Biography

Penny Watson is an Australian travel writer based in Bali, Indonesia. She is a regular contributor to Australian publications: Traveller, Escape and Explore; and publications in Asia including Hong Kong's South China Morning Post and Travel + Leisure. She is an expert on Bali, Hong Kong and many parts of Indonesia and Asia, with an extensive portfolio to show for it. Penny has written six travel books including Slow Travel and Wilderness. Her latest, Ultimate Campsites Australia (second edition) will be out in Nov 2025.

Destination Expertise

Southeast Asia, Australia, Indonesia, Bali

Specialisms

Adventure Travel, Architecture & Design, Camping, Food & Drink, Hotel Reviews, Luxury Travel, Slow Travel, Sustainable Travel

Recent & Upcoming Trips

Bali Indonesia (Home); Australia (2025)

Work Links

• Japanese hike is like stepping into an anime – Traveller (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age)

• Bali’s next Ubud, is nothing like Ubud – Traveller (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age)


• Beyond Bintang, Bali’s craft drinks scene – Explore (Canberra Times)


• Singapore’s impressive atrium hotels – Traveller (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age)


• 10 of Victoria’s best camping spots – Traveller (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age)


• Cheapest, nicest Bali hotels – Escape


• Mekong River Cruise – Traveller (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age)


• A rare hotel in Tokyo – Traveller (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age)


• Indonesia’s most indulgent train – Traveller (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age)


• 20 bucket-list Bali restaurants – Traveller (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age)


• Southeast Asia’s Orient Express – Traveller (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age) 


• Bali’s Bambu Indah – Traveller (Sydney Morning Herald/The Age)

Social Media