LEISURE MALAYSIA DESARU COAST

One Of Malaysia’s largest tOurisM develOpMents has been unfOlding alOng JOhOr’s east cOast fOr the past few years. this tranquil and neardeserted stretch Of sandy beachfrOnt has MOrphed intO the integrated tOurisM precinct branded as desaru cOast. the precinct includes an expansive water-theMed park, fOur resOrts, twO and a half gOlf cOurses, a large cOnventiOn centre and shOpping.

BY DAVID BOWDEN

Desaru coast was opened in several stages but now the property that extends over 750ha is fully open for business. this resort precinct situated along 17km of beachfront fronting the south china sea includes a portfolio of branded resorts and hotels such as the westin desaru coast resort, hard rock hotel desaru coast, anantara desaru coast resort and villas and, One&Only desaru coast. it is also home to adventure waterpark, one of the largest waterparks in the world, a professionally-equipped desaru coast conference centre, desaru coast riverside shopping precinct and 45 holes of golf under management of the els club desaru coast. riverside is a retail and lifestyle village with a river frontage. while compact, it offers shopping, dining and entertainment

Els Club Desaru Coast Ocean Course 1

during peak times. desaru coast is a leading integrated destination resort and one of Malaysia’s largest tourism developments that is just four hours’ drive south of kuala lumpur.

Waterpark Adventures desaru coast adventure waterpark is one of the largest of its kind in the world. visitors can enjoy endless hours of fun in the region’s largest wave pool while enjoying the thrill of its first water coaster ride. the waterpark includes 20 slides and a unique mix of wet and dry rides offering action and adventure for thrill-seekers.

Fairways and Greens the els club desaru coast comprises two beautifully manicured golf courses of 45 holes in total – the Ocean course, a 27-hole golf course designed by four-time majors champion, ernie els and, the valley course, an 18-hole golf course designed in collaboration with another well-recognised golf champion, vijay singh. residences are being built in the golf precinct to offer an exclusive resort lifestyle strategically located around the els club desaru coast.

Resort Retreats desaru coast has been designed with resort accommodation for varied budgets, age groups and interests. guests can opt to stay in exclusive residences at One&Only, the sophisticated anantara desaru coast resort and villas, the inspirational interiors of the westin or, the rock realm of hard rock hotel. Most will make their choice based upon who is in their group; hard rock being the magical choice for families and One&Only or anantara for honeymooners and couples seeking refined rest and relaxation. desaru coast guests could dine out

Pool Westin Desaru

Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast

Beachfront Westin Desaru

or sip cocktails in a different restaurant or bar and still not cover all outlets at the end of a week’s stay. diners can opt for Japanese, thai, Malay, chinese, indian and international dining options across the resort and desaru coast riverside. with its easterly aspect, expansive views of the sun setting below the horizon aren’t as impressive as locations on the west coast but mixologists work extra hard to prepare specially curated cocktails and outstanding beverages. check out dusky Monkey bar (One&Only), Observatory bar (anantara), beach bar (westin) and the elephant and the butterfly (hard rock hotel).

Rest in Westin On my most recent visit, i opted to stay in the deluxe, the westin desaru coast resort lining the near-deserted sands of desaru beach. the 275-room, westin is located immediately adjacent to the convention centre and it’s easy to see that it is ideal for someone visiting desaru on business. however, i was here for relaxation and found it perfect for that too with spacious rooms, good restaurants and bars, a heavenly spa and easy access to the beach and the water park.

My tip is to book a sea-facing room and on the highest floor possible in this seven-storey high property. it goes without saying that the higher the floor, the better the view but it is always good to stipulate this when you book. desaru coast not only appeals to Malaysian holidaymakers but also those from neighbouring singapore and with the minimum room size of 42m2 singaporeans must really thing they are in paradise (anyone who has stayed in a singaporean hotel will appreciate just how palatial and spacious the

Hard Rock Hotel and Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast

Board riding Waterpark Desaru Coast and water theme park

Spaghetti carbonara Prego Westin Desaru Salted fish Prego Westin Desaru Premium Room The Westin Desaru Coast Resort

Prego Westin Desaru

Kraken’s Revenge Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast.

Water slide Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast

Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast and water theme park

Beachfront Westin Desaru Coast Resort Premier Seaview Room King Westin Desaru

westin desaru really is). each room has a private balcony and the room comes equipped with a heavenly bed to assure a wonderful night’s rest. like most other properties at desaru coast, the design of this beachfront property is inspired by the ocean, with the use of materials and patterns from nature. guests staying in westin club rooms and suites enjoy the exclusivity of the westin club lounge and its inviting beverage and snack options that change several times during the course of the day. there is a pool with an adjoining splash pool bar but it was the beachfront and the beach bar that especially appealed to me in the early evening with its happy hour offerings on selected beverages. staff informed me that they also offered a beachside barbecue on selected evenings. there are two restaurants in which to dine – the all-day seasonal tastes and the signature prego which specialises in italian cuisine. there are no surprises in the dishes offered at prego with signature dishes such as rock salt seabass, rib-eye steak, pizza, spaghetti carbonara and tiramisu. the bread and pizza is baked in a stone-fired oven. the setting is casual with the table setting more like a lounge and the views are across the pool. some 1,400 delegates. the showpiece of the conference centre is a dynamic grand ballroom, which can be divided into four smaller event and pre-function spaces if required.

More Restive Retreats having made the long journey to desaru coast and being impressed with what i saw at the westin, i decided to make a quick inspection of some of the other adjoining resorts. the anantara desaru coast resort and villas has 108 rooms comprising 90 guestrooms in low-rise buildings overlooking the landscaped gardens, a lagoon or the south china sea, 13 standalone luxury one and two-bedroom pool villas and five three and four-bedroom residences that offer guests utmost privacy with an individual infinity pool and full kitchen plus chef and butler service. hard rock hotel desaru coast is conveniently located beside desaru coast adventure water park. this 365room hotel offers a ‘rock star’ experience for its guests. desaru coast is an inviting vacation destination for the entire family. there is something about the sea; admiring it is soothing and relaxing and for those seeking a few days of vitamin sea desaru coast delivers.

the heavenly spa by westin showcases signature wellness programmes designed with the right mix for guests to be fully revitalised in a serene sanctuary. select treatments such as the urutan to appreciate traditional Malay therapies based upon long rhythmic strokes. they also do a golfers Massage to get the body back into shape after a round on the nearby els course. desaru coast conference centre managed by the westin desaru coast resort adjoins the hotel. the venue offers 1,252m2 of fully-equipped event space with the capacity to accommodate

tRAvEL FILE travelling Desaru Coast is located in Johor at the southeastern tip of the peninsula close to Iskandar Malaysia and 80km from Senai International Airport. There are flights from Kuala Lumpur (both Subang and KLIA) direct to Senai. It is a relaxed one-hour drive from Johor Bahru along the new Senai-Desaru Expressway. Desaru Coast is a four-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur via the North-South Expressway. Stay in touch Desaru Coast (www.desarucoast.com) and The Westin Desaru Coast Resort (www.westindesaru.com).