Attractions in Malaysia

Location

Gaya Island is located just 10 minutes from the city of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and is a part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. The Gaya Island is in fact the largest island which is part of the national park. The name Gaya came from a Bajau word 'Gayo' which means big. The island is 3,700 acres in size and has an elevation of up to 300 meters.

Overview

The Gaya Island is the largest island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park and is the closest to Kota Kinabalu. The island is covered with dense tropical forest which has been announced as a forest reserve since the year 1923. On the island, there is a 20 kilometer long hiking path and two resorts which are named Gayana Eco Resort and Bunya Raya Island Resort.

It was in 1974 that Gaya Island and Sapi Island was gazetted as Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park that makes up an area of 8990 acres. Later in 1979, the park was expanded to 12185 acres by including the three other nearby islands into the park. They are the Manukan Island, Mamutik Island and Sulug Island.

The highlight of Gaya Island is its legendary beach at the Police Bay. There is a 400-meter stretch of white sand which slopes out gently to the sea and makes the Police Beach the perfect spot for swimming in the crystal blue waters. There are also plenty of coral reefs along the entire coast of Gaya Island which are still in good condition. Thus, this makes Gaya Island a great diving spot which is very near to the city of Kota Kinabalu.If you plan to stay at the Gaya Island, you can choose between the two resorts there. If you would like to visit more places in Sabah, accommodations here are plentiful. You can make your choice depending on the location as well as your budget.

Transport

Getting to Gaya Island from the city of Kota Kinabalu will be via the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal at downtown Kota Kinabalu. This ferry terminal are for those heading to the islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.