Aussie Family's Shocking Ferry Outburst: You Won't Believe What They Accused a Solo Female Traveller of Doing!
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Travelling solo can be one of life’s great adventures—new places, new faces, and the freedom to set your own pace. But for one woman on a Bali ferry, her journey took a shocking turn when a run-in with an Australian family left her shaken, her sunglasses broken, and the internet buzzing.
The incident unfolded on the Maruti ferry, which shuttles passengers between the picturesque island of Penida and the bustling shores of Sanur. What should have been a routine trip quickly spiralled into chaos over something as simple as a seat.
According to the solo traveller, who later shared her ordeal on Reddit, the trouble began when an Australian family asked her to move so they could sit together. She politely declined, explaining that there were no other available seats on the lower deck. That’s when things started to heat up.
The family, apparently unhappy with her refusal, began making unpleasant remarks. The solo traveller, standing her ground, reminded them she had every right to sit where she liked. But the situation escalated rapidly. The daughter of the family allegedly threatened her, saying, ‘Shut up or I’ll punch you in the face.’ Moments later, the threat became reality.
‘She punched me in the face and broke my sunglasses,’ the woman recounted. ‘She said I needed to shut up or she’d punch me again. I got it on video because I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, being alone versus a group.’
The video, which has since made the rounds online, captures the heated exchange. The Australian daughter can be heard telling the woman to ‘shut up’ as she approaches, pushing the traveller’s phone away. The mother then jumps in, hurling insults and, in a truly bizarre twist, accuses the solo traveller of ‘assaulting herself.’
‘You initiated it, you little b****,’ the mother yells. ‘Do not blame my f***ing kid because you initiated it. You assaulted yourself, you stupid idiot.’
Other passengers, clearly disturbed by the commotion, tried to intervene. One woman alerted the ferry staff, pointing out the Australian family as the instigators. A Balinese crew member even attempted to defuse the situation with a ‘time out’ gesture, but the shouting continued.
‘I was sitting here the whole time,’ the solo traveller insisted. ‘She came over to this aisle and slapped me.’
The daughter, undeterred, shot back: ‘Shut up! I’m going to f***ing punch you again. I actually didn’t touch your face, I grabbed your phone. Look at the video and you can see that.’
Eventually, ferry staff stepped in and asked the family to move to the upper deck, while a kind fellow passenger sat with the shaken traveller. When the boat docked, the family made a hasty exit, avoiding any further confrontation.
The solo traveller later wrote, ‘I told the male member (seemingly the dad) of the family that this needs to be addressed with the police and he said ok. But then when alighting the boat they left quickly.’
Sadly, this isn’t an isolated incident. In recent months, there’s been a string of troubling reports involving Australian tourists in Bali. From drug smuggling arrests to violent altercations at nightclubs and resorts, these stories have cast a shadow over the reputation of Aussie travellers abroad.
Just last week, a Queensland man was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle 1.8kg of cocaine into Bali, hidden inside chocolate boxes. In February, a Sydney man was involved in a brawl with security guards outside a popular nightclub, and another Australian was sentenced after assaulting a German tourist at a luxury resort.
These incidents serve as a sobering reminder: while most Aussies are respectful and well-behaved overseas, it only takes a few bad apples to spoil the bunch—and to make headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Travelling, especially solo, can be daunting enough without having to worry about aggressive behaviour from fellow passengers. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, remember to stay calm, document the incident if you feel safe to do so, and seek help from staff or authorities as soon as possible.
Have you ever had a travel experience go awry because of the behaviour of others? Or perhaps you’ve witnessed a similar outburst while abroad? We’d love to hear your stories—share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Let’s keep the conversation going and help each other stay safe and savvy on our travels!
The incident unfolded on the Maruti ferry, which shuttles passengers between the picturesque island of Penida and the bustling shores of Sanur. What should have been a routine trip quickly spiralled into chaos over something as simple as a seat.
According to the solo traveller, who later shared her ordeal on Reddit, the trouble began when an Australian family asked her to move so they could sit together. She politely declined, explaining that there were no other available seats on the lower deck. That’s when things started to heat up.
The family, apparently unhappy with her refusal, began making unpleasant remarks. The solo traveller, standing her ground, reminded them she had every right to sit where she liked. But the situation escalated rapidly. The daughter of the family allegedly threatened her, saying, ‘Shut up or I’ll punch you in the face.’ Moments later, the threat became reality.
A solo female traveller alleged she was punched in the face by an Australian woman on a Bali ferry, after refusing to move seats for the family to sit together. Credit: u/emmmory / Reddit
‘She punched me in the face and broke my sunglasses,’ the woman recounted. ‘She said I needed to shut up or she’d punch me again. I got it on video because I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, being alone versus a group.’
The video, which has since made the rounds online, captures the heated exchange. The Australian daughter can be heard telling the woman to ‘shut up’ as she approaches, pushing the traveller’s phone away. The mother then jumps in, hurling insults and, in a truly bizarre twist, accuses the solo traveller of ‘assaulting herself.’
‘You initiated it, you little b****,’ the mother yells. ‘Do not blame my f***ing kid because you initiated it. You assaulted yourself, you stupid idiot.’
Other passengers, clearly disturbed by the commotion, tried to intervene. One woman alerted the ferry staff, pointing out the Australian family as the instigators. A Balinese crew member even attempted to defuse the situation with a ‘time out’ gesture, but the shouting continued.
‘I was sitting here the whole time,’ the solo traveller insisted. ‘She came over to this aisle and slapped me.’
The daughter, undeterred, shot back: ‘Shut up! I’m going to f***ing punch you again. I actually didn’t touch your face, I grabbed your phone. Look at the video and you can see that.’
Eventually, ferry staff stepped in and asked the family to move to the upper deck, while a kind fellow passenger sat with the shaken traveller. When the boat docked, the family made a hasty exit, avoiding any further confrontation.
The solo traveller later wrote, ‘I told the male member (seemingly the dad) of the family that this needs to be addressed with the police and he said ok. But then when alighting the boat they left quickly.’
Sadly, this isn’t an isolated incident. In recent months, there’s been a string of troubling reports involving Australian tourists in Bali. From drug smuggling arrests to violent altercations at nightclubs and resorts, these stories have cast a shadow over the reputation of Aussie travellers abroad.
Just last week, a Queensland man was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle 1.8kg of cocaine into Bali, hidden inside chocolate boxes. In February, a Sydney man was involved in a brawl with security guards outside a popular nightclub, and another Australian was sentenced after assaulting a German tourist at a luxury resort.
These incidents serve as a sobering reminder: while most Aussies are respectful and well-behaved overseas, it only takes a few bad apples to spoil the bunch—and to make headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Travelling, especially solo, can be daunting enough without having to worry about aggressive behaviour from fellow passengers. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, remember to stay calm, document the incident if you feel safe to do so, and seek help from staff or authorities as soon as possible.
Have you ever had a travel experience go awry because of the behaviour of others? Or perhaps you’ve witnessed a similar outburst while abroad? We’d love to hear your stories—share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Let’s keep the conversation going and help each other stay safe and savvy on our travels!
