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

Sepilok Forest Edge Resort pool

Sepilok Forest Edge Resort Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

Full review of the Sepilok Forest Edge Resort. Everything you need to know about this hotel including the facilities, the…

Proboscis Monkeys in Labuk Bay, Sandakan, Borneo

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary: Everything You Need To Know

Full review of visiting Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. Everything you need to know including where it is, what you…

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre: Everything You Need To Know

Full review of visiting Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Everything you need to know including where it is, what you…

The Habitat Penang Hill entrance

The Habitat Penang Hill Review: Everything You Need To Know

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

Plaza Premium Lounge Penang Lounge area

Plaza Premium Lounge Penang Review: Exactly What You Will Find Here

When it comes to airport lounges at Penang Airport, it’s not exactly exciting. You don’t even have a choice as…

Cooling Down And Getting Active In The Cameron Highlands

Episode 9: Cooling Down And Getting Active In The Cameron Highlands

Want to go somewhere completely different to the rest of Malaysia? Visit the Cameron Highlands. With its lush landscapes reminiscent…

The Rainbow Skywalk at The Top Penang

The Top Penang: Everything You Need To Know

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

Bayview Beach Resort Batu Ferringhi Penang

Bayview Beach Resort Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

Full review of the Bayview Beach Resort. Everything you need to know about this resort including the facilities, the rooms…

Check Inn Hotel Tawau front view

Check Inn Hotel Tawau Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

Full review of the Check Inn Hotel Tawau. Everything you need to know about this hotel including the facilities, the…

Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu pool area

Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

Full review of the Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu. Everything you need to know about this hotel including the facilities, the…

Semporna Seaview Hotel front

Semporna Seaview Hotel Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

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

Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort Balcony in my deluxe room

Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

Full review of the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort. Everything you need to know about this hotel including the facilities,…

Singapore Park Avenue Changi Hotel

Park Avenue Changi Review: Everything You Need To Know About Staying Here

Looking for a hotel near Singapore Changi Airport? I have a great option for value seekers! On a recent trip…

When To Visit Malaysia For Your Dream Trip

Episode 8: When To Visit Malaysia For Your Dream Trip

Planning your trip and wondering when to visit Malaysia? We cover all the best times to visit Malaysia in today’s podcast.…

Episode 7: All About Malaysia’s Gorgeous East Coast Islands

Episode 7: All About Malaysia’s Gorgeous East Coast Islands

Want to know more about some of Malaysia’s most gorgeous islands? Many tourists to Malaysia concentrate on the capital and…

Episode 6: Regions To Visit In Malaysia

Episode 6: Regions To Visit In Malaysia

Planning your trip to Malaysia and want to better understand the different regions of Malaysia, what they offer and what…

Redang Island

Best Time To Visit Redang Island

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

Redang Island jetty and boat

Redang vs Perhentian vs Tioman: Which East Coast Island Should You Visit?

Looking for the best east coast island in Malaysia? Read our full comparison of Redang vs Perhentian vs Tioman after…

Penang 3 days 2 night Kek Lok Si Temple

Best Places To Visit In Malaysia In 3 Days – Twelve 3 Day Itineraries!

Want the best places to visit in Malaysia in 3 days? Click here for the top Malaysia itinerary 3 days…

Your Perfect First Trip Malaysia Itinerary PART 2

Episode 5: Your Perfect First Trip Malaysia Itinerary PART 2

Planning your first trip to Malaysia and wondering what you should do? Or maybe you’re planning your second, third or…

Perhentian Island Resort

Perhentian Island Resort Review – The Best Place To Stay On Besar!

Looking for the best resort on the Perhentian Islands? Read our full Perhentian Island Resort review with everything you want…

Perhentian Island Resort pool

Best Pulau Perhentian Package Options

Looking for great Pulau Perhentian package options? You are in luck – there are some great choices. We have listed…

Your Perfect First Trip Malaysia Itinerary PART 1

Episode 4: Your Perfect First Trip Malaysia Itinerary PART 1

Planning your first trip to Malaysia and wondering what you should do? Or maybe you’re planning your second, third or…

Juara Beach Tioman Island

All About Juara Beach, Tioman Island

See paradise at Juara Beach, Tioman. Find pictures and everything you need to know about visiting Kg Juara including details…