MY · Sabah · 4.40°N 117.90°E

tawau hills park

Jungle park with hot springs, waterfalls and a climb up Bombalai Hill.

Best time
Any time of year. Go on a weekday or early in the morning, as weekends get busy with Tawau families.
How long
1 day
Getting there
Fly from KL to Tawau, about 2 hours 45 minutes. The park is about 24 km from town, roughly 30–45 minutes by car.
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MY · Sabahtawau hills park4.40°N 117.90°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Jungle park with hot springs, waterfalls and a climb up Bombalai Hill.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingTawau Hills ParkMY, Sabah
KLtawau hills park
≈ 1,804 km from KL, as the crow flies
Red Leaf Monkey's meal time (Tawau Hills Park)

Photo: Apocru · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A rainforest park just outside Tawau, set up to protect the town's water supply and now its favourite weekend escape. The volcanic landscape gives it a sulphur hot spring, river pools and waterfalls, plus some of the tallest tropical trees ever measured.

Makan

  1. Seafood in Tawau townTawau is a port town, and fresh fish, prawns and crabs are easy to find.Map ↗
  2. Coto MakassarA rich beef soup brought over by the town's big Bugis community.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Table Waterfall (Bukit Gelas)The park's biggest waterfall, about an hour's jungle walk from HQ, with a pool for a dip.Map ↗
  2. Sulphur hot springA longer trail crosses a suspension bridge to a warm sulphur spring that locals swear by.Map ↗
  3. Bombalai HillThe remains of an old volcanic crater, with views over the forest from the top.Map ↗
  4. The giant treesA trail leads to some of the tallest tropical trees ever recorded.Map ↗
  5. River poolsThe Tawau River runs through the park, with pools for a picnic and a swim.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Bring swimwear and a change of clothes for the pools.
  • Start early so you're out of the forest before the afternoon rain.
  • On the hot spring trail, the turn-off across the suspension bridge is easy to miss.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.