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

Cherating beach

10 Top Things To Do In Cherating

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

Airport Stopover? Sama Sama Hotel Review KLIA

Airport Stopover? Sama Sama Hotel Review KLIA

Looking for the perfect airport hotel? You really can’t do better than the Sama Sama Hotel KLIA! Read our full…

how to go port dickson from singapore

How To Travel From Singapore To Port Dickson – Car, Bus, Plane, Train And Taxi!

Port Dickson is located just three and a half’s drive from Singapore making it a great place for a weekend…

best resort in malaysia for family

7 Reasons Why I Loved Living In Malaysia (And 3 Why I Didn’t)! Living In Malaysia Pros And Cons

Thinking about living in Malaysia? Here’s 7 reasons why I loved living there (and 3 reasons why I didn’t)

Labuan Square

16 Top Things To Do In Labuan, Malaysia

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

Kuala Lumpur Airport Sama Sama Express Hotel entrance

Sama Sama Express KLIA Transit Hotel: Full Review

Review of the Sama Sama Express KLIA, the only KLIA transit hotel. What you need to know about this hotel…

Plaza Premium Lounge KLIA2 free access

Plaza Premium Lounge KLIA2 Review: Pick The Perfect Lounge!

Looking for a lounge at KLIA2? Read about the best options in our full Plaza Premium Lounge reviews!

Port Dickson Water Park

Looking For A Port Dickson Water