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Australians are being warned about the risks associated with travelling to Indonesia, particularly Bali, after a number of incidents.
In an update on Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smartraveller website urged travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution” while holidaying at the popular destination.
The advice highlighted that Australians had drowned at unpatrolled beaches “due to rough seas and strong rip currents”.
It also cautioned against leaving food and drinks unattended due to a rise in drink spiking and methanol poisoning, with several cases reported in Bali and nearby Lombok.
The travel advice came only two days after a 23-year-old Sunshine Coast man, Byron Haddow, died while holidaying in Bali. The cause of his death is unknown.
The Smartraveller site also issued a reminder about saltwater crocodiles, which are present in Indonesian rivers and lakes.
It urged Australians travelling to Indonesia to respect local customs, publishing a list of dos and don’ts.
It included checking visa and passport requirements to ensure entry, with travellers reportedly denied due to tears or water damage to their passports.