Known for its pristine beaches and coastal towns, Desaru is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and busy schedule. In case you didn’t know, in 2021, TIME magazine named the Desaru Coast one of the greatest places in the world, which explains why it’s a top holiday destination for locals and tourists alike. In addition to luxury lodging options like One&Only Desaru Coast and The Westin Desaru Coast, the town is known for its family-friendly activities and natural attractions. If you’re planning a trip to Desaru in the near future, check out our guide.
Visit these attractions for an unforgettable Johor Desaru Coast trip:
Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast
Get ready to pack your bags and head to Adventure Cove Waterpark, Desaru Coast. With more than 20 wet and dry rides, the water park is ideal for families and children. There are five areas: Penawar Falls, Penawar River, Shipwreck Reef, Tidal Wave Beach and Kids Ahoy. Throw a party or take your family on a mini trip; we’re sure they’ll have a blast. Visit the website for more information.
For MyKad holders, adult, senior and child fares are RM65 (approximately S$20), while regular fares are RM94 (approximately S$30). To make this trip worthwhile, we recommend ordering the Splash Pass for unlimited access to the water park with no blackout dates. Tickets are priced at RM245 (approximately SGD76) for adults and RM195 (approximately SGD61) for children (regular tickets), while MyKad holders will receive RM196 for adults and RM156 for children and seniors. Great deals.
Desaru Orchard
As the best agritourism destination in Malaysia, Desaru Fruitlands is the perfect place to relax and explore the beautiful tropical orchards. Every adventure begins with a guided farm tour, a visit to the farming gallery, and a stroll to the vegetable and herb garden. In addition to this, educational talks about bees are offered. Don’t miss the chance to try local raw honey. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even hop on an ATV and explore the orchard or take the kids to the petting zoo. Tickets are priced at RM30 (approximately SGD9) for adults and RM25 (approximately SGD8) per child (between 3 and 11 years old).
Book your adventure here.
Shigao Firefly Park
45 minutes from Desaru, the cruise will take you to explore the majestic mangroves along the river, while you can witness the beauty of glow worms at night. There are three cruises per day, the fare for adults is RM20 (approximately SGD 6), and the fare for children is RM12 (approximately SGD 4). The first cruise departs at 7:30pm, the second at 8:30pm and the other at 9:30pm. We recommend you book a slot for 7.30pm as this is the best time to see lightning bugs.
Book your adventure here.
Desaru Ostrich Farm
Priced at RM20 (S$6) per person, the Desaru Ostrich Farm is a great way to get up close and personal with these beautiful animals. Fun Fact: Desaru Ostrich Farm has over 200 ostriches. As one of the largest ostrich farms in Malaysia, this is a great place for kids to learn and explore as some of the animals are free to roam. Don’t worry; you can take pictures. The farm is 25 minutes from the beach and offers educational ostrich tours to take you around the grounds. If you feel adventurous, you can pay RM2 to feed them and then ride them too.
Els Club Desaru Coast
Renowned for its outstanding courses and stunning views, Els Club Desaru Coast is every golfer’s dream layout. There are two courses to explore: Ocean and Valley. Get ready to tee off on these scenic golf courses designed by four-time major champion Ernie Els and three-time major champion Vijay Singh. Highlights include the Ocean Course and 9-hole course overlooking stunning views of the South China Sea. Amazingly, each layout draws inspiration from the famous British Links course. If you’re planning to play golf and stay at a hotel of your choice, we offer golf packages.
Marine Course:
Business hours: 7.30am to dusk.
Rates: RM310 (approx. SGD96) (Monday to Friday) and RM350 (approx. SGD108) (Saturday, Sunday and public holidays)
Valley Course:
Business hours: Thursday to Sunday 8.30am to 5pm (last tee at 2pm)
Rates: RM380 (approx. SGD118) (Thursday to Friday) and RM400 (approx. SGD124) (Saturday, Sunday and public holidays)
Alligator Farm Stinging Bay
Another attraction on the Desaru Coast is Seluk Sengat in Kota Tinggi, a sanctuary known for housing about 1,000 saltwater crocodiles of various sizes and ages. Explore the breeding and cement ponds, where friendly staff provide educational materials about the amazing creatures. If you’re lucky, stay at feeding time. Among other things, disabled alligators are cared for on the farm as they work hard to provide animals with safe spaces.
ticket price: RM8 (approx. SGD2) (adult) and RM4 (approx. SGD1) (child).
How to get to Johor Desaru Coast:
Desaru Coast is a four-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur via the North-South Expressway. Another option is to book a 45-minute flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Airport) to Senai International Airport, followed by a 45-minute drive Arrive at Desaru Coast.
Books are a matter of air
If you are arriving from Singapore, take a ferry from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal. The return fare for the Desaru Coast Ferry is S$118 for a round trip. Book your boat tickets here.
(Main image credit: Unsplash/Cory Bjork; featured image credit: Facebook/Desaru Coast)
This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Kuala Lumpur
