The Tanjung Aru Beach is spread on the west coast of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia. It is located close to the Kota Kinabalu International Airport. With a 1.3 mile stretch of the silky golden beach glistening under the sun, this beach has been successful in capturing the heart of its every visitor. People visit this beach to sight the most iconic sunsets and posing for sunset selfies. The tranquil aura of this place helps one relax in the most beautiful setting of nature here.
The Tanjung Aru Beach is subdivided into four areas namely First beach, Prince Philip Park, Second Beach and the Third beach. One can see the beach originating in the northernmost point from the entry here and then turning in the southward direction. The whole area is renowned as the First Beach. This place is an abode to the best beach sports activities, hawker stalls serving lip-smacking Malaysian food and exquisite hotels. The first beach resides almost everything that a visitor seeks in a vacation and hence it is the most popular spot of the Tanjung Aru beach.
As the first beach ends, Prince Philip Park marks its way from there. This park is a popular picnic spot and was built in the 1960s. The beautiful fauna like oriental pied hornbills and blue naped parrots residing at this park are picture perfect midst lush aura.
After the prince philip park, the second and third beach can be sighted extending till the airport. One can enjoy fishing, sports activities and Tai Chi hero. Most of the locals can be seen here spending quality time. These beaches are not very popular among the tourists and thus are less crowded than the first beach.
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There are many options one can choose from to reach this gorgeous beach. With a short distance of four miles south of Kota Kinabalu, one can reach the location in 15 to 20 minutes. Select from the below mentioned option as per your prefered mode of transportation.
- By Car/Taxi:
One can hire a taxi that will lead you directly to the beach. The fare for the taxi can cost up to MYR 15 but you can save yourself from the hustle of public transport. Check for the meter as your ride starts.
- By Bus:
Public transports like buses and mini buses leave regularly from wawasan plaza and city plaza to the Tanjung Aru Beach. The one-way ride to the beach costs 30 US cents or MYR 1.50.
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The apt time to visit this gorgeous beach is from December to April. These months are the peak season and the weather is also in its best state. Even the water sports activities like deep-sea fishing and white river rafting are available during the winter months. Apart from witnessing the breath-taking views of the sunsets, one can also explore nature parks near the beach in the soothing weather.
If one wants to plan their visit in a time when they can avoid the flock of tourists, autumn months are also a good option. The months of September to November are an off tourist season and cheap accommodations can also be found during this time. One can even face light showers of rain during these months.
Summer months are also open to visitors but the cache lies in the sudden worsening of weather conditions here. Almost no tourists can be seen visiting the beach in May due to the scorching heat. Heavy rainfall can hinder the experience of exploring the pristine location.
This destination attracts tons of tourists during December due to the optimum range of temperatures. Apart from this, November and June have also seen crowds at the beach. During this time the price hikes for everything starting from accommodations at the hotels to the flight fares.
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- Location:
Enter the address Tanjung Aru, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia into your navigation system to reach this pristine beach.
- Timing:
The Tanjung Aru Beach is open from 11 AM to 11 PM on all days of the year.
- Distance from the city center:
The distance between Tanjung Aru Beach to the city center of Kota Kinabalu is 10 km. It would take one around 20 minutes to reach the beach.
- Mobile Connectivity in Tanjung Aru Beach:
There are not many network issues at the Tanjung Aru Beach. Stroll on the sandy glistering beach and remain connected with the world out there even on your vacations.
Apart from indulging in beach sports and gazing at the beautiful location, the other activity one can indulge in is feasting on dishes of native cuisine here.
1. Kitchen@8 -
Residing inside the lavish Marriott, this place offers extravagance in everything. Talking about its food at its restaurant, the presentation of the food will make you crave more for it. The taste is unmatchable and service is also world-class. If you want to save some money on meals with your vouchers, this place is good to go to.
2. The Chamber -
With a classy yet decent ambiance, this place will surpass your expectations of taste in your food. People who visited here recommend almost all of their dishes with the best being Chicken chop rice, Wet Butter chicken rice, and the lip-smacking mushroom sauce. Do visit this place that is open from 7 AM to 10 PM.
3. Radha’s Banana leaf -
Check out this restaurant if you are looking for a reasonable and tasty vegetarian meal near the Tanjung Aru Beach. The place is open from 7 AM to 10 PM. One can order luscious dishes from Malaysian, Asian and Indian cuisines offered here.
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1. Promenade Hotel -
Located in the vicinity of Tanjung Aru Beach, the hotel is at a stone throw away distance from the market and shopping malls. They offer a diverse buffet for a fulfilling meal to their guests.
2. The Crown Borneo Hotel -
This hotel nestles at a mere distance of 1.3 Km from the Tanjung Aru Beach. The prices for accommodation at this hotel are quite reasonable and the interiors are alluring too.
3. Seapark Condotel -
For the people who want to stay in the proximity of the Tanjung Aru Beach, this place is the best option. With an array of state of the art amenities, this place will surpass your expectations of staying on your tours.
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Medical assistance is provided by the best doctors in the two nearby hospitals of the Tanjung Aru Beach. Some hotels even reside have their medical center for the complete wellness of their guests on tours.
All the beach essentials like flip flops, hat, a sheet to sit on, sunglasses and sunscreen are must to take accessories while visiting the beach. You can also take your food or just feast on the lip-smacking dishes from the stalls lined up there.
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- Carry your cameras to capture the heart throbbing views of the sunset.
- Keep the beach clean and don’t throw any litter anywhere.
- Park your cars in the car parking area near the beach to avoid any stress of the safety of the vehicle.
- If you want to try any of the sports activities, get yourself informed first about everything. Follow the rules signaled at the beach.
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