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You can get to Desaru Coast, Malaysia by ferry so it’s the perfect weekend trip! From the famous Desaru waterpark to a visit to the Desaru Fruit Farm and Petting Zoo plus all the best hotels in Desaru Coast, here’s all you need to know before you go!
If you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway (with no flights), Desaru Coast in Malaysia is a wonderful choice with plenty of kid-friendly activities for quality family bonding time. Just a short 60-minute ferry ride away, Desaru Coast is a popular destination for families with young kids since you don’t have to worry about flight delays and long queues at immigration. We took our kids (aged almost 3 and 5.5 years old) and their grandparents for a 3D2N stay and had a blast exploring the Desaru Fruit Farm (there’s even a Petting Zoo to see camels and ostriches!), hopping on a boat for a Mangrove Tour, getting an adrenaline rush at the Adventure Water Park Desaru Coast and dining at some of the best restaurants in Desaru Coast. From things to do with kids in Desaru Coast to the best hotels in Desaru Coast, here’s all you need to know to plan a memorable trip for your family!
Read more: Lombok with Kids Travel Guide
How to Get to Desaru Coast from Singapore
Desaru Coast to Singapore by Ferry: Taking the ferry is the quickest way to get from Singapore to Desaru Coast. It takes about 90 minutes from Singapore to Desaru Coast, but sometimes it may be even shorter. Tickets are $108 per person for a round-trip. Book your tickets here.
Desaru Coast to Singapore by Car: If you prefer to drive 0r hire a private car, Desaru Coast is about a two-hour drive away. You can choose one of two routes:
- Singapore -> Johor Bahru -> Ulu Tiram -> Bandar Penawar -> Desaru Coast
- Singapore -> Nusajaya -> Senai -> Ulu Tiram -> Bandar Penawar -> Desaru Coast
Desaru Coast to Singapore by Bus: The cheapest way to get from Singapore to Desaru Coast is by bus. You’ll have to make your way to JB Sentral, then catch a bus to Desaru Coast. Buses depart from JB Sentral Bus Terminal at 9am. Tickets start from $15. Click here for more info.
Where to Stay: Best Hotels in Desaru Coast
There are lots of great hotels to choose from in Desaru Coast. Where you stay will depend on your budget and whether you want to prioritise being on the beach or near some of the kid-friendly activities like the water park in Desaru Coast.
Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast
Hard Rock Hotel room price: from $190 per night (breakfast included)
We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, which is just a short 5-minute buggy ride away from the beach at Desaru Coast. Though you won’t get ocean views at this hotel, you will get views of the water park at Desaru Coast, which you’ll have easy access to as there’s a private entrance to the Adventure Waterpark for Hard Rock Hotel guests on Level 1. If you’re travelling with a bigger family, you can request for interconnecting rooms, extra beds (at a cost of $58 per night) and a baby crib if space permits. The kids will love the Roxity Kids’ Club ($10 for the first hour and $8.50 for every subsequent hour), playground and free lawn activities. Whether it’s playing giant chess and Jenga, running around at the sheltered playground or taking a dip in the swimming pool, Hard Rock Hotel has something for everyone.
There are also three restaurants. We especially loved the pool-side restaurant, The Elephant & The Butterfly, where you can sip on margaritas and indulge in authentic Mexican cuisine while the kids splash around in the pool. Plus, the grown-ups can hit the gym and unwind with a relaxing massage at the spa. And don’t miss the live music from a rockin’ good band available every night from Friday to Sunday – this was probably the highlight of our stay in Desaru Coast.
Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, Jalan Pantai 3, Desaru Coast, Johor Darul Ta zim, Johor 81930, Malaysia, Tel: (+60) 7-838-8888, hotel.hardrock.com/desaru-coast
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas room price: from $1,263 per night (breakfast included)
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is the place to be if you’re looking for a laid-back, peaceful resort right on the beach where you can truly unplug and unwind. They have hotel rooms and villas to suit every family and a beachfront infinity pool. They also offer a kids’ club and teens’ club, so mum and dad can take a break and enjoy an uninterrupted conversation.
