As a late 20-something-year-old I joined the hundreds of thousands of Aussies that travel to Bali each year seeking sun, sand and party vibes.
But this time, when I returned with my partner and two young children, I was looking for something different.
And instead of navigating the torturous roads of Kuta and the beach clubs surrounding Canggu, we explored a secret corner of the island I can guarantee you won't have heard of.
Nestled among temple ruins, country roads and about a 90 minute drive north of Denpasar is an attraction young Aussie families should make time to visit.
Marine Safari Bali, which opened about 18 months ago in Gianyar, is a great place for families looking to spend some quality time together outside the hustle and bustle of Bali.
The park, which spans over seven hectares, is part of the Bali Safari Park and home to 10,000 fish, marine mammals and penguins.
They offer a range of excursions including shark diving, penguin encounters, manta ray feeding, an impressive water park and the resort's must-see Vanuna Show, set in an underground theatre featuring mermaids and sharks.
My seven-year-old was keen to cover as many activities as we could so we split the visit over two days.
On arrival to the park we boarded a Safari-style shuttle bus, which dropped us right outside of the marine park.
We were travelling with our 19-month-old daughter and everything was so accessible, even with a small travel stroller.
The marine is split into six different zones, which takes you through the six stages of water - from animals on land to those living under the ocean.
A highlight for my son was the manta ray enclosure where you can feed and swim with the fish.
A small group is taken into the water with a bucket of prawns while the fish surround you - a magical experience for any primary school child.
Another favourite was the capybaras - a native South American animal that looks just like a giant guinea pig. The kids were handed a basket of vegetables before being surrounded by dozens of the friendly rodents who chomped carrots and bok choy straight from their hands. Even my toddler was fascinated.
An encounter you pay extra for is the penguin feeding, and I really think it's worth it. Not only are you given time to feed the flightless birds, you're able to interact with the trainers and learn more about their habitat and wellbeing.
My fiance opted to do the shark dive, which he told me was incredible. My son was also keen but the minimum height restriction is 150cm, which ruled him out.
The experience lasts about 45 minutes and costs $29 for adults and $22.50 for children. You're lowered into a tank with bull sharks while the instructor feeds fish through the cage. It was incredible to watch.
If you want to take time off from the aquarium and fish, there's also an incredible water park situated in the middle of the enclosure.
It has three swimming pools, an array of water slides for kids (and adults) of all ages and sunbeds to relax on.
The grounds of the park are stunning and set among some of the best Bali wilderness and waterfalls.
On entrance to the attraction you walk through artwork that imitates the inside of a whale's stomach with hundreds of fish dangling in the air, replicating its food for the day.
No matter which attraction you choose to do or which areas you visit there are two strong messages around the park - conservation and education.
During our two-day visit we saw dozens of different school children on their excursions. One thing they're taught during their visit is the importance of looking after the ocean and wildlife.
We've all seen those devastating pictures of Bali's most popular beaches affected by plastic pollution - and everyone in the park wants to show how dangerous this is for the animals. Inside the education centre there is a dedicated area to replanting coral.
A snip is taken from an existing polyps, grown and transplanted back into the wild after three to six months.
There are really cool info graphics and activities for the kids to do as they're walking around too, educating them on the ocean and marine wildlife.
UNDERWATER THEATRICAL DINING
One of the highlights of our two day visit was the Varuna show - an underwater theatrical experience that combines dining with a live performance in a giant fish tank.
It follows the story of a little boy who is educated about the ocean and the importance of protecting it.
It includes the beautiful story of how he falls in love with a mermaid, who swims in the huge aquarium. The mermaids are incredible and can hold their breath for up to five minutes under the water.
My 19-month-old was captivated with the show's colours and lights.
The premium package, which includes a luxury three-course meal with red or white wine, front-row seating and access to the VIP lounge with canapes and cocktails costs $115 per person.
GETTING TO THE PARK
We spent two full days at the park, which I felt was enough time to get around most of the attractions we wanted to see.
We stayed about a 15 minute drive away at the Wyndham Tamansari Jivva Resort Bali. It's a remote part of Bali but if you're planning on a trip to the safari park I'd recommend tagging it onto a longer holiday.
It's quite common for families to stay close to the park before travelling onto Ubud, Seminyak or Canggu as part of their holidays.
We took the kids close to the October school holidays. Temperatures were high but it was bearable and the park wasn't too busy.
If, like us, you are in need of some quality family time, away from the hustle and bustle of other holiday destinations, then the marine park is definitely one to visit. Tag it onto a another Bali destination and be prepared to be dazzled by the ocean.