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

Malaysia tourist sim card

How To Buy The Best Malaysia Tourist Sim Card📞[2023]

After a year living in Malaysia and multiple trips a year here, I feel that I know all about buying…

Black Friday Sales

Black Friday Travel Sales [2023]

If you are currently booking or planning your trip, now is the time to action! Many travel services and products…

Episode 22: Beautiful Beaches, Local Experiences And More On Pangkor Island

Episode 22: Beautiful Beaches, Local Experiences And More On Pangkor Island

Looking for a beautiful island in Malaysia that will give you a local experience? Located off the west coast of…

BOH Tea Center, Cameron Highlands

19 Best Things To Do In Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Going on a Cameron Highlands trip and want to know all the best things to do in Cameron Highlands? We…

Tea Plantation, Cameron Highlands

Exactly Where To Stay In Cameron Highlands [2023]

Heading to Cameron Highlands? Lucky you! It’s a great part of the world and a different part of Malaysia that…

TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) in KL

EXACTLY How To Get From Kuala Lumpur To Cameron Highlands✅[2023]

Cameron Highlands is filled with magical waterfalls, picturesque views, temples and strawberry farms. Not only is it home to the…

Penang Bridge

EXACTLY How To Get From Penang To Cameron Highlands [2023]

Visitors on a Penang to Cameron Highlands tour come for the cooler climate, as well as the uncanny resemblance to…

Mountain Road on Cameron Highlands, Pahang

EXACTLY How To Go From Ipoh To Cameron Highlands [2023]

Ready for some cool air and fabulous highlands scenery and want to know how to take transport from Ipoh to…

Langkawi Island, Malaysia

Exactly How To Get The Kuala Kedah to Langkawi Ferry [2023]

If you want to know exactly how to get the Kuala Kedah to Langkawi ferry then you are in the…

Masjid Al Hussain, Kuala Perlis, Malaysia

Exactly How To Get The Ferry From Kuala Perlis to Langkawi [2023]

If you’re wanting to know exactly how to get the ferry from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi then you are in…

Tawau Waterfront

EXACTLY How To Go From Sandakan To Tawau [2023]

Want to explore more of Sabah and wondering how to go from Sandakan To Tawau? We can help! Sandakan and…

Genting SkyWorlds review Ice Age

Genting SkyWorlds Review: Everything You Need To Know

Looking for theme park fun in a brand new theme park close to Kuala Lumpur? Consider the new Genting theme…

Walking through Taman Negara

EXACTLY How To Get From Cameron Highlands To Taman Negara [2023]

Cameron Highlands is a great place to go to in Malaysia if you want to beat the heat because of…

17 Top Things To Do In Taman Negara, Pahang [2023]

17 Top Things To Do In Taman Negara, Pahang [2023]

Going on a Taman Negara trip and want to know all the best things to do in Taman Negara, Pahang?…

Taman Negara Canopy Walk

Top 7 Best Taman Negara Tour And Package Options! [2023]

The first section of the Canopy Walk When a rainforest has existed for over 130 million years, it’s sure to…

Tebah Batang Village, Lahad Datu Sabah

EXACTLY How To Go From Tawau To Lahad Datu [2023]

Exploring the hot spots in Sabah and wondering how to go from Tawau to Lahad Datu? We can help! Both…

Sunway Lagoon

The Most Fun In KL? Sunway Lagoon Review [2023]

Heading to Kuala Lumpur and looking for an awesome day of fun? Looking for a KL Airport stopover alternative? Seen…

Sunway Resort

Sunway Resort Review: Everything You Need To Know ✔️

Looking for a great hotel in a fabulous location for enjoying Sunway Lagoon? With plenty of eating options and shops…

Qantas business class seat on 787

Qantas 787 Business Class Review + A330✈️: Is It Worth It?

Thinking about spoiling yourself in Qantas business class and want to know whether it’s worth it? Already booked and want…

Boeing 777-300ER business class seats Emirates

Emirates 777-300ER Business Class Review✈️: Is It Worth It?

Want to spoil yourself and fly in Emirates Boeing 777 business class? Or have you already booked and want to…

Qantas lounge in Singapore bar area

Review: Business Qantas Lounge In Singapore – What You Will Find Here

Wondering if the Qantas lounge in Singapore is worth visiting? Want to know what to expect? Keep reading as we…

Nipah Bay Pangkor Island

EXACTLY How To Go From KL To Pangkor [2023]

Want to visit a tropical paradise and wondering how to go from KL to Pangkor? We can help! While it’s…

Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson Sea View Panorama Pool Villa pool at sunrise

Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson Review: Our Amazing Experiences At This One-Of-A-Kind Resort [2023]

If there is one hotel that it took us far too long to visit in Malaysia it’s the Grand Lexis…

things to do in port dickson

Top 19 Absolute Best Things To Do In Port Dickson [2023]

Are you headed to Port Dickson? And now you’re looking for things to do in Port Dickson? Well you’re certainly in…