"The third largest town of the state of Sabah, situated on the island of Borneo. It is a relatively new town in Malaysia, boomed in early 1980s for its lumber and cocoa farming industry. Today Tawau is a bustling town where it is a transit point to all neighbouring islands such as Sebatik, Nunukan, Tarakan, Jolo and Semporna islands."
An aerial view of Tawau Port.
The district of Tawau is one huge plantation that supports, rubber, copra, cocoa and oil palm on its rich volcanic soil. Timber is
logged from the more accessible parts of the jungle. Tawau was once a small coastal fishing village under the Sultan of Sulu until it was ceded to the North Borneo Company in 1878.
The town lies at the south-east corner of the state on a stretch of coast. The town is now the administrative and service centre for a agricultural
district (oil palm, cocoa, rubber and coconut). It has a fine mosque and avenues of shaded shops. Open-air stalls along the sea
front serve delicious seafood. This last port of call before Indonesia has a small bustling traffic of shipping made up mainly of Filipinos and Indonesians.
The town's fish market is a hive of activity where fresh produce is sold and Bajau woman display their handicraft of multi-coloured mats, hats and baskets.
The Tawau Hill Park is another nature sanctuary located nearby which offers some stunning views, a swimming and picnicking area and a hot spring.
The new Central Market on Jalan Dunlop near the harbour is renowned for prawns and fish.
An interesting Street Market is held every Sunday morning on the corner of Jalan Apas and Jalan Kuhara. The open-air night stalls opposite the Sabindo Shopping Complex on Jalan Chen Fook is also another favourite.
Tawau
A visit to the Teck Guan Cocoa Museum is a must when visiting Tawau. The moment you set foot in
this cocoa kingdom you will sense the lovely aroma of cocoa permeating the air. Housed within a cocoa and chocolate manufacturing compound. There is no admission fee to the Teck Guan Cocoa museum.
Next to the museum is the factory processing raw cocoa seed to cocoa powder. The cocoa processing plant is one of the largest in Southeast Asia and the largest
in East Malaysia. Experts claim the cocoa plants in Tawau are the most productive in the world.
The new Tawau airport, situated 31 Km away from the city was officially opened in December 2001. With a runway length of 3000 metres, the airport can accommodate Airbus aircraft.
Shan Shui Golf Resort Tawau is situated on a 40
minutes flight from Kota Kinabalu. This magnificent 18-hole Golf course is designed by Nelson & Haworth.
It is considered as a master piece of all the golf courses in Asia.
The par-72 championship course measuring 6,644 metres from the championship tee is rated as the longest course in Malaysia.
Shan Shui Golf course is truly an ultimate dream course for golfers of any level. Carved out of natural jungle terrain golfers will experience Borneo at it's best. Wildlife, and fauna are in abundance.
=It's length and degree of difficulty has a rating of 74 and a slope of 143.
Golf Course
Madai Forest Reserve Madai Forest Reserve has one of the tropical roughest vegetation type. It also has a historical site which shows the early settlement in Sabah. Madai waterfall is located 98 km from Tawau along the main road between Kunak andLahad Datu. Basic facilities such as changing room, washrooms and an information centre are available for visitors.
The waterfall drops into a cool pond measuring at 12 m by 8m which is ideal for swimming and provided a refreshing atmosphere for
picnicking. A small limestone cave known as the Madai Cave where the harvest of edible swift let nests take place is only 6.5 km south east of the waterfall area.
By booking at this non commercial site, you'll keep this site alive!
Promenade Hotel Tawau
Located at Kuhara, Promenade Hotel Tawau features business-class accommodation in the center of the Tawau Division in Sabah. The tallest in Sabah, the hotel is located adjacent to Eastern Plaza Shopping Center, the biggest shopping center in Tawau. The hotel, close to the town center, features rooms and suites with 4-star amenities that cater to both leisure and business travelers. Guests staying here can enjoy great accessibility to places like Tawau Hill Park, Shan Sui Golf & Country Club, as well as world-class diving sites like Sipadan and Mabul Islands. Promenade Hotel Tawau assures maximum pleasure, convenience, and unforgettable memories.
By booking at this non commercial site, you'll keep this site alive!
Heritage Hotel
For travelers who want to take in the sights and sounds of Tawau, Heritage Hotel is the perfect choice. The city center is merely 0 KM away and the airport can be reached within 30 minutes. For those of you who want to venture out, Pasar Tanjung, Tawau Airport, Teck Guan Cocoa Museum are just some of the attractions available to visitors.
Offering hotel guests superior services and a broad range of amenities, Heritage Hotel is committed to ensuring that your stay is as comfortable as possible. To name a few of the hotel's facilities, there are free Wi-Fi in all rooms, 24-hour security, daily housekeeping, taxi service, 24-hour front desk.
Experience high quality room facilities during your stay here. Some rooms include television LCD/plasma screen, clothes rack, complimentary instant coffee, complimentary tea, linens, provided to help guests recharge after a long day. Besides, the hotel's host of recreational offerings ensures you have plenty to do during your stay. Whatever your reason for visiting Tawau, the Heritage Hotel is the perfect venue for an exhilarating and exciting break away.
