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

Miri's seahorse mascot at the riverfront area

16 Top Things To Do In Miri, Malaysia

Have the ultimate Miri trip with this guide of all the best things to do in Miri, Malaysia so you…

Lambir Hills National Park Latak Waterfall

Lambir Hills National Park: Everything You Need To Know

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

Bintulu

Top 10 Best Hotels In Bintulu, Malaysia

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

ParkCity Everly Hotel Bintulu swimming pool

ParkCity Everly Hotel Bintulu Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

Full review of the ParkCity Everly Hotel Bintulu. Everything you need to know about this hotel including the facilities, the…

Sky Garden, Meritz Hotel, Miri

Top 12 Best Hotels In Miri, Malaysia

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

Pullman Miri Waterfront

Pullman Miri Waterfront Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

Full review of the Pullman Miri Waterfront. Everything you need to know about this hotel including the facilities, the rooms…

Damai Beach

Damai Beach: Everything You Need To Know

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

Santubong Wildlife Cruise sunset

Santubong Wildlife Cruise: Everything You Need To Know

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

Raia Hotel & Convention Centre Kuching pool

Raia Hotel & Convention Centre Kuching Review: Best Kuching Airport Hotel

Full review of the Raia Hotel & Convention Centre Kuching. Everything you need to know about this hotel including the…

Exploring The Jungle Heart Of Malaysia In Taman Negara

Episode 17: Exploring The Jungle Heart Of Malaysia In Taman Negara

Wondering if it’s worth visiting Taman Negara on your Malaysian adventure? A massive national park in the centre of Peninsular…

Taliwas River Conservation Area

7 Top Things To Do In Lahad Datu

Have the ultimate Lahad Datu trip with this guide of the best things to do in Lahad Datu so you…

Table Waterfall in Tawau Hill Park, Sabah

13 Top Things To Do In Tawau, Sabah

Have the ultimate Tawau trip with this guide of all the best things to do in Tawau, Sabah so you…

All About Travelling In Malaysia With Kids

Episode 16: All About Travelling In Malaysia With Kids

Wondering if you should travel to Malaysia with kids? I’ve travelled to Malaysia many times with kids. The first time…

klia1 to klia2

How To Go From KL Sentral To KLIA2 (And Back Again!)

Everything you need to know about how to go from KL Sentral to KLIA2 and back again by Train, Bus…

Tua Pek Kong Temple Sibu

14 Top Things To Do In Sibu, Sarawak

Have the ultimate Sibu trip with this guide of all the best things to do in Sibu, Sarawak so you…

Watching young orangutans learn new skills at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

9 Top Things To Do In Sepilok

Have the ultimate Sepilok trip with this guide of all the best things to do in Sepilok so you can…

Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre

Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre: Everything You Need To Know

Full review of visiting Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre. Everything you need to know including where it is, what you can…

Kinabatangan River

Kinabatangan River: Everything You Need To Know

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

Kinabatangan River Cruise

Kinabatangan River Cruise: Best Tours And Everything You Need To Know

Taking a Kinabatangan River cruise is a must-do experience in Borneo. Read this article for everything you need to know…

Amazing Sabah Exploring Borneo For First Timers

Episode 15: Amazing Sabah – Exploring Borneo For First Timers

Wondering if it’s worth visiting Sabah on your Malaysian adventure? Sabah is one of the two big Malaysian states located…

Resorts World Genting Highlands

Top 10 Best Hotels In Genting Highlands, Malaysia

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

Mutiara Taman Negara

Mutiara Taman Negara Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

Full review of the Mutiara Taman Negara Resort. Everything you need to know about this resort including the facilities, the…

episode14

Episode 14: How To Plan Your Fabulous Trip To Malaysia

Do you need to plan your trip to Malaysia? Great! You are in the right place! It can feel overwhelming…

Some of the many sitting areas lining the beach at Berjaya Tioman

Best Time To Visit Tioman Island

The best time to visit Tioman Island is between March and October. Outside this time, you will have a very…