Desaru is a coastal resort town located in the state of Johor, Malaysia. It is situated on the eastern coast of the Johor Bahru district, facing the South China Sea. Desaru is a popular tourist destination, known for its beautiful beaches, scenic golf courses, and various outdoor activities.

Desaru is easily accessible by road and is located about a 2-hour drive from the city of Johor Bahru. There are also several resorts and hotels in Desaru, ranging from budget-friendly to luxury accommodations, making it a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists.

During the Good Friday long weekend, we decided to head in to Desaru for a family trip. It was a mistake to go in on the eve of a public holiday because the traffic jam was crazy. We were stuck in it for around 4 hours, much to the frustration of many other cars. There were two options, one is via the ferry from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and the other is via land over the border. However, the ferry tickets are quite expensive and it would add up for the whole family.

By the time we arrived at Hard Rock hotel, it was already 2am. We hastily did the check-in and went to the room to sleep. Rooms were clean and spacious. All the rooms that we had (4 for our family) had views of the water park. The pillows and bolster also came with special imprints of the Hard Rock logo.

The next morning, we woke up early for breakfast. The sky was a little gloomy and we hoped that it would not rain. After breakfast, the kids all went to get ready to enter the adventure waterpark once it opened its doors at 10pm.

Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark is a popular water park located in Desaru, Malaysia. It is one of the largest water parks in Southeast Asia, covering an area of about 21 acres. The park features over 20 thrilling water rides and attractions, including the Kraken’s Revenge, a high-speed water coaster, and the Super Twister, a thrilling water slide that takes riders through a series of twists and turns.

As the hotel swimming pool was closed for renovation, the hotel compensated us by giving us free tickets to the water park for each day of our stay. The value of the day pass is worth RM60 for each person per day, depending on the number of people staying in the hotel room.

The tidal pool was fun for everyone, because of the artificially created waves. People can take up surfing lessons at this tidal pool for an additional cost. At the start of each hour for about 15 minutes, the waves in the tidal pool would be turned on, simulating the tsunami waves, so that it would come crashing against the shore. The children loved it, but the younger ones do need to be under close supervision by the adults and to wear the lifevests for safety.

The young ones also had fun playing on the artificial beach, building sandcastles and so on.

The hotel is situated along the river, which used to have a market and bazaar, but the staff told us that after the Movement Control Order (MCO- Malaysia’s version of lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic), the stores went bankrupt. Today the area is eerily silent and we took a leisurely stroll along the river.

Entrance to the Adventure Waterpark, for the public. There is ample parking space. The park is open from 10am to 6pm daily.

The lobby of the hotel was nicely decorated for the upcoming festival, Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

The lobby of the hotel is wide and spacious. On the day that we were checking out, there was a long queue formed at reception around 10am. I would recommend using the e-checkout function found in your room. You would need to make payment for the tourism tax and any other stuff consumed, using the same credit card that you checked in. After which, drop the cardkey in the box provided and you are done.

If you visit Desaru and do not want to eat at the restaurants in the hotel, do check out Desaru Seafood corner. (Address: 10-1,9-01,8, 01, Jalan Semarak 1, Desaru, 81930 Bandar Penawar). They offer pickup from your hotel for free, if you book in advance. However, there is only one minivan for the transport, so be expected to wait some time if you are going there between 7-9pm which is the peak period. Getting Grab in Desaru is not as easy, as many drivers did not want to pick us up from our hotel after 7pm.

The food was hearty and delicious. We had 2 separate tables, one for the adults and another for the children. As usual, we over-ordered so we ended up with an additional plate of fried rice and sweet sour pork that everyone struggled to finish. In the picture above from top left in a clockwise manner, there was claypot beancurd, steamed fish Cantonese style, Hokkien noodles Malaysia style, and hotplate black pepper venison. It has been a long while since I had venison, so I enjoyed it a lot.

As for the seafood, we ordered lobster in broth, chilli crab, fried baby squid and butter crab. All were nice. The lobster was not very cheap as it was air-flown from Canada. The crabs, we chose USA ones over the Indonesian ones. The sauce was very tasty and with the additional fried buns (Mantous) it made us so full.

Overall, the 3 days in Desaru flew past quickly. We did not do the typical tours such as to check out the sandy beach and crystal-clear waters, Desaru Fruit Farm, where visitors can learn about local fruit farming practices and sample fresh tropical fruits. We had done this previously. Other popular activities in Desaru include water sports such as jet skiing and banana boat rides, golfing at the nearby golf courses, and exploring the nearby fishing villages. But most of the time, we chilled at our hotel. At night, there was a live band playing at the bar, and for the last night, we went there to chill and listen to the live music.

Suggestions

• Book a nice hotel by the sea

• Take the ferry if you can afford the higher prices, so as not to be caught in the traffic while crossing the land border.

• Visit the Desaru Seafood Corner
• Relax and take it easy.