Sharon Gourlay

Sharon Gourlay

Founder of Dive Into Malaysia

Expertise Malaysia travel, travel planning, travel booking

Education Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies from Griffith University, Certificate III in International Travel Sales from AFTA Education and Training, Graduate Diploma of Education from Monash University

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Highlights:

  • Featured in many publications including USA Today, Qantas, Families Magazine Australia, Daily Mail and more
  • Speaker at numerous travel blogging conferences including Travel Blog Exchange (Tbex), Travel Blogging Summit and Travel Massive and is well known in the travel blogging community
  • Holds a BA in Asian studies including the Malay language, teaching and travel agent qualifications

Experience:

Sharon first fell in love with Malaysia in 2004 when she travelled up the west coast, eating everything available. This was further affirmed in 2015 when Sharon and her family, including two young kids, moved to Penang for a year. She doesn’t think anywhere could be better to live.

Sharon has travelled to 98 countries and spent many years of her life exploring the globe. This has lead to many skills from quickly working out the best way to travel from A to B to finding the best hotel. These days she primarily travels with her 3 children currently aged from 7 – 13 years old so she also has many family travel kid wrangling skills!

Sharon completed an arts degree majoring in Asian Studies at Griffith University. This included studying the Malay language and she loves learning more about the history and culture in this part of the world.

Her favourite part of Malaysia is Penang, closely followed by East Malaysia or Borneo as it’s often called.

When not writing for this site, Sharon is out exploring the world and everything Malaysia.

Education:

Sharon’s educational background enables her to share and teach you how to plan your own trip to Malaysia as easily as possible. Her travel qualification enables her to work as a qualified travel agent and has meant she has learned many tips and tricks for booking travel. Her teaching qualification helps her explain it all to you here.

Her humanities degree has helped her love of everything history, language and culture and grown her appreciation for this part of the world.

You can read more about Sharon and her family here.

Sharon’s Guides To Malaysia

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

EXACTLY How To Get From Miri To Brunei [2024]

Need to know how to go from Miri to Brunei? Taking a flight, bus, taxi or car is described here…

Berjaya Langkawi

Berjaya Resort Langkawi Review: Incredible Location & More🏝️

Langkawi is a gorgeous tropical island, perfect for vacations enjoying nature and relaxing. But, there is one thing that can…

Kuala Lumpur at night

Exactly Where To Stay In Kuala Lumpur [2024]

Want to know where to stay in Kuala Lumpur? Read the pros and cons of each area and find a…

top 5 hotels in Penang near street art

What To Do In Penang In 3 Days [Penang Itinerary] 2024

Enjoy Penang with this detailed Penang itinerary for 3 days. Exactly what to do in Penang in 3 days including…

Batu Caves Looking back towards KL

Top Things To Do In Kuala Lumpur In 3 Days [Kuala Lumpur Itinerary 3 Days] 2024

The top things to do in Kuala Lumpur in our KL three day itinerary. Here are the exact instructions as…

17 Top Things To Do In Taman Negara, Pahang [2024]

17 Top Things To Do In Taman Negara, Pahang [2024]

Have the ultimate Taman Negara trip with this guide of all the best things to do in Taman Negara, Pahang…

The pool area at The Andaman Langkawi

Top 13 Best Resorts in Langkawi [2024]

Looking for the best resorts in Langkawi? Read our list of the top 13 from all parts so you can…

Lake Gardens Taiping

17 Fun Things To Do In Taiping, Perak

Have the ultimate Taiping trip with this guide of all the fun things to do in Taiping, Perak so you…

View of Lake Gardens and Taiping from Novotel Taiping hotel room

Top 12 Best Hotels In Taiping, Malaysia

Looking for the best hotels in Taiping, Malaysia? There are some great choices. We have all the answers to where…

Bukit Merah Laketown Waterpark best attraction Giant Wet Bubble

Worth It? Inside Bukit Merah Laketown Waterpark Review🏊‍♂️

Want to have lots of wet fun? Visiting Orangutan Island and wondering if it’s worth stopping here too? In this…

Seats nside an ETS train between KL and Padang Besar

EXACTLY How To Go From KL To Taiping [2024]

Need to know how to go from KL to Taiping? Or Taiping to KL? Taking a train, bus from KL…

Taiping train station

EXACTLY How To Go From Ipoh To Taiping [2024]

Need to know how to go from Ipoh to Taiping? Or Taiping to Ipoh? Taking a train, bus or car…

Tanjung Rhu Resort beach

Tanjung Rhu Resort Review: This Insta-Worthy Resort Revealed🤩

Looking for a gorgeous 5 star resort in Langkawi? Where you can soak up nature and relax in beautiful surroundings?…

Ferry from Kuala Kedah in Langkawi Island, Langkawi Ferry

EXACTLY How To Get To Langkawi: Quickly, Cheaply And Easily [2024]

How to get to Langkawi quickly, easily and cheaply! Exact instructions for taking flights, buses and the ferry to Langkawi…

Our ferry from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi

EXACTLY How To Get From Penang To Langkawi ✅ [2024]

Need to know how to get from Penang to Langkawi? Taking a flight, bus, ferry or car is described here…

Tea Plantation, Cameron Highlands

Exactly Where To Stay In Cameron Highlands [2024]

Looking for the best hotels in Cameron Highlands? You are in luck – there are some great choices! We have…

Penang Hill views

Penang Hill: Full Guide To What To Do On Penang Hill [2024]

Full review of visiting Penang Hill. Everything you need to know including where it is, what you can find there…

Malaysia tourist sim card

How To Buy The Best Malaysia Tourist Sim Card📞[2024]

How to buy a Malaysia tourist sim card so you have cheap phone and internet access as soon as possible…

Driving in Malaysia KL parking

Driving In Malaysia [2024]🚗: Everything You Need To Know

The essential information you need to know about driving in Malaysia – maybe the easiest country in Asia to drive…

Taman Negara Canopy Walk

Taman Negara Canopy Walk: Everything You Need To Know [2024]

Full review of visiting Taman Negara Canopy Walk. Everything you need to know including where it is, what you can…

Jerantut Bus Station

EXACTLY How To Go To Taman Negara From KL [2024]

Need to know how to go to Taman Negara from KL? Taking a bus, train or car is described here…

Central Market Kota Bharu

Top 13 Things To Do In Kota Bharu [2024]

Full guide of things to do in Kota Bharu including the best attractions, hotels, how to get around and more.…

Johor Bahru From Singapore

22 Top Things To Do In Johor Bahru✅[2024]

Have the ultimate Johor Bahru trip with this guide of all the best things to do in Johor Bahru so…

Singapore to Desaru jetty

EXACTLY How To Go From Singapore To Desaru Coast: By Ferry, Bus And More! [2024]

Exactly how to go from Singapore to Desaru Coast by ferry, bus, taxi and more so you can find best…