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

Kuala Lumpur food tour durians

Kuala Lumpur Food Tours: Exactly What It’s Like On The Best Food Tour In KL

Full guide to the best Kuala Lumpur food tours. Everything you need to know including where it is, what you…

Chinatown Kuala Lumpur

Top 18 Best Kuala Lumpur Tour – Food, Art, History And More

All the best Kuala Lumpur tour from food tours in Kuala Lumpur or night tour to a Kuala Lumpur day…

Lorong Song Hong George Town Penang

Kuala Lumpur Or Penang: Which Malaysian City Should You Visit?

Are you planning a trip to Malaysia but can’t decide between Kuala Lumpur and Penang? Both cities have their unique…

Kota Kinabalu waterfront

Top 10 Best Kota Kinabalu Tour Options – Fireflies, Night Cruise And More

Find the best Kota Kinabalu tour from a firefly tour or night dinner cruise to hours of island hopping and…

Pier in Sapi, Gaia, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Kota Kinabalu Island Hopping: Find The Best Island In Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu Island Hopping: Looking for info on island hopping Kota Kinabalu? This guide covers everything you need to find…

Kuala Tahan Taman Negara

Best Accommodation At Taman Negara [Full Guide]

Looking for the best accommodation at Taman Negara? We have all the top recommendations for the best hotels, resorts and…

Episode 20 Everything You Need To Know About Accommodation In Malaysia (Including The Top Choices)

Episode 20: Everything You Need To Know About Accommodation In Malaysia (Including The Top Choices)

Planning your trip to Malaysia and want to know more about the types of accommodation you can book? Fantastic! But…

Sarawak River, Kuching

Short Getaway In Malaysia: 11 Great Options For Where To Go In Malaysia For Short Trip Fun!

Want to know where to go for a short trip in Malaysia? Here are the top short getaways in Malaysia…

Turtle Sanctuary Beach

Perhentian Islands: When To Go And When To Avoid!🏝️

The best time to visit Perhentian Islands is between April and June. Outside this time, you will have a very…

Kuching

24 Top Places To Visit In Kuching, Sarawak

Have the ultimate holiday in Kuching with this guide of all the best places to visit in Kuching, Sarawak so…

Sarawak Cultural Village

Top 9 Best Kuching Day Trips – Wildlife Cruises, Orangutans And More

All the best Kuching day trips and tours from a city tour Kuching option or Kuching orangutan tour to a…

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre ruby

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre: Everything You Need To Know

Full review of visiting Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. Everything you need to know including where it is, what you can find…

Bako National Park sea stacks

Bako National Park: Everything You Need To Know

Full review of visiting Bako National Park. Everything you need to know including where it is, what you can find…

Episode 19: Everything Sarawak And The Heart Of Borneo

Episode 19: Everything Sarawak And The Heart Of Borneo

Wondering if it’s worth visiting Sarawak on your Malaysian adventure? Sarawak is the biggest of the two Malaysian states located…

MAS Golden Lounge KLIA

Malaysia Airlines Satellite (MAS) Golden Lounge KLIA Overview

Find all the latest information in this Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge KLIA overview and review. This newly revamped lounge is…

Labuan Clock Tower

Top 12 Best Hotels In Labuan, Malaysia

Looking for the best hotels in Labuan, Malaysia? You are in luck – there are some great choices! We have…

Forest in Gunung Mulu National Park

Gunung Mulu National Park Guide – EVERYTHING You Need to Know

Have the ultimate Mulu trip with this guide of all the best things to do in Gunung Mulu National Park…

Mulu National Park Garden Bungalow

Top 5 Best Mulu National Park Accommodation

Looking for the best Mulu National Park accommodation? There are some great choices! We have all the answers to where…

All Your Day Trip Options From Kuala Lumpur

Episode 18: All Your Day Trip Options From Kuala Lumpur

Considering a day trip while you’re in Kuala Lumpur? While there are many things to do in Kuala Lumpur (or…

Travel Club Lounge Kuching Bar

Travel Club Lounge Kuching Review: Exactly What You Will Find Here

There’s one lounge at Kuching International Airport, so if you want some lounge time on your next flight, Travel Club…

Kingwood Hotel Sibu

Comparison: 10 Best Hotels In Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia

Looking for the best hotels in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia? There are some great choices! We have all the answers in…

Kingwood Hotel Sibu pool

Kingwood Hotel Sibu Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

Full review of the Kingwood Hotel Sibu. Everything you need to know about this hotel including the facilities, the rooms…

The Waterfront Hotel Kuching Premier Twin Room with View

The Waterfront Hotel Kuching Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

Full review of the The Waterfront Hotel Kuching. Everything you need to know about this hotel including the facilities, the…

Niah Caves

Niah Caves: Everything You Need To Know About Niah National Park

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