Forget the long white cloud for a moment and head to the land of the long sandy beaches, Terengganu in Malaysia. With a spectacular 240km of coastline facing the South China Sea and beautiful islands such as Redang, Perhentian and Kapas, it’s the perfect destination for Kiwi beachcombers and scuba enthusiasts.
“Terengganu’s breathtaking islands are known as the emeralds of the east because of their crystal-clear emerald waters,” says Shahrin Mokhtar, Director of Tourism Malaysia Sydney. “For those looking for an escape from the stresses of their concrete jungle, the pristine beaches and rich sea life are the perfect hideaway.”
One of the islands, Redang, is renowned for world-class diving facilities. Dive sites include Terumbu Kili with its rocky seascape encrusted with both soft and hard corals at about 15 metres, and slopes down to 20 metres at the sandy bottom; Big Mount, which offers divers a chance to observe everything from macro life-forms to possible encounters with whale sharks; and Mini Mount with its numerous cowries, spider shells and large aggregation of colourful Christmas tree worms carpeting coral blocks. It’s also a famous site for night diving.
Tanjung Tokong is another dive site not to be missed. Large Napolean wrasse, parrot fish, jacks and unicorn fish are a common sight here, besides the many chromodoris nudibranchs and green staghorn corals. Other popular dive sites include Tunnel Point, Tanjung Cina Terjun and also the Marine Park Centre.
Redang also has two historic shipwrecks — the HMS Prince of Wales and the HMS Repulse — that sank at the beginning of World War II, setting the stage for the Japanese occupation of Malaya.
Accommodation choices in the region include everything from eco adventure camps, idyllic beachside retreats, houseboats and luxury resort accommodation. Some highlights on Redang include:
Berjaya Redang Beach Resort, set amidst the turquoise blue waters of Teluk Dalam. The resort features 220 tastefully furnished rooms and suites in Malaysian-style chalets. The 130 elegant and luxurious guestrooms and suites on the hillside are the Redang Hill View and Redang Sea View categories. Laguna Redang Island Resort
Berjaya Redang Spa Resort, located in Teluk Siang on the southern side of the Redang. Perched on a cliff 140 feet above sea level, it commands a spectacular view of the South China Sea. Set in lush tropical rainforest, it offers 100 cosy chalets.
www.berjayahotels-resorts.com Laguna Redang Island Resort, which is located at Long Beach (Pasir Panjang). The resort offers 222 comfortably furnished rooms ranging from standard to suites housed in 12 blocks of authentic Malay architectural wonder, reminiscent of a traditional village setting. www.lagunaredang.com.my
Whether you’re looking for a fun-filled adventure holiday of diving, snorkelling, swimming, squid fishing, camping, canoeing or jungle trekking, or prefer having a perfect holiday by just lying in the shades of swaying coconut trees, enjoying the cool breeze doing practically nothing, consider Terengganu in affordable Malaysia.
The best time to visit is between March and October and flights arrive daily from Kuala Lumpur, Penang and directly from Singapore.
Terengganu: Where Nature Embraces Heritage.
www.tourismmalaysia.co.nz 
