Desaru
Desaru (The Village of Casuarinas) is a 25km stretch of sandy beach lined with casuarina trees. It lies in the southeastern corner of Johor, approximately 98km northeast of Johor Bahru. Desaru was developed as a tourist resort by the Johor Tenggara Development Authority (KEJORA).
The resort has several hotels, beach chalets, an 18-hole international standard golf course and sports facilities for tennis, canoeing, swimming, boating, snorkelling, water skiing, caramaran sailing, jungle trekking and fishing.
One place visitors should not miss is the Fishermen’s Museum located at the Tanjung Balau fishing village. Visitors can view the museum’s impressive collection of fishing traps, tackles and floats on display as well as an exhibition on the folklore of fishermen.
Pulau Sibu
The more developed of the group is Pulau Sibu. A pleasant hideaway, it abounds with lush tropical vegetation and endless stretches of golden beaches.
On the seaward side of the island are numerous sea caves carved out of its rocks. The result of constant pounding by the sea during the monsoon season, it gaves the island a beautiful yet rugged appearance.
Off shore,its waters contain fascinating coral refers teeming with colourful marine life. Shipwrecks off its coast may also be found.Chinese junks and pirate vessels often exchanged cannon fire around this island, and the remains of these battles lie scattered around the seabed.
There are facilities for scuba diving, snorkelling, wind surfing, sailing and angling. Visitors can hike through jungle trails leading to unspoilt mangrove swamps, visit the ‘kelongs’ where anchoives are caught or head for the kampungs where coconut is smoked for copra.