Pulau Rawa
Ben van Wijnen.
Rawa Island is an unspoilt coral island, with its
white sands and swaying palm trees. It's nestled in the crystal clear waters of
the South China Sea.
It's located sixteen kilometres off the
coast. This beautiful island has white sand, coves, and superb clear waters for
water activities. Comfortable chalet-style accommodations are available on the
island, and equipment for recreational water activities.
Rawa has its own ferry service
to the island daily which can carry twelve people.
The ferry departs from the terminal in
Mersing.
It's a relatively small town with several streets and roundabouts linking
the roads, one can just about walk around Mersing town in 1hour.
On arriving at Mersing and if you wish to go straight to the jetty, either
walk from Restoran Malaysia, which is one of the drop-off points closer to
the guesthouses and motels in town or wait till you get to the final
destination.Near the Plaza R&R
is the Mersing jetty.
This is your gateway to the islands and ferry tickets
If you do not intend to stay
on in Mersing you can arrange an accommodation here with the various resort and transport offices.
Be careful of touts!
You can get a boat from the Mersing jetty and it takes about 1 hour by slow
boat or 30 minutes by speed boat. This costs RM35 per way per person.
|
Boat terminal Mersing |
Or you
can arrange with the resort for a pick up at Mersing jetty.
Some names of the ferry ticketing offices are: "Sun & Sand Holiday" and "SS Service Agency".
Boat transfer
from Mersing is at 12pm. The return time from Rawa is at 10.00 am.
You need to pay
for your accommodation before you are transferred to the island.
As you step off the boat feel the magic of Rawa begin to work its spell upon
you.
You can catch the sound of the soft
tropical breeze, as it whispers through the palm trees and as you gaze on
the beautiful white sand beach.
You know that here, for a while, you can truly relax.
Only tourists will come to the island. Maybe it is because this is a privately-owned island which
will charge even for a day-trip entry.
In the beautiful blue sea the coral garden
is teeming with fish and marine life, from coral reef fish to Pelagic fish,
a surprise for many people.
In this marine park giant clams abound, you may see it all but
nothing is to be touched.
Preservation, conservation, and a marine park to boot, not even dead shells
can be taken. So may admire everything, but don't take anything with you.
Pulau Rawa has secluded white beaches and palm fringed; images which can be
found here in Malaysia, to add to the dream blazing sunlight and a cool green,
clear lagoon, where fish dart and swim in never ending circles. Visitors on the
beach wallowing in the sunlight.
When it is very hot, you need sunglass and sun-block lotion. It's advisable to
bring that with you. For drinking water, you have to refill your water bottles
several times from the
resort only restaurant called "Cafe de Rawa" many times. This is also the only
place for your food.
For the more adventurous, you can check out the
caves or take a 15 min trek up the hill that overlooks the other side of the
island. A pretty interesting view which usually promises a beautiful sunrise.
You'll understand that Pulau Rawa is a gem of an island.
This paradise
island is a haven from the stresses and strains of daily life.
Although the resort is open all year round, it is advisable not to travel during
the monsoon season between November and early January. If waves are too high,
the boat operators will not transfer guests to the island.
Approximate travelling time : 4 hrs from KL and Singapore, 3 hrs from JB.
Nearest airport is close to Kuantan.
