Australia travel advice keeps Indonesia at ‘high degree of caution’ level

Denpasar — — Australia’s Smartraveller currently advises travellers to exercise a high degree of caution

According to the Smartraveller Indonesia page, the overall advice level for Indonesia is “exercise a high degree of caution” because of security risks, and travellers are told to reconsider travel to Papua Pegunungan and Papua Tengah due to security concerns. A separate Smartraveller destinations listing shows Indonesia at the same “exercise a high degree of caution” level as of 11 September 2026. A travel risk explainer published on 10 September 2026 notes that this wording remained current at that date.

The caution level is a government risk assessment for travellers. It does not amount to a closure of Indonesia’s borders or Bali’s tourism industry, and Smartraveller continues to provide detailed health, safety and transport information for visitors to Bali and other popular destinations. Other governments, including the United States, similarly advise travellers to exercise increased caution in Indonesia while applying “do not travel” warnings only to specific provinces in Papua.

Emergency numbers listed for Indonesia

The Smartraveller Indonesia page lists key national emergency contacts by service: fire services on 113, ambulance and rescue services on 118, medical emergencies on 119, and police on 110 or 112, with SMS to 1717. Indonesia’s official tourism portal provides a closely matching emergency list, stating that police and general emergencies are reachable on 110 or 112, ambulance and medical emergencies on 118 or 119, and the fire service on 113, alongside additional numbers for search and rescue and natural disaster assistance.

Independent guides for travellers in Indonesia reproduce the same core set of numbers, identifying 110 and 112 for police and general emergencies, 118 for ambulance and rescue, 119 for medical emergencies, 113 for fire and SMS 1717 for police.

These listings confirm that multiple numbers are available for similar emergencies. Some guides describe 112 as a consolidated emergency line covering police, ambulance and fire services, including in Denpasar and other major cities. Other sources indicate that 110 is still the direct police line, with 118 and 119 used for ambulance and medical emergencies and 113 the main fire number. Because operational coverage and call routing can vary by location, travellers are advised to check the latest official guidance before departure and keep the relevant numbers accessible.

Implications for travel to Bali

The Smartraveller wording applies nationwide but makes clear that risk levels are not uniform. It recommends a high degree of caution in Indonesia overall and advises reconsidering travel to Papua Pegunungan and Papua Tengah. Other sections of the Indonesia advice highlight specific risks affecting popular tourist areas, including motorcycle accidents, drowning in strong rip currents and health issues such as dengue and Japanese encephalitis, with explicit references to Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands.

Travel advice is intended as guidance for managing risk rather than as a prediction that incidents will occur or a declaration that destinations are closed. According to Smartraveller and independent travel health advisories, the practical steps for visitors include reviewing the full Indonesia advice before and during a trip, monitoring local conditions, and ensuring that all members of a travel group know the relevant emergency numbers and how to describe their location when calling.

Travellers planning visits to Bali and elsewhere in Indonesia are therefore advised to treat the current caution level as a signal to stay informed and prepared, not as a blanket statement that all travel is unsafe. They should also check for any higher-level warnings that apply to specific provinces or regions, especially in Papua, and follow instructions from local authorities and accommodation providers.

Sources

• Smartraveller – Indonesia travel advice and safety
• Datumbali – Is Bali safe? What six governments and the volcano agency say
• The Wander Gut – Staying Healthy in Bali: Mosquitoes, Sun, Dogs, Drinks and Roads
• Indonesia.travel – Staying Safe in Indonesia
• Things To Do In Indonesia – Emergency Phone Numbers in Indonesia
• U.S. Embassy Jakarta – Travel Advisory: Alerts and Important Updates