On the southern coast of Sabah the city of Tawau marks the end of the Pan-Borneo / AH150 highway connecting Sabah with its neighboring Malaysian state of Sarawak. For most travelers across Sabah, the town is the end destination before flying back to Kota Kinabalu. However, as Tawau is well-known for its cacao plantations as well as Tawau Hills Park, the town boasts some surprising attractions worth visiting besides the airport. Also, the town is in the vicinity of Maliau Basin, one of the most isolated nature reserves in the world. Continue reading to find out all Tawau has to offer on a trip to Sabah.
Tawau in short
As the third biggest city in Sabah, Tawau is a cultural melting pot of Malay, Indonesian, Chinese and Philippine ethnicities and the closest city of Malaysian Borneo to Indonesia. Located in the southeast of Sabah with a busy port facing the Celebes Sea, the city is an important economic center for the palm oil industry, cocoa production, timber and fishing. Alike the eastern part of Sabah, the surrounding areas of Tawau are predominantly covered with palm oil plantations. However, as the cocoa capital of Malaysia and one of the main cocoa producers in the world, the north of Tawau is dominated by cocoa plantations. Via the port, it is a major trading hub for timber from North Kalimantan (the Indonesian part of Borneo).
Closeby highlights to visit are Tawau Hills Park for jungle trekking, wildlife spotting, and waterfalls whilst the nearby islands of Sipadan, Mabul, and Kapalai are renowned for their diving and snorkeling sites.
What to do around Tawau
See below a list of activities to do in and around Tawau.
Tawau Hills Park (national park)
Located 24 kilometers northwest of Tawau this near 280 square kilometer park is a popular recreational destination for locals. With many trails through the forest, going here can also be an alternative for Maliau Basin and Danum Valley. Also combining Tawau Hills Park with the islands off the coast of Semporna is a viable travel plan to minimize travel distances within Sabah.
The park is best known for containing the world’s tallest tropical tree, measuring 88 meters, as well as many rivers, most notably the Tawau River. As a vital water source for the region, the park beholds many natural deepwater pools and waterfalls like the Table and Galas Waterfalls. Interestingly, the park’s flora contains some 150 species of orchids, carnivorous plants, and the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia. Also, the park is very rewarding for birdwatching with an estimated 180 species of birds recorded in the park, under which six of the eight species of hornbills. Although there is (primarily smaller-sized) wildlife living in the park, there are likely other reserves better suited for this purpose (like Kinabatangan, Tabin, Danum or Maliau).
Hiking
As a park with rugged and hilly terrain, there are three peaks to venture in the form of extinct volcanoes. Gunung Magdalena (1.310 meters) and Mount Maria (1.083 meters) require a guide, while Gunung Lucia (1.201 meters) is hikeable without a guide. Besides these three major hills, Bombalai Hill (530 meters) is a major landmark as it is the only active volcano in Malaysia. The views from the top of the hill are quite worth the 30-minute hike to get here.
Along the way to the park, the road leads past many palm oil, rubber and cocoa plantations. In the park there are chalets, hostels and restaurants operated by KOKTAS, the Sabah Parks staff cooperative. There is also the possibility of going camping in the open air.
Opening hours: 8 AM – 4 PM (Monday – Friday), 7:30 AM- 3:30 PM (weekends and public holidays)
Website: www.etawau.com
Teck Guan Cocoa Village (and Museum)
As the area of Tawau is one of the top cocoa producers in the world, this village offers an opportunity to learn about cocoa cultivation, the labor-intensive harvesting, and processing from cocoa beans to chocolate bars. Guided tours show the cocoa plantations, and processing facilities, to finish with some tasting sessions. Note that the Village is in the hills northeast of Tawau (+/-45 minute drive) and only offers a cafe and viewpoint, a zipline activity (Cocoa Zip), and a nearby waterfall. The Teck Guan Cocoa Museum is located in town.
Tawau Tanjung Market
One of the largest markets in Sabah with many stalls selling fresh produce, seafood, local snacks, handicrafts, and other goods. With a large Indonesian influence in Tawau, there are also Indonesian products widely available here, as well as wooden handicrafts and souvenirs (on the second floor).
World-class diving at the islands around Semporna
An hour away from Tawau the islands off the coast of Semporna showcase some of the best diving spots in the world. The most well-known islands are Sipadan, Mabul, and Kapalai. With crystal clear water, beautiful corals and abundance of marine life also snorkeling here is a experience worth going for. Read more about the islands and what to do here.
Maliau Basin
Also considered ‘the lost world of Sabah’, this magnificent but isolated conservation reserve lies around 190 kilometers and is a 3.5-hour drive northwest of Tawau. Read more on this off-the-beaten-track destination here.
How to get to Tawau
Getting to Tawau can be done by road, air or even boat (from Indonesia). As Tawau is in the far south of Sabah, going by road from Kota Kinabalu will take around 8 hours straight (450 kilometers). Luckily, Tawau also has a well-connected airport to other cities in Sabah (Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan) and even the mainland of Malaysia. From the Indonesian side of Borneo (Kalimantan), there is a daily ferry going to Tawau.
By flight to Tawau
The easiest and most convenient way to reach Tawau is by flying from Kota Kinabalu in the northwest, or Sandakan to the northeast. Both flights take less than 1 hour and are very affordable if booked in advance. Flying from mainland Malaysia is possible via Kuala Lumpur, and (infrequently) from Johor Bahru. From the airport to the city takes approximately 30 minutes, whilst going to Semporna (on the east) takes around 1 hour.
By road via the interior or east
Depending on where you come from there are two options to reach Tawau by road.
- Via the interior of Sabah and the heart of Borneo and past the Maliau Basin. From Kota Kinabalu, this route takes approximately 450 kilometers and 7-8 hours. As this is not the interstate route, expect the roads to be less well maintained and drive slower. This route is ideal if already in the (north)west of Sabah.
- Via the AH150 interstate highway past Mount Kinabalu and Lahad Datu in the east of Sabah. Although this is a longer route to get to Tawau (around 550 kilometers and 10-11 hours), the roads are better maintained as well as more tourist hotspots en route to stop at or go for a short break.
By bus
Tawau is the last stop for long-distance buses through Sabah. Hence, there are many bus services that operate between Tawau and other major cities such as Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Semporna and Lahad Datu. The easiest way to check bus timings is via the Easybus app or visit the respective bus terminal in the center of town.
For the fastest route between Kota Kinabalu and Tawau consider the TransTedar Express which goes via the interior of Sabah and takes around 11 hours.
By ferry from Kalimantan (Indonesia)
From the Indonesian province of North Kalimantan, there is a daily ferry service between Tarakan and Tawau which takes 3+ hours. There are 2 ferry operators; Indomaya Express (leaving daily) and KM Tawindo (three times a week). Book via easybook.com
Where to stay
Based on Google Maps and reviews, consider below hotel options for staying in or around Tawau.
- SVOK Hotel
- Rooms Tawau
- Near the Teck Guan Cocoa Village northeast of Tawau, consider Balung River Eco Resort
- Tawau Hills Park accommodations via KOKTAS
