Kundasang Between Remembrance and Natural Heritage

Kundasang brings together remembrance, World Heritage and local produce. The town is home to the Kundasang War Memorial, Kinabalu Park and Desa Cattle Dairy Farm; nearby, Maragang Hill and the Kiau View Trail add to the nature-related attractions. When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to decide what kind of trip you want: should remembrance be the main focus, or would you like to include more nature and local food production?

Remembrance and Gardens in Kundasang

The Kundasang War Memorial was established in 1962 as one of the first memorials to commemorate Australian and British prisoners of war who died during the Second World War in Sandakan and on the death marches to Ranau. It is located in Pekan Kundasang. The memorial’s significance thus extends from the site itself to Sandakan and Ranau; in Kundasang, it serves as a distinct cultural landmark.

The grounds include four gardens: the Australian Garden, the English Garden, the Borneo Garden and the Contemplation Garden with its pool. Their names evoke different connections, from Australia and England to Borneo; the pool is part of the Contemplation Garden. Alongside its historical purpose, the named garden layout forms a distinct part of the memorial. The site therefore has both a clear historical connection and grounds that are specifically described.

World Heritage and Nature

Kinabalu Park is Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site. Nearby, Maragang Hill stands at 2,232 metres above sea level and was opened to the public in 2017. The Kiau View Trail starts at the entrance to Kinabalu Park and is about 2.5 kilometres long. According to the tourism description, there is a high chance of spotting a pitcher plant along the trail.

The two nature attractions offer different things to consider when planning: Maragang Hill is notable for its elevation and the year it opened, while the Kiau View Trail is described in terms of its approximate length and the chance to observe plants. This can help you decide which aspect better suits your interests, without treating the two nature attractions as equivalent.

Local Produce

Desa Cattle Dairy Farm adds local food production to the picture. Its locally made products include fresh milk, yoghurt, cheese and gelato; the product range may change. For travellers interested in regional produce as well as history and nature, this is another distinct area of interest in Kundasang.

Getting There and Planning Your Stay

To travel towards Kundasang/Ranau, you can take a minibus or taxi from Jalan Padang Bus Station and ask the driver to drop you off in Kundasang. A hired vehicle is required to reach the Mesilou Ecotourism Association (META) office in Kg Mesilou. These directions are for different destinations, so plan the trip to the META office separately from your journey to Kundasang. Transport services and availability may change. Check the options locally before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Beaufort, Semporna, Menumbok, Sandakan, Ranau, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Penyu, Kinabatangan.

For the broader travel overview: Sabah.