Hotels in Tawau

Tawau is the third-largest town in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan and was formerly known as Tawao which is a town and administrative centre of Tawau Division, Sabah, Malaysia. It is bordered by the Sulu Sea to the east, the Celebes Sea to the south at Cowie Bay and shares a border with North Kalimantan. Statistically, the town had an estimated population as of 2010 of 113,809 while the whole municipality area had a population of 397,673. Before the founding of Tawau, the region around it was the subject of dispute between the British and Dutch influence. In 1893, the first British merchant vessel sailed into Tawau marking the opening of the town's sea port and in 1898, the British set up a settlement in Tawau. The British North Borneo Chartered Company (BNBC) accelerated growth of the settlement's population by encouraging the immigration of Chinese. Currently, Tawau has become one of the must-see and largest agro destinations in Sabah and among the tourist attractions in Tawau are Tawau International Cultural Festival, Tawau Bell Tower, Japanese War Cemetery, Confrontation Memorial, Teck Guan Cocoa Museum, Tawau Hills National Park, Bukit Gemok, and Tawau Tanjung Markets. The main economic activities of the town are timber, cocoa, oil palm plantations, and prawn farming.

How to Get There

By Flight

There are flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport such as Air Asia and Firefly to Tawau Airport in Sabah. It usually takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Next, once you reach the airport, you can take a cab or rent car to Tawau town and the duration is around 30 minutes by using Jalan Tawau Lama.

Tourist Attractions

Tawau Hills Park

Nestled 30 minutes away from Tawau town, the park was established in 1979 and is a home to various selection of flora and animal species. It comprises 279.72 km² of lowland dipterocarp rainforest surrounded by oil palm and cacao plantations. There are 2 hectare lowland gardens which has lowland orchids such as the Elephant's Ear Orchid. Many people visit Tawau Hills Park during the school holidays or at weekends and this park is also a popular spot for families and friends to enjoy a picnic and spend a night camping under a blanket of stars. It contains rugged volcanic landscapes including a hot spring and spectacular waterfalls and the highest point in the park is Gunung Magdalena.The charges for MyKad holders (18 years and above)is RM3.00, MyKad (below 18 years) is RM1.00 and others (18 years and above) is RM10.00 as well as Others (below 18 years)is RM6.00.

Teck Guan Cocoa Museum

This museum comprised of cocoa processing plant and manufacturing factory and the cocoa processing plant is one of the largest in Southeast Asia and the largest in East Malaysia. There are layout charts descriptions on how raw products are being processed into cocoa butter, cocoa nibs, cocoa cake and dried cocoa bean and a wall chart showing how raw products processed into cocoa butter, cocoa nibs, cocoa cake and cocoa bean. The description can be explained by guided tours available.Located 10 minutes away, there are various Hoko products available for purchase from chocolate jam to instant hot cocoa beverages.

Hotels

Heritage Hotel

Heritage Hotel is located in Tawau Town Centre and a 5-minute walk from the commercial and business centre. This hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel as well as meeting room facilities. The air-conditioned rooms are fitted with a satellite TV and tea and coffee-making facilities and complimentary toiletries and water bottle. There is also luggage storage provided at the front desk and guests can enjoy a selection of delightful local cuisine in Asian Cuisines and Curry House.

This 4-star hotel is offers a business Centre, restaurant, fitness centre, lounge and pub and situated nearby shopping complex. Promenade Hotel Tawau is only 5-minute drive from the largest dry seafood market in the country, 5-minute drive to the famous seafood stalls and 35-minute drive from Tawau Airport. Guests can relax and unwind at sauna and has a well equipped gym.Each air-conditioned guestroom is fitted with flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, hairdryer, safe deposit box, minibar, free internet cable, WiFi and tea/coffee-making facilities.The Cafe@se7en is located at the 7th floor overseeing the panoramic view of Tawau Town and guests can also head to the Lobby Lounge and Deli Corner for a relaxing evening or FuBar for live band performances.

Shervinton Executive Boutique Hotel

This three star composed of elegantly furnished rooms which equipped with air conditioning and free Wi-Fi access throughout the property.This modern building is located just a 30-minute drive to the beautiful Tawau Hills Park and just a 30-minute drive to Tawau Domestic Airport with shuttle service available. Shervinton Executive’s in-house restaurant named Sky Bar & Lounge serves an array of international and local Malaysian cuisines.The rooms are fitted with ironing facilities, a personal safe and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and shower facilities, a hairdryer and free bath amenities are included in the attached bathroom.Guests can unwind at the sauna facilities or enjoy various spa treatments. There are also friendly staffs at 24-hour front desk that can assist with luggage storage as well as meeting and banquet facilities.