About us

Selamat Datang and Welcome!

I’m Simone Collins, the founder of Our Year in Bali.

I’m so glad you’ve found your way here, and I’m honoured to be part of your journey to living your best Bali life.

Initially, this platform came into existence to document our family’s one-year adventure in Bali. However, our profound connection with Bali extended it into a two-year journey that has left a lasting impact on our lives.

We originally sought to escape the stress and expectations of city life in Sydney, Australia, aiming for a complete transformation of our routine. Living in Bali provided us with an enriching experience, creating a remarkable chapter in our lives that we are eternally grateful for.

Living in a different country had always been a dream of mine, and experiencing it with my family made it extraordinary. After extensive research, Bali quickly emerged as our top choice, meeting all our criteria and offering a vibrant new way of life.

Bali possesses an inexplicable energy that only becomes apparent once you immerse yourself in its unique ambiance. Some describe it as falling in love with the simple rhythm of Balinese life.

Before we arrived, we conducted a year of thorough research, planning and budgeting that included one visit to Bali to explore and tour schools, inspect properties and potential neighbourhoods. Despite these efforts, we found that we still lacked a sufficient amount of accurate information and a deep understanding of life in Bali.

It took a considerable amount of time residing there, making occasional mistakes, and going through a process of trial and error.

**Here’s what Bali offered us**

A unique international schooling environment and world school education.
Convenient time zone for facilitating remote work.
Reliable internet access in our home, co-working spaces and widespread free Wifi in restaurants and cafes.
Regular flights to Australia, ensuring easy trips home.
More quality family time, with daily chores minimised, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in Bali’s beauty (plus babysitting when we wanted!).
The ability to live in a stunning villa with a pool and have staff to do domestic duties (no cleaning!).
Living in a predominantly English speaking environment but with the opportunity to learn a new language.
Welcoming and friendly locals – Balinese are the nicest people in the world and love children.
Surrounded by nature, from rice fields to beaches and waterfalls.
A lower cost of living, enabling frequent enjoyment of restaurants, entertainment, and travel.
Outdoor activities to enjoy like beaches, hiking, sports and surfing.
A rich and diverse Hindu culture, offering insights into Balinese customs, language, food, festivals, and ceremonies.
Opportunity to learn and grow new hobbies like yoga and meditation.
Immersion in an island lifestyle with a spiritual practice that reshaped our appreciation for everyday life.
Year-round warm tropical weather.
Abundant travel opportunities to explore Bali (weekend away), nearby islands, and neighbouring South-East Asian countries.
A diverse expat community, fostering new friendships and connections with like-minded individuals.
A culinary paradise, with a wide array of delicious local and international cuisine, exotic fruits, and a thriving health food scene.

From Sharing Stories to Shaping Journeys

Beyond documenting our adventures, my fascination with the expat experiences of others led to regular interviews — now numbering over 150 inspiring expat stories. I’ve also been featured on podcasts and TV, sharing insights on the process of moving to Bali.

As Seen In: Sunrise Australian Breakfast TV, Australian Channel 7 Nightly News, Indonesian Expat, Bali Insiders Podcast, Bali Life Unfiltered Podcast, ABC Radio and much more.

My passion for the Bali expat lifestyle inspired me to create a relocation consulting service, helping families, professional couples, retirees, and other newcomers navigate the complexities of moving to the island.

Since 2018, I’ve guided hundreds of clients from over 55 countries through every stage of relocation. Each week, I connect with people from around the world, including the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai.

I believe that families, couples, and retirees relocating to Bali deserve to feel at ease and well-prepared as they settle into their new island home.

Take a moment to explore the testimonials page to see the satisfaction and positive feedback shared by my clients over the years — offering a glimpse of the personalised, high-quality support I provide.

When you’re ready, book a complimentary consultation and let’s chat about your Bali plans. Together, we’ll bring clarity to your research and build your confidence for the exciting life that awaits you in Bali.

I look forward to the privilege of being part of your Bali journey!

EXPLORE OUR RELOCATION BROCHURE

We’re passionate about sharing the incredible lifestyle Bali has to offer you.

Our commitment is to ensure you feel safe and prepared so you can fully embrace your new island life as if you’ve been a part of it for years!

**Your Complete Bali Relocation Solution**

Our Year in Bali offers three flexible packages, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, designed to suit every stage of your Bali journey. Each package includes access to our expertly curated digital guides, a network of trusted local contacts, and personalised consultations to help you plan with clarity and confidence.

EXPLORE OUR SERVICES

Ready to start your own Bali journey?

Book a free 30-minute planning call with Bali relocation expert Simone Collins, founder of Our Year in Bali.