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, Persiaran Pantai, Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor, Malaysia, www.anantara.com/en/desaru-coast
One&Only Desaru Coast
One&Only Desaru Coast room price: from$798 per room
One&Only Desaru Coast is a luxury beach resort that gives you the best of the jungle, sand and sea. Here, you’ll find a secluded sanctuary tucked away from the hustle and bustle of crowded tourist spots. This hotel offers interconnecting rooms for families or plump for a four-bedroom villa.
One&Only Desaru Coast, Darul Ta’zim, Persiaran Damai, Desaru Coast Bandar Penawar, 90, 81930, Johor, Malaysia, www.oneandonlyresorts.com/desaru-coast
The Westin Desaru Coast Resort
The Westin Desaru Coast Resort room price: from $231 per night (breakfast included)
At The Westin Desaru Coast, you’ll get to enjoy their private beach with sandy shores and a beach bar that serves up delicious seafood and thirst-quenching cocktails and mocktails. We tried their authentic Italian restaurant Prego, and loved their pastas, pizzas, risottos and the classic Tiramisu.
The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Jalan Pantai 3, Desaru Coast, Bandar Penawar, Malaysia, 81930, www.marriott.com/the-westin-desaru-coast-resort
Four Points by Sheraton Desaru
Four Points by Sheraton Desaru room price: from $101 per night (breakfast included)
Looking for a simple kid-friendly hotel? Four Points by Sheraton Desaru offers a family room with two double beds and a kids’ bed with a super cute teepee and stuffed animals for the kids to play with. Do note that this hotel in Desaru is about a 10-minute drive from the beach.
Four Points by Sheraton Desaru, Jalan Kempas 2, Taman Desaru Utama, Bandar Penawar, Malaysia 81930, www.marriott.com/four-points-desaru
Things to Do in Desaru Coast
Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast
A highlight of the trip is the famous water park in Desaru Coast: Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast. Boasting one of the largest wave pools in the world known as the Tidal Wave Beach, this water park in Desaru Coast promises loads of fun for the whole family – even grandparents!
My parents in their 60s loved the Viking ship and the lazy river, while our little ones loved the kids’ water play area which features lots of slides, paddle boats and a giant water bucket (pictured above).
Plus, there are rides for the grown-ups including a giant water roller coaster (get ready for a big splash!) and a huge tunnel water slide. When everyone gets hungry, head over to Kelong Eatery for burgers, fries, nuggets, pasta, and grilled chicken with rice. We highly recommend renting cabanas that are located along the Tidal Wave Beach, so you have a place to retreat to when it gets too hot or the kids need a quick snooze before embarking on a new adventure at this thrilling waterpark. You can easily spend a whole day at this water park in Desaru Coast! Tickets are $37 per adult, $31 per senior (age 60 and above) and child (aged 4 to 12).
Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor, Malaysia, www.facebook.com/adventurewaterpark
Desaru Fruit Farm & Petting Zoo
A visit to the Desaru Fruit Farm was unlike any experience we’ve had before, as the tour guide took us through 180 acres of their tropical fruit farm and taught us fun facts about our favourite fruits. This comprehensive 1.5-hour tour also includes a stop at an outdoor petting zoo that houses camels, rabbits, ostriches and more. You can pay a small fee of RM20 so the kids can feed the animals.
You will also get to learn about how bees make honey, check out a real bee hive and taste local raw honey straight from the bee hive. The indoor petting zoo is where kids can get up close with llamas and adorable raccoons! After the Desaru Fruit Farm tour, you’ll be treated to a feast for lunch and a fruit buffet, featuring fruits that come from the farm in true farm-to-table fashion. Do note that it can get quite hot depending on when your tour is, so be sure stay hydrated and lather on sunscreen and wear a hat or bring an umbrella to protect yourselves from the sun!
Desaru Fruit Farm, 92, 82200 Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia, dff.world
Desaru ATV
For those who like to ride monster trucks, this is the next best thing – the Desaru ATV riding tour! It’s actually at the same location as Desaru Fruit Farm, so you can book a fun 30-minute ATV ride along a semi-bumpy dirt road before you embark on your Desaru Fruit Farm Tour. All you have to do is hop on the ATV and follow the leading ATV driver as you explore the landscape and spot a variety of fruit trees along the way. For safety reasons, we’d recommend this for older kids.
