Johor Islands and Beaches

Pulau Aur

Pulau Aur is located 65km east of Mersing, off Johor's east coast.

The island, along with Pulau Dayang, Pulau Lang and Pulau Pinang, are rated among the best diving destinations within the Johor Marine Park Area. The deeper waters around the area ensure good visibility and variety of marine life. Dive trips can be booked at most dive shops on any of the islands.

The rich pelagic action also attracts numerous sport fishermen, hoping to try their luck with the marlins or sailfish outside the marine park island. Many private yachts anchor at the calm waters between Pulau Aur and Pulau Dayang.

Towards the north-eastern tip about 200 metres off Pulau Dayang is Rayner's Rock, a solitary large boulder breaking the surface about 4 metres high.

Diving is good around the eastern portion with a mixture of both hard and soft corals providing shelter for a profusion of marine life. You can expect to encounter schooling yellowtails, rainbow-runners, and trevallies. Closer to the reef, there are usually groupers, damsels, butterfly fish, scorpion fish and lots of shells.

This submerged reef is located towards the South Pulau Aur and Pulau Pinang. The top of the reef begins at about 12 metres and slopes in excess of 25 metres.

If diving in right conditions with slight currents, a large number of prelagics including jacks, fusiliers, barracudas and black tip sharks can be sighted. Among the hard corals and scattered soft corals are wrasses, puffer fish, damsels, lionfish, snappers and in between rocky crevices, lobsters.

There are boats to the island from Mersing jetty or Sedili. The long boat journey takes about 4.5 hours, and most operators opt to depart in the late evening, travelling through the night to arrive the next morning on the island. If the seas are rough, the boat ride could take a little longer.

Pulau Sibu

Pulau Sibu is a pleasant hideaway with its lush tropical vegetation, endless stretches of golden beaches and clear blue waters. The island is also dotted with numerous sea caves carved out of rocks. The constant pounding by the sea during the monsoon season has given the island a beautiful yet rugged appearance.

The surrounding waters contain fascinating coral reefs teeming with colourful marine life. Shipwrecks off its coast can also be found. In the olden days, Chinese junks and pirate vessels often exchanged cannon fire around this island, and the remains of these battles lie scattered all around the seabed.

There are facilities for scuba diving, snorkelling, windsurfing, sailing and angling. Visitors can go for a hike through the jungle leading to unspoilt mangrove swamps or visit the kelong where anchovies are caught. Alternatively, head for the kampung to get a first hand look at how coconuts are smoked to make copra.

Accommodation on the island range from fully furnished chalets to basic A-frame huts. Bathing facilities are available at the community showers. There are also restaurants serving Asian and Western cuisines.

Pulau Tinggi

North of Pulau Sibu, rising 667 metres above sea level, is Pulau Tinggi. It was once an important stopover for spice traders more than 600 years ago. The early Chinese traders called it the 'General's Hat Island' due to its conical shape. Endowed with fresh water, a sheltered harbour and lush vegetation including a large variety of fruit trees, it is little wonder the island was so popular with traders.

Pulau Besar

Located approximately three nautical miles off Pengkalan Pernu in Umbai, 10km south of Malacca town, is Pulau Besar. Covering an area of 133 hectares, it is the largest of eight islands off the coast of Malacca. Believed to be the location of Malaysia's earliest civilisation, it abounds with legends about mermaids and princesses, as well as sacred graves and shrines.

Its unspoilt beauty makes it a tranquil haven for those in search of fresh air and sandy white beaches. There is an international class hotel and several beach chalets, an 18-hole international golf course, a yacht club and a host of water sport facilities for fishing, parasailing, windsurfing, water-skiing and snorkelling. The island is an equally inviting spot for island hopping, swimming, camping, picnicking and jungle trekking.

Getting There

From Mersing, boats take about an hour to reach the island. Alternatively, Syarikat Kenderaan Aziz bus line operates regular services to Umbai from the Jalan Tun Ali Terminal in Malacca town. From the Pengkalan Pernu jetty, a speedboat then transports you to the island; the journey takes 15 minutes. A 45-minute boat service is also available from the Shahbandar jetty and the jetty behind the State Tourist Information Centre in Malacca town.