In this personalised session, you’ll:

Discuss your relocation goals and ideas
Ask questions about neighbourhoods, schools, visas, and lifestyle options
Receive tailored advice based on your needs and priorities
Leave with clear next steps and confidence to move forward with your plans

Book a Call Now

MEET OUR YEAR IN BALI FAMILIES

The Ultimate Relocation and School Guide for Families

“We purchased the Bronze package and it is so useful. It outlines all the important things you need to know, to pack and to think about. It’s the perfect ‘mental load’ package as the thinking is done for you.

We have also used her Bali School and Education Guide which was the most useful tool when trying to summarise the various education options on offer in Bali. It would take you hours to find all of this information yourself not to mention so much backwards and forwards communication with schools themselves. Simone has done all the hard work in one easy to navigate document. There information on cost, curriculum, uniform, cultural integration, daily schedules, parent involvement, food and the list goes on. It’s a must have for any family wanting to enrol their children into a Balinese school.

Simone is an absolute delight to deal with and answers any questions you have with her wealth of knowledge. Highly recommend.”

Andy & Rachael, Australia

Our Bali Retirement Made Simple, Thanks to Simone

“Simone from Our Year in Bali was the best decision we made after much frustration and stress over wrong and confusing information when we were looking into moving to Bali.

Firstly, she is very personable, bubbly, and full of wonderful energy. Immediately, she alleviated our concerns and corrected our misinformation. She put us in contact with a fabulous team of people who organised all we needed to get our PT PMA, and our kitas atc sorted. Then there is the information she has compiled. Oh my, there is a lot! But there is a lot to know, and even though we had been to Bali many times, we needed to understand what living here would entail. The information is extensive, detailed, and priceless.

We are so grateful for Simone as ultimately talking to her, getting first-hand knowledge, getting recommendations, and purchasing one of her information packages made the dream to move to Bali a reality.”

Sonya & Matt, Australia

The Best Decision We Made Before Moving to Bali

“I cannot speak of Simone and Our Year in Bali highly enough! I discovered Simone through a podcast I listened to. From the moment that I first contacted her, Simone was kind, thoughtful and responsive. I learned a lot in our first consultation and signed up with her for the Bali Bronze package. The information in the package is incredibly thorough. She has condensed so much information and knowledge into her carefully curated guides. So much value!

She has spent years building an invaluable network in Bali and she generously offers to help connect us to people who can help make our journey smoother. We’re so grateful to have found her and we look forward to working with her moving forward. Thanks so much, Simone!”

Kelly Fisher, USA

Comprehensive Support That Made Relocating Effortless

“I’d been planning on moving to Bali for a few years and was finding the abundance of information overwhelming and felt like I was never going to ‘get all my ducks in a row’. Then I discovered Simone and Our Year in Bali. It was like discovering the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

After a free, no obligation 30 minute zoom call with Simone, I finally felt knowledgeable and confident enough to make the move to Bali.

I purchased the Silver package which suited my needs and have literally referred to the documents and links to services prepared in depth by Simone regularly.

I’ve been in Bali now for a little over 5 months and loving it. If you’re thinking of making the move to Bali, I can highly recommend Simone at Our Year in Bali for all your needs, whether big or small.”

Cath Kirkham, Australia

Moving to Bali from the USA with a four-month-old and bought their dream home.

“My husband and I decided to relocate to Bali from the United States when our daughter was just three months old. We are so grateful we found Our Year In Bali to help us prepare for the transition – especially with a newborn!

Chatting with Simone helped us understand the characteristics of regions across the island, what we might expect from living arrangements, childcare and schooling options for our daughter, and her documents guided us about all sorts of Balinese customs and norms.

Through her amazing contacts we were able to easily arrange our visas, learn about real estate, and line up drivers and babysitters for when we arrived.

Plus thanks to her trustworthy contacts we were able to discover our dream home and couldnt be happier!”

Blackthorne famiy, USA

Reliable Contacts, Clear Guidance, and Genuine Care

“Simone’s help has been instrumental to making our relocation to Bali a pleasure instead of a nightmare.

Things here are different, and no amount of facebook/reddit/googling can prepare you to turn the vast amount of information into practical, usable knowledge – Simone’s on the other hand, does.

From visa contacts, to medical contacts, which we ended up needing within 4 days of landing, all turned out to be excellent.

Her guide is super insightful and comprehensive, which is a rare combination.

To top it all off, Simone’s personality, responsiveness and proactiveness will give you a huge advantage when trying to settle down.

Best money spent this year, by a long mile. Thanks Simone!”

Nasillo family, UK