Johor, the southernmost state in Peninsular Malaysia, is conveniently located just a short causeway away from Singapore, making it a popular destination for Singaporeans. While Johor is perhaps best known for being home to Southeast Asia’s first Legoland theme park, this vibrant state offers much more than just brick-building fun.
Beyond the iconic theme park, Johor boasts a diverse range of experiences, from unique glamping opportunities and idyllic island escapes to charming animal encounters. This often-overlooked state has a wealth of attractions waiting to be discovered. Here are seven hidden gems that offer a glimpse into the diverse experiences Johor has to offer, just across the causeway from Singapore.
Also read: When in Johor: Singaporeans are Guilty of Doing These Unbelievable Things
1. Canopy Tribes, Ulu Sungai
If you’re in Johor and just have that sudden urge to forego modern hotels and experience the comforts of nature instead, you’ll be happy to know about Canopy Tribes. Located a mere 3km away from Kota Tinggi, Canopy Tribes is a luxurious glamping site that offers fully furnished…tents and an authentic glamour camping experience, complete with a charcoal BBQ grill and exquisite comfort. If enjoying luxury under a sea of stars is your kind of thing, consider Canopy Tribes your top accommodation choice when in Johor.
Psst, not many people know about this place…
2. Themed Parks and Fun Towns, Across Johor
No, I’m not talking about Legoland. Forget that for a second, okay. Apart from Legoland, there are quite a few themed parks and fun towns in Johor. In Nusajaya, you can find the Sanrio Hello Kitty Town which is, as the name suggests, an entire town dedicated to the popular cartoon character. If Hello Kitty is not your thing, then head on over to the Angry Birds Activity Park in Johor Bahru! Don’t like cartoons in general? Don’t worry, for fun, head over to the PERMAS Go Kart arena which features a 1.4km long race track! Whether it’s silly fun or adrenaline rushes you’re after, you’ll probably be able to find it in Johor if you know where to look!
Also read: 15 Incredible Photos of Islands and Beaches You Won’t Believe Are in Malaysia
3. Firefly Valley Leisure Park, Kota Tinggi
For the romantic of heart, be sure to check out Firefly Valley Leisure Park in Johor. There aren’t many places in the region where you can find colonies of fireflies lighting up your surroundings, especially these days when so many of us live in concrete jungles. If you’re looking for an night time experience that feels like a fairytale, then definitely hit this place up when in Kota Tinggi. One of the best experiences would be the firefly cruise which lasts approximately 40–50 minutes along the Johor river.
4. Zenxin Organic Park, Kluang
The 100 acre wide Zenxin Organic farm in Kluang is considered the biggest organic farm in Peninsular Malaysia. Offering scenic views and a great escape from city life, Zenxin Organic Park operates as both an educational and recreational facility. Visitors may choose to join a tour of the park, explore the premise on their own, sample deliciously fresh organic fruits and visit greenhouses as well. The park also has a restaurant, produce market and flower nursery. So for good family fun away from the busy city, Zenxin Organic Park is certainly worth a visit!
5. Desaru Ostrich Farm, Desaru
Desaru is a beach and resort area in Kota Tinggi which is generally known as the Gold Coast of Malaysia. In addition to water theme parks and resorts, there is also an ostrich farm which houses over 100 ostriches. At the farm, a local guide takes visitors through the daily ins and outs of the business. From watching ostriches lay their eggs to the incubation process and even to touching the birds, visitors at the farm are able to get close and personal (watch those fingers!) to the big birds. There’s also a souvenir shop selling arts and crafts made from ostrich egg shells and even dried ostrich meat, if you can handle eating ostrich meat whilst being surrounded by ostriches, most of which will probably be staring at you with big, googly eyes.
6. UK Argo Farm, Kluang
Okay, I swear, this is the last entry on the list concerning animals and agriculture, but the UK Argo Farm deserves a mention for being a top destination in Kluang (and no, it’s not located in the UK, nor is it related to Argos, which is a UK retail company). Of course, after visiting ostriches, in order to be fair to all animals, you should also visit goats and sheep! Boasting scenery which makes it a worthy entry on the list of places that look like New Zealand, UK Argo Farm is a large scale farm specialising in sheep and goat dairy products. Visitors are treated to the process of feeding and maintaining the sheep, and also the process of extracting milk. You could also cuddle a baby goat if you want as part of the experience. That’s not too baaaaaa-d.
7. Pulau Rawa (via Mersing Jetty)
The very fact that an island as pristinely beautiful as Pulau Rawa managed to slip under the radar is proof that there is still much to see and do and explore in Johor, and in the wider sense, Malaysia. Breathtaking scenery, a soothing ambience, crystal clear water and gentle sea breezes all make Pulau Rawa one of the very top island getaway destinations in Malaysia and a true hidden gem of Johor. Fishing is strictly prohibited and the Rawa resort on the island practises a strong ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ policy, ensuring that Rawa island remains one of the few true untouched gems of nature left in Peninsular Malaysia.
Also read: Legoland, Johor Bahru: Most Exciting Place on the Planet
So, if you’re reading this in your office right now, you’re probably very interested in visiting these places. You wouldn’t finish reading this article otherwise, no? So come on over, Johor is not just Legoland! Try one of these hidden gems (why not all) and you’ll be sure to come back for more!