Waterfall/Water Stream in Kuching

Hi all.This entry is all about the appropriate places for your leisure and recreation. For students and workers, weekend is the best time to do something that can refresh our mind with relaxing environment. They're always wanted to evade all the pressure during weekdays. Some of them prefer to watch movie or doing some activities such as bowling, futsal, karaoke, pool and even playing paintball. For those already got family and children, they'll prefer to fill up their time with recreation. So, here are the best place for leisure and recreation in KUCHING;


1. Family Park, Matang

Matang Family Park is a place where the parent used to take their kids for family picnic among the lush cool tropical mountain streams. Visitors can relax by the rock pools and waterfalls, or trek along the nature trails. It is about 40 mins from Kuching so you will need a car to reach there for sure. The Wildlife Center will also give you an opportunity to see Orang Utans and other local wildlife but for me it's the opportunty to get out of the city, see the country side and take a dip in the cold mountain stream which is the main draw. With the heat and humidity in Kuching it is always great to take an enjoyable dip in the cold stream under the canopy of trees there. There're also has BBQ pits for those want to set the dishes for lunch. This is one of the locals favourite thing to do on weekend so expect it to be quite crowded on weekend. If you can go during the weekday =) 

2. Kubah National Park 


Kubah National Park is one of the most easily assessible park in Kuching, just under an hour drive away on the way to the Matang hills. As I know, there's no schedules bus service to the park, and the nearest bus stops at a road junction which require an hour or so on foot to each the entrance, so the only option is by cab or hired car, but the location is not hard to find.

There are several walking trails, and the Waterfall Trail is the most popular. It's a 1 1/2 hour trekking (one way) through the rainforest though the trail are well marked and many stretches are by plankwalk. The trail is easy to negotiate as there is not much gradient, where there are, steps are provided and on steep climb at the approach to the waterfalls, wooden stairs/steps are provided.

The waterfall is about 20 feet high and falls into a big pool and cascade to a series of big boulders with smaller pools along the way. The water is cool and refreshing and is an excellent place for a swim and picnic, not just a beauty of it's nature..But I want to remind the flat rock surface can be slippering during rainy season as they are moss covered, so be careful... =)

T

3. Ranchan Recreational Park


Ranchan Rectional Park is located at 18th Mile, Kuching-Serian Road, which is not far from Jong's crocodile farm. When I was growing up in Kuching I heard of Ranchan pool so many times but I  ever going there only once. They only brought me to Matang for my ‘swimming lessons’. This is one of the famous location for children's having for a picnic, but they had to hike through the jungle, sloppy hills and jungle treks and don’t forget the leeches! I guess the locals there are not as open as town folks. Not that they are swimming in bikinis, but they were in their normal t-shirt and pants.For those interested to go to Ranchan, I suggest you to come early around 9 - 10 am due to the crowd of peoples over there.

4. Santubong Waterfall


Gunung Santubong is located on the Damai Peninsula, 35km north of Kuching. This 810m high limestone hill is a popular destination for climbers and trekkers. I ever been there twice during high school and it's really lovely creature of its nature. Small streams feed two attractive waterfalls, which can be reached easily by well-maintained trails. To reach this trail you take the road from Kuching to Santubong. A few km before reaching the Damai resort, there is a small cafe where the trail starting point. In about half an hour you will reach the main waterfall. Take note this place is not suitable for children or family recreation because of the risk during tracking up to the water fall.

5. Gading Waterfall


The Gunung Gading National Park is located near Lundu, about 80 km West of Kuching. The park is famous for it's Rafflesia's but there is also a series of nice waterfalls. The park is very well maintained. When there are Rafflesia's in bloom, there can be a crowd, otherwise it will be quiet. I ever going here during my high school (Form 5). I was been there for camping organized by Police Cadet Club in purposed. It took me about 3 hours to reach over the waterfall and I was totally stunned with the waterfall named as Waterfall 7. It was freakingly awesome! This is the best waterfall that I never seen before. Thumbs up!

6. Sekedu Waterfall

The waterfall is located at the rural countryside of the Padawan, South Kuching. This is the region where the Bedayu live, no longer in longhouses, but in attractive villages. One of these is Kg Sadir, on the slopes of the Penrissen range. There are several waterfalls near this kampung but the most common one is Sekedu waterfall.

The easiest way to reach Kg Sadir from Kuching, is to follow first the signage to the Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and then to the Borneo Highlands Resort. Finally to Kg Sadir, where the road ends and you can park your car. The road quality is quite ok, except for some potholes. Although I've never been here, but for those nature lover and waterfall hunters can give it a try.

There are a lot of another waterfall around Kuching, but the status were not upgrade to recreational park yet and the accessibility rate is quite low. Furthermore, there are no safety precautions and lack of facilities for emergencies. Here are the list of others waterfall in Kuching;

- Bobak Waterfall (West of Kuching)
- Ban Buan Kukuot & Mabi Waterfall (Padawan)
- Jangkar waterfall ( Lundu, near Indonesian Border)
- Sebarau waterfall ( Padawan)
- Tajor waterfall ( Bako National Pak)