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

top 5 hotels in Penang near street art

What To Do In Penang In 3 Days [Penang Itinerary] 2025

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

Penang accommodation batu ferringhi beach

Exactly Where To Stay In Penang Island [2025] Best Places🏝️

Wondering where to stay in Penang? Read our guide to the best areas and the best place to stay in…

Shangri la Rasa Sayang Penang

Best 5 Star Hotels In Penang [2025]

Looking for the best 5 star hotel in Penang? Click here for our list of the best luxury hotel in…

Laksa

Most Famous Malaysian Food: An Introduction To Malaysian Food And Eating In Malaysia

There is no better country in the world for eating. Malaysia has such an interesting mix of cultures which comes…

Watching roti jala being made in penang

Penang Food Tours: Exactly What It’s Like On The Best Food Tour In Penang

Full review of the best Penang food tours. Everything you need to know including where it is, what you can…

char kway teow

Simply Enak Food Tours (And Discount Code!)

Learn all about the amazing Simply Enak food tours in Penang and Kuala Lumpur.

Penang top places to visit Street Art

Top 10 Choices For The Best Hotel In George Town, Penang [2025]

Looking for the best hotels in George Town, Penang? Read this list of the best places to stay in George…

Tioman Island best time to visit

EXACTLY How To Get From Kuala Lumpur To Tioman Island

Need to know how to go from Kuala Lumpur to Tioman Island? All the options are described here in detail…

Inside our ferry to Langkawi from Kuala Kedah

EXACTLY How To Go From Alor Setar To Langkawi

Need to know how to go from Alor Setar to Langkawi? Whether you’d like to take an Alor Setar to…

Ferry from Telaga to Koh Lipe

EXACTLY How To Go From Langkawi To Koh Lipe: Hot Tips To Save You Time

Want to island hop from Malaysia to Thailand or vice versa? This is entirely possible and quite straightforward. We’ll show…

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

EXACTLY How To Get From Miri To Brunei [2025]

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

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Ferry Brunei To Labuan⛴️: Exact Details!

Need to know how to take the ferry Brunei to Labuan? Read our complete step-by-step guide all about taking the…

Ferry from Kuala Kedah in Langkawi Island, Langkawi Ferry

EXACTLY How To Get To Langkawi: Quickly, Cheaply And Easily [2025]

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

Penang Hill views

Full Guide To What To Do On Penang Hill For A Fabulous Experience🥰

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

Driving in Malaysia KL parking

Driving In Malaysia🚗: Everything You Need To Know

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

Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur Itinerary: The Perfect Itinerary For 2 – 5 Days

Looking for the perfect Kuala Lumpur itinerary? Here it is! Whether you are looking for 2,3,4 or 5 days in…

Genting Highlands cable car

Cable Car Genting Highlands: All About Taking The Awana Skyway

Heading to the Genting Highlands and heard the best way to get there is via cable car? I have to…

Batu Caves

Batu Caves: Everything You Need To Know BEFORE Visiting Here

Looking for the best attractions in Kuala Lumpur? Then you’ll definitely be visiting the Batu Caves temple complex located on…

Kuantan, Malaysia

Top 10 Best Hotels In Kuantan [Book Them Now]

Looking for the best hotels in Kuantan? We have all the top recommendations for the best hotels in Kuantan town…

Eagle Square, Langkawi

EXACTLY How To Go to Langkawi from Kuala Lumpur

Need to know how to go to Langkawi from Kuala Lumpur? We cover all transport options so you can choose…

how to go pulau perhentian from singapore

Exactly How To Get To Perhentian Islands

How to get to Perhentian Islands including flights via Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu, buses, and the ferry to Perhentian…

Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur Road

Top 13 Best Kuala Lumpur City Tours And Package Options 🥰

All the best Kuala Lumpur city tours from Kuala Lumpur city bus tour or sky tours to a Kuala Lumpur…

Hotel near us embassy kuala lumpur

CLOSEST And BEST Hotel Near US Embassy Kuala Lumpur That Are Great!

List of the closest and best hotels near US Embassy Kuala Lumpur. Click here for all the top options super…

The pool area at The Andaman Langkawi

Top 14 Best Resorts in Langkawi [2025]

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