How to Spend a Weekend in Desaru - Tips to Enjoy an Unforgettable Weekend Getaway in Desaru
As one of Malaysia's best kept secrets, Desaru is a charming fishing town that serves as the perfect day trip or weekend vacation option for locals. Occupying pride of place in the state of Johor, this breathtaking beach hub is also easily accessible from Singapore. From spending time out in nature to wining and dining your way through the weekend, here are some practical tips on how to make the most of your two-day holiday in Desaru.
1. Find the Perfect Base
Those who are holidaying in Desaru for a limited number of days such as a weekend must secure accommodation close to the area's main attractions. This means a beachside Desaru resort villa the likes of Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas or any similar establishment that affords easy access to the beach as well as a convenient location from which to explore the remainder of the seaside hamlet. One cannot overstate the significance of a strategically situated base as those who are short on time are less likely to enjoy most of the sightseeing and activity options on offer from an inconvenient or remote base.
2. Go Fruit Picking
Often regarded as one of the most rewarding things to do in Desaru, picking fruit at the Desaru Fruit Farm is a must for all nature lovers heading to the beach capital for the weekend. This family-friendly agricultural park cultivates more than one hundred fruit varieties and visitors can learn about the many juicy and delicious fruits and veggies grown at the farm. Those who visit during Durian season will be in for an additional treat as this is when the Desaru Fruit Farm lays out its famous Durian buffet.
Image via Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas
3. Splash Around
No trip to Desaru would be complete without spending a morning or an afternoon at the Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark. Spread out across a whopping 25 acres, this massive compound is lined with water-based activity hubs such as its very own wave pool and even a manmade beach. Divided into 5 different sections, some of the main highlights at Desaru Coast Adventure Water Park include the Surf Wall and the Kraken's Revenge roller coaster while the longest lazy river ride in all of Malaysia is also found here.
4. Enjoy Some Beach Time
As the main reason why most holidaymakers head to Desaru in the first place, it is imperative that one spends a few hours soaking up the coastal atmosphere of the area's stunning beaches. In addition to quiet morning or afternoon strolls on the beach, travellers should also take the time to go swimming or simply work on one's tan and catch up on some summer read by the water.
5. Sign Up for Adventure
No venue allows weekenders to let loose in the ocean quite like Dash Outdoor Adventure, your one-shop-stop for water sports activities in Desaru. Renting out water sports gear and providing competitively priced packages for outdoor adventures including sailing, surfing, jet-skiing, kayaking and even cycling, Dash Outdoor Adventure also offers exciting excursions involving windsurfing, waterskiing and wakeboarding.
6. Cruise Away
Weekend vacationers can also spend the afternoon on a boat cruise across the Bujang River, which takes one to the recreational hotspot known as the Firefly Valley Leisure Park. The area, which is a popular breeding ground for fireflies, is best observed at nightfall when these creatures and the spectacle they create are visible against the night sky.
7. Tee-Off like a Pro
Golf fans, on the other hand, can use a getaway to Desaru as the perfect excuse to tee-off at The Els Club Desaru Coast Golf Club. Home to a 9-hole course named after and designed by golfing great Ernie Els, the venue contains two other courses dubbed the Rainforest Course (5-hole) and the Valley Course.
