Zealand, I hope this post has shed light on the subtle differences you can expect. If you’re planning to visit Indonesia, keep an eye for the next Bali belly prevention article. It could be a life saver!