Desaru ATV, 92, 82200 Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia, dff.world/atv-riding-tour
Desaru Coast Mangrove Tour
We also got the chance to hop on a boat for a Mangrove Tour. When you sign up for this tour, the tour guide will pick you up from your hotel along Desaru Coast and drive you to Sungai Lebam River, where you’ll get onto a wooden boat (don’t worry – it’s sturdy and has an engine!). As you cruise along the river, your tour guide will share interesting facts about the mangrove trees, unique species that inhabit this lush mangrove forest and secrets of this incredible ecosystem. Do note that you’ll be on the boat for about two hours, so we’d recommend this activity for older kids (our super active almost-three-year-old got quite restless and cranky halfway through the tour!).
Desaru Mangrove Tour with JUNGLEWALLA, Sungai Lebam River, Johor, Malaysia, dff.world/product/mangrove-tour
Desaru Ostrich Farm
Though we didn’t get to check out the Desaru Ostrich Farm, this is another popular attraction in Desaru. The Desaru Ostrich Farm has more than 100 ostriches, and you’ll get a personal tour to learn facts about ostriches. The Desaru Ostrich Farm is a unique and affordable attraction for kids of all ages!
Desaru Ostrich Farm, Jln Teluk Ramunia, Kampung Changi, 81600 Pengerang, Johor, Malaysia, www.facebook.com/desaruostrichfarm
Desaru Coast Riverside Garden Walk
Fancy a nature walk in Desaru Coast? Sign up for the Desaru Coast Riverside Garden Walk, where a Resident Naturalist will take you on a relaxing stroll along the Riverside Desaru Coast. Look out for birds including Olive Backed Sunbird, Yellow Vented Bulbul, Common Kingfisher and more. Plus, keep an eye out for gorgeous plant species and butterflies.
Desaru Coast Riverside Garden Walk, G7W7+Q2, 82200 Bandar Penawar, Johor, Malaysia, junglewalladesaru.com/riverside-garden-walk
Where to Eat in Desaru Coast
Since we wanted to spend most of our time in Desaru Coast near the beach, we had our meals at restaurants in different hotels. We were grateful for a regular golf buggy and shuttle service that took us to each destination. Just note that you won’t be able to bring a stroller on the buggy! If you drove into Desaru Coast, then you’ll have plenty more options for meals, since you can drive out to nearby restaurants if you fancy a Subway sandwich or more budget-friendly local cuisine.
Desaru Coast Seafood at The Westin’s Beach Bar
One of our favourite places to eat at Desaru Coast is The Westin Desaru Coast’s Beach Bar, a casual alfresco restaurant right by the beach at Desaru Coast. While the kids play in the sand, the grown-ups can sip on refreshing cocktails and indulge in the best grilled seafood in Desaru Coast.
Beach Bar at The Westin Desaru Coast, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Jalan Pantai 3, Bandar Penawar, 81930 Desaru, Johor, Malaysia, marriottbonvoyasia.com/the-westin-desaru-coast-resort-beach-bar
The Elephant & The Butterfly: Cafe in Desaru Coast
Another favourite meal in Desaru Coast was the Mexican lunch at Hard Rock Hotel’s The Elephant & The Butterfly. This laid-back, cafe in Desaru Coast is right by the pool, so the kids can splash around while you enjoy your meal. Here, you’ll get your fill of burritos, tacos, steak, nachos and more.
The Elephant & The Butterfly at Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Desaru Coast, Jln Pantai 3, 81930, Johor, Malaysia, hotel.hardrock.com/desaru-coast/eat-and-drink
Sassy Mama review:
We really enjoyed our 3D2N stay in Desaru Coast. Though it was a packed trip, we’re glad we were able to experience many attractions that Desaru Coast has to offer. The highlights of the trip were the Desaru Fruit Farm (you can get delicious fruits at an amazing price!) and the Adventure Waterpark (perfect for the sweltering heat!). We’d definitely recommend spending at least one night here so you’ll be able to cover more attractions, unless you simply want to relax on the beach with the kids. Since the ferry ride was short and we didn’t have to worry about any transfers, this destination was perfect for my dad who has some mobility issues, so Desaru Coast should be at the top of your list if you’re looking for a place to go with your ageing parents and your kids!
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