Ella Knights was holidaying in Bali when she died in a scooter crash. She had recently posted a video online of her riding a scooter without a helmet, adding the caption: "Sorry mum #nohelmet."

An Australian holidaying in Bali is dead after crashing her scooter, days after posting a video apologising for not wearing a helmet.

Sydney woman Ella Knights, 26, was riding in the popular beachside village of Canggu on Wednesday night when police believe she lost control of the scooter. She was found face down in the gutter and reportedly without a helmet early on Thursday and was rushed to a medical clinic at 3am.

"Because of the speed of the scooter she lost control and was dragged to the right and fell to the gutter," Made Sujana, the chief of the Badung police traffic accident unit, said

INSTAGRAM Knights had been documenting her holiday on Instagram.

"The doctor announced her dead on arrival," a staff member at the clinic said. No-one else was believed to have been involved.

Knights, a marketing representative for yoghurt company Chobani, had been on holidays in India and Indonesia for several weeks and was due to return home on May 1.

A week ago, she posted photographs online of yoga, swimming, reading and food - and, a week ago, her and a friend laughing and riding a motorbike.

INSTAGRAM The 26-year-old's family is being offered consular assistance. Knights was due to return home on May 1.

"It's such a paradise, we are having a wonderful time!" she wrote.

She had also posted a video of herself riding a scooter without a helmet, adding the caption: "Sorry mum #nohelmet."

At the time of her fatal crash, she was not wearing a helmet, police said.

"According to several witnesses, (she) was riding the bike alone and not wearing (a) helmet," Badung police chief Raka Wiratma said.

About 10am on Wednesday Knights was last seen at Rinaya Canggu, the hotel where she was staying, when she rented a scooter.

The forensic doctor at Sanglah morgue, Ida Bagus Putu Alit, said she died about 10pm on Wednesday and had cuts and bruises, but they were not major.

"We do not have the cause of death until we can conduct a full autopsy," Ida said.

He said police had requested an autopsy but they were yet to receive approval from the family.

A spokeswoman said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was providing consular assistance.

Knights used to work for The Australian Financial Review, owned by Fairfax Media, and for the magazine Australian Women's Weekly, selling advertising for both titles.

She had studied psychology and personal training, was a volunteer for crisis hotline Lifeline for two years, and became a certified yoga teacher two weeks ago.

On Thursday, friends began to write tributes to the former Hunter School of Performing Arts student.

"Rest in peace beautiful," one friend wrote on Ms Knights' last picture, of her grinning on a beach at Nusa Dua in Bali's south.

"So, so heartbreaking," another friend said.