Awash with natural beauty, green pockets and parks punctuate Kota Kinabalu, in the city center and beyond. Nested in the city, some parks are made for explorers with running trails, children’s playgrounds, a dancing fountain, and even memorials to World War II. While Kinabalu Park is home to a botanical garden with thousands of plant species, many native to the area surrounding Mount Kinabalu. Visitors looking to get lost in outdoor gems where nature rules will find no shortage of options in and around Kota Kinabalu.
Kota Kinabalu City Park
In the heart of the city, Kota Kinabalu City Park includes water buffalo sculptures and a memorial dedicated to World War II: the North Borneo War Monument. The park’s central obelisk and war memorial is its most popular feature, with the park seeing most visitors on evenings and weekends. The location also hosts a bus terminal for the Sabah-Brunei-Sarawak route and is the pickup location for most trips to Menumbok.
Address: Jalan Tun Razak, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000, Kota Kinabalu
Phone: +6012 – 222 0220
Operating Hours:
– 24 hours daily
Admission Cost:
– Free of charge
Website
Perdana Park
Perdana Park is a large area with enough space for recreational activities and dining options. It is a popular destination for those looking to run or walk its trails, as well as doing lakeside exercises. The park has two different playgrounds for children, but it is the musical water fountain which steals the show. With daily performances from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, each featuring two 10-minute sessions. Children will enjoy the water dancing to catchy musical tunes, including Malay and well-known classical pieces. With beautiful sunsets and non-stop entertainment, the park is one of the most popular green spaces within the city.
Address: Jalan Melati, Tanjung Aru, 88100, Kota Kinabalu
Phone: +6088 280 566
Operating Hours:
– Daily: 5:00 am – 9:00 pm
Admission Cost:
– Free of charge
Website
Mount Kinabalu Botanical Garden
Within the Kinabalu Park, this botanical garden contains many of the 5,000-plus plant species native to the Mount Kinabalu region. Also called the ‘Mountain Garden’ because it is buried deep in the forests of the Kinabalu Park. Its entrance can be tricky to find as it requires a hike from the main road. Opened in 1981, the garden spills over 1.4 hectares of space. Guided tours are offered three times daily including at 9:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 3:00 pm. In addition to fragrant flowers waiting to be found, visitors will learn about the local biodiversity: trees, fruits and other plant species thriving in this secret garden. The park also famously includes more than 600 species of ferns, most of which do not grow elsewhere in Malaysia.
Address: Kinabalu Park, 89308, Kundasang
Phone: +6088 – 523 500
Operating Hours:
– Daily: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
– Tours: 9:00 am, 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm
Admission Cost:
Locals
– Below 18yrs old: RM2
– 18yrs old & above: RM4
– 55yrs old & above: RM2
Foreigners
– Below 18yrs old: RM2.50
– 18yrs old & above: RM5
– 55yrs old & above: RM5
Website
