When Ella and her husband James relocated from Australia to Bali with their three young children, including one-year-old twins, they weren’t looking for a permanent holiday.
They were searching for something many parents crave but struggle to find: more support, more flexibility, and more quality time together as a family.
Less than a year later, life looks very different.
In this conversation, Our Year in Bali founder Simone visits Ella in her family home in Canggu to reflect on the realities of moving to Bali with young children. Together, they discuss everything from navigating the relocation process and finding childcare to choosing where to live, building a community, and adapting to a completely different pace of life.
You can also watch Ella share her story in her own words in the full video interview below.
What began as a move designed to make family life easier has become something much bigger. From improved work-life balance and reliable support to new friendships and educational opportunities for their children, Ella explains why Bali has exceeded her family’s expectations and why they now see the island as home for the foreseeable future.
If you’re considering moving to Bali with children, working remotely from the island, or simply curious about what everyday life here is really like, Ella’s story offers an honest and refreshing perspective.
Life in Australia: “We Were Exhausted”
Before moving to Bali, life in Australia felt like a constant juggling act.With a three-year-old and infant twins, even simple activities required careful planning and a significant amount of energy. “We didn’t really get to go out much,” Ella explains. “If we did, it meant loading all the kids into the car and going to one place. That might happen once a week.”
Like many young families, they had some childcare support in Australia, but it wasn’t enough to create the lifestyle they wanted. The demands of parenting were also impacting James’s ability to focus on his business. As the owner of a recruitment company operating across multiple countries, remote work was already part of his life, but balancing work with raising three very young children was becoming increasingly difficult.
“James had to help me a lot with the kids because I was struggling,” Ella says. “He wasn’t actually able to work as much as he wanted to.” The family found themselves stuck in a cycle that many parents know all too well: work, childcare, household responsibilities, and very little time left for themselves.Something had to change.
Why Bali?
For Ella, the idea of living in Bali wasn’t new. Like many Australians, she had visited Bali numerous times over the years and always imagined what it might be like to live there permanently. “I had always wanted to move to Bali,” she says. But life kept getting in the way. Then the twins arrived. As the demands of raising three young children intensified, Bali began to look less like a dream and more like a practical solution.
The turning point came during a week spent with her mother and the twins. “My mum said, ‘There’s no other option. You have to move to Bali. This is so hard.’ Three weeks later, the family packed up their lives and relocated. The twins had just celebrated their first birthday.
The Biggest Fear: Health and Raising Young Children Abroad
One of the most common concerns families have about moving to Bali is healthcare. Ella had those same concerns. Before leaving Australia, both she and the children had experienced recurring health issues, including multiple hospital visits due to pneumonia.
Naturally, she wondered whether moving to a tropical island would make things worse. Instead, the opposite happened. “They’ve actually been healthier here than they were at home,” she says. While the family has experienced the occasional illness, as every family does, Ella believes their overall health has improved significantly since arriving in Bali.
The fear she once had about raising young children overseas quickly disappeared as they settled into daily life. For families considering relocating to Bali with children, her experience offers an important reminder: concerns are normal, but reality is often very different from the worst-case scenarios we imagine before moving.
Discovering a New Lifestyle
One of the biggest changes has been the level of support available in Bali. With the help of trusted nannies, Ella and James have been able to reclaim something that had become scarce in Australia: time. “We’ve got the best team of nannies helping us and they are amazing,” she says. That support has created opportunities for both parents to focus on their own wellbeing without sacrificing quality family time. Pilates classes. Beach afternoons. Date nights. Massages. Exercise. Social connections.
Simple activities that once felt impossible are now part of everyday life. “You have so much flexibility when you don’t have to be chained to the house.” Importantly, Ella says the extra support doesn’t mean spending less time with her children. In many ways, it means spending better quality time together. Rather than rushing through household chores and errands, the family can focus on meaningful experiences and connection. “It’s literally like you get to do the best things in life.”
Choosing Between Canggu and Sanur
Like many families moving to Bali, Ella initially considered several different areas. The family’s search came down to two popular family-friendly locations: Canggu and Sanur. Each area had advantages. Sanur offered calm beaches, walkability, and a quieter atmosphere. Canggu offered newer villas, more amenities, family activities, and greater housing availability.
Ultimately, housing played a major role in the decision. “I really wanted a dry house with no mould,” Ella explains. The family found that many of the newer villas in Canggu better suited their requirements. Today, after experiencing both areas, she’s confident they made the right choice. “For us, with very young children, there’s more to do here.”
From indoor play centres and family-friendly cafés to activity programs and social opportunities, Canggu has provided the lifestyle they were seeking. That said, Ella still appreciates Sanur’s charm. “The beach is much nicer in Sanur, and it is nice being able to walk along the beachfront.”
Her advice? Neither area is objectively better. The right choice depends entirely on your family’s priorities and lifestyle goals.
Building a Community in Bali
Moving overseas often comes with one major concern: loneliness. Will we make friends? Will we find our people? For Ella, the answer came surprisingly quickly. “I’ve found everybody very friendly here.” She explains that Bali’s international community creates an environment where people are naturally open to building connections. Because so many residents are expats or newcomers themselves, friendships often develop faster than they would in larger cities back home.
As a parent, opportunities to connect are everywhere. School drop-offs, daycare programs, children’s activities, sports clubs, cafés, and social events all become natural meeting places. “It’s easy to make friends when you’ve got kids.” While deeper friendships take time to develop, Ella says they’ve always had people to socialise with and support them. That’s something she feels can be harder in Australia. “Everyone here is looking to make friends because most people don’t have family nearby.”
What Does a Typical Day Look Like?
One of the most fascinating parts of Ella’s story is how dramatically daily life has changed. A typical day now starts around 7am. Breakfast is prepared. The twins head off to baby classes. Their eldest daughter goes to daycare. After drop-off, parents often gather at local cafés, catching up over coffee before heading to exercise classes, meetings, work sessions, or social activities.
Afternoons are focused on family time. Beach visits, Play centres, Swimming. Activities around the island. Meanwhile, James is able to maintain a successful remote work schedule while still enjoying regular exercise and social interaction. It’s a balance that simply wasn’t possible before. “Everyone’s a winner,” Ella laughs.
The Reality of Living in Bali: It’s Not Always Cheap
One misconception Ella is quick to challenge is the idea that Bali is automatically a low-cost lifestyle. While certain expenses can be significantly lower than Australia, lifestyle inflation is real. “People think Bali is cheap. It adds up very quickly.”
The temptation to dine out, enjoy activities, meet friends, play sports, and experience everything Bali has to offer can quickly increase monthly expenses. Many new arrivals initially feel like they’re on holiday. The challenge becomes shifting from holiday mode into everyday life. “You have to remind yourself that you’re actually living here.”
For families considering Bali, budgeting remains important. The difference is that many people choose to spend their money differently, prioritising experiences, convenience, and support rather than the expenses that often dominate life back home.
Education: An Unexpected Surprise
Perhaps the biggest surprise for Ella has been the quality and variety of education options available in Bali. Initially, the family assumed they would eventually return to Australia before their children reached school age. Today, that plan has changed. “I’d actually like my daughter to go to school here.”
Bali offers a wide range of educational philosophies, international curricula, and learning environments. Families can choose from British, Australian, International Baccalaureate (IB), Montessori, nature-based learning, and many other approaches. The flexibility and diversity available impressed Ella far more than she expected. “There are so many different ways of thinking that you can really tailor education to your child.”
For internationally-minded families, it’s an opportunity to give children exposure to cultures, languages, and friendships from around the world.
Why Having Relocation Support Matters
Like many people considering a move overseas, Ella initially faced challenges she couldn’t have anticipated.
- Finding the right villa.
- Choosing the right area.
- Building a support network.
- Navigating childcare.
- Adjusting plans when circumstances change.
At one point, the family’s entire relocation strategy shifted from Sanur to Canggu after housing options didn’t meet their needs. Having someone local to guide that process made a significant difference. “It was like being able to call on a friend who could help you through it.”
For Ella, the practical advice was valuable, but the emotional support mattered just as much. Relocation is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. Having an experienced guide helped reduce stress and allowed the family to make confident decisions during uncertain moments.
Ella’s Advice for Families Considering Bali
After successfully relocating her family and building a new life in Bali, Ella’s advice is surprisingly simple. “Definitely move. Just do it.” Of course, she acknowledges that preparation is important.
Her top recommendations include:
- Research your preferred locations carefully.
- Arrange childcare support as early as possible.
- Build a network before arriving.
- Stay flexible when plans change.
- Seek guidance from people who have already done it.
Most importantly, be open to the opportunities Bali creates.
For Ella, what began as a one- or two-year experiment has evolved into something much bigger.
- A healthier lifestyle.
- More time with family.
- Greater flexibility.
- A supportive community.
- And a future that looks very different from the one she imagined back in Australia.
As she looks around the Bali home where this interview takes place, surrounded by her children, support network, and a lifestyle that finally feels sustainable, one thing is clear: Moving to Bali wasn’t just a relocation. It was a complete transformation of family life.
Thinking About Moving to Bali?
At Our Year in Bali, we help individuals, couples, retirees, and families navigate every stage of relocating to Bali with confidence. From choosing the right area and understanding visas to finding schools, housing, childcare, and building a support network, we help make the transition smoother and less stressful.
If you’re considering a move to Bali and want personalised guidance, book a free discovery call and explore how we can help you create your own Bali success story.