Pulau Tengah

Near Pulau Besar, Pulau Tengah is 16km off the coast and is a 90-minute boat ride from Mersing. The island used to be Vietnamese refugee camp but is now gazetted as a marine park. It is a great place to watch the Leatherback turtles lay their eggs in July.

Pulau Rawa

Sixteen kilometres off the coast of Mersing is Pulau Rawa. Famed for its white coral sand, tall palm trees and coral reefs with neon-coloured fish and other exotic marine life, Pulau Rawa is truly a paradise island.

The wooden chalets nestled amongst coconut groves complement the island's reputation as a quaint hideaway.

Pulau Upeh

Two nautical miles off the coast of Klebang is Pulau Upeh. A tiny island of seven acres, it can easily be explored on foot within 30 minutes.

Formerly known as Ilha Das Pedra, which means 'places of stone', the island has come a long way from its quarrying days when the Portuguese reigned supreme. Now the island attracts visitors to its various historical sites like the British Memorial Mast, an old well and World War II relics.

It also has two landing sites where Hawksbill turtles come to lay their eggs, plus spectacular sunset strips and an 80-foot observation tower.

In terms of accommodation, Pulau Upeh Resort offers guests a choice of 72 rooms ranging from suites to chalets. It also has facilities for fishing, swimming, boating, canoeing, windsurfing and jet-skiing.

Pulau Hujong

Another secluded and uninhabited island 13.5km off the coast of Mersing is Pulau Hujong. An enticing island, far from the hustle and bustle of the modern world, Pulau Hujong beckons travellers to its endless stretches of swaying palms, pristine white beaches and glassy blue waters teeming with fish and coral.

Pulau Pemanggil

Another enchanting island in Johor's archipelago is the large island of Pulau Pemanggil. Fifty-five kilometres from Mersing, this remote and peaceful island is much sought-after for its natural beauty and abundance of marine life. About 15km from Mersing, the sea turns into a deep blue; behold the sight of flying fish skipping over the water's surface, sometimes flying to a distance of 33 metres!

Lesser-known Islands

Ideal for island hopping are the lesser-known islands of Pulau Kukus, Pulau Lima and Pulau Sibu Tengah. For more information, contact the Tourist Information Centre in Mersing (Phone:+607-798 1979).

Desaru

Located at the south-eastern corner of Johor, Desaru is the ideal beach destination with over 25km of white sandy beaches fringed by palm trees and casuarinas.

Here, enjoy a myriad of water sports including snorkelling, water-skiing, canoeing, wind-surfing and sailing. Other forms of recreation include learning to fly an ultra-light aircraft; go-karting; jungle trekking; horseback riding, archery and off-road adventures.

The annual sporting extravaganza Desaru International Triathlon attracts participants from throughout the region.

Just a few kilometres away, discover more about the lifestyle of local fishermen at Tanjung Balau Fishermen's Museum.

Some 10km south of Desaru is another excellent stretch of beach known as Teluk Ramunia.

Accommodations include hotels, budget chalets, dormitories and camp sites. Most notable is the luxurious Desaru Golf and Country Club resort, which has a 36-hole international standard golf course.

Getting There
By Road
Desaru is easily accessible via public transportation from Johor Bahru (the capital of Johor), Kota Tinggi or Tanjung Belungkor. Buses to Johor Bahru are available from Kuala Lumpur.

By Sea
There is a ferry service from Changi Point in Singapore to Tanjung Belungkor, where transport to Desaru can be arranged.

Teluk Ramunia and Tanjung Balau

Some 10km south of Desaru is another excellent stretch of beach known as Teluk Ramunia. About 8km north of Desaru is the Fishermen's Museum at Tanjung Balau which displays fish traps and equipment used by the local fishermen and various traditional tools of the trade.