When Ovna Ovich designer Marina Davis recently holidayed in Bali, she packed more than just a suitcase – she took her newest Resort collection for a real-world test run. She shares her insider tips for travelling in Bali with ease, style and intention.
In her younger days Ovna Ovich founder and designer Marina Davis was a promising ballerina and could have chosen dance as a career. Dance came naturally to her and she achieved an Honours Bachelor of Performance Design, followed by postgraduate studies in Fashion & Textiles.
Her respect for the natural world formed by her childhood on a remote farm surrounded by the wild landscapes of the deep south of Aotearoa New Zealand and her dance background inform her design process.
“I think it’s like an instinct that I want to make clothes that are super comfortable so you can move. So you don’t feel restricted and have a sense of lightness,” says Marina. “I hate being cold as well. So I love being able to provide warmth with it being soft, but also not heavy.”
Her label Ovna (feminine) Ovich (masculine) is devoted to creating pieces of nonchalant elegance for the modern, conscious wearer.
Ovna Ovich’s Resort collection ‘A Moment in Time’ reflects on fleeting beauty, the quiet rhythm of existence, the pause between motion and stillness.
Every garment in this Resort collection has been cut, sewn, and pressed within 17 kilometres of Marina’s studio in the Waitākere Ranges.
She recently travelled to Bali to celebrate a friend’s 40th birthday where she wore samples from her Resort collection at some of Bali’s most beautiful resorts.
Here are Marina’s personal recommendations for where to stay, drink, eat, play and experience Bali.
Marina’s Bali travel playbook
A private retreat close to Bingin Village. Head out to nearby cafes and restaurants, or stay put and have everything delivered via Grab or Gojek. The 25-metre pool, heated to the perfect temperature, becomes the natural meeting spot at any time of day. A lovely balance of modern and traditional for a truly comfortable stay.
Head down the cliffside by cable car and find yourself at a beautiful white sand lagoon with crystal clear waters. Book a private beach house or bungalow, with part of the cost redeemable on food and drinks. Settle in for a full day of snacks and cocktails delivered straight to your place of reclining – IV drips are on the menu too.
Marina wears Ovna Ovich ‘Harmony’ dress (clay).
Visit by day for a slow and relaxed time in a garden cabana. Order something nourishing and enjoy some light people-watching as the lycra-clad crowd comes and goes from the fitness centre.
A chain but in a good way. Sourdough, pastries and coffee done well. At the Berawa spot, grab a seat in the courtyard and watch the bakery at work through floor-to-ceiling glass – like a silent performance.
Wander around the dramatic cliff top temple with endless ocean views – just watch out for the cheeky monkeys who’ll swipe your belongings and hold them ransom for corn.
Stay for the traditional Balinese Kecak Dance at sunset, a special experience overlooking the Indian Ocean, with no instruments, just rhythmic, hypnotic chanting.
Marina wears Ovna Ovich ‘Holt’ top (gold) and ‘Painter’ pant (gold).
A great spot for low-intervention, natural wines and delicious seasonal plates in a relaxed setting.
An iconic beach club with some of the best-in-the-biz DJs. Come for a swim, stay for sunset, linger into the night.
This and main photo: Marina wears Ovna Ovich ‘Ode’ dress (slate blue).
Let the lovely Yande and his team look after you while you take in the view or explore the surrounds. Perched above a lush jungle valley in a remote village setting – even more magical when festival music rings out from the nearby temple.
Candi Tebing Gunung Kawi Temple
Your mind will boggle at the history of Candi Tebing Gunung Kawi Temple, built in 1080 AD by Anak Wungsu to honour his father, Udayana Warmadewa (963–1011 AD). Each towering rock carving represents a member of the royal family – the king, the queen, and one for each of their three sons.
Marina wears Ovna Ovich ‘Dance’ dress (double stripe).
A perfect place to refresh yourself after climbing all those stairs at Candi Tebing Gunung Kawi Temple. A beautiful bamboo structure overlooking classic Bali rice paddies
Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppets
A fascinating, lesser-known museum filled with traditional masks and puppets from across Indonesia.
Marina wears Ovna Ovich ‘Painter’ shirt (clay).
A peaceful retreat space focused on nature, ritual, and healing. They also run beautiful indigo dyeing workshops, where you can learn traditional techniques and make something to take home – along with your great memories.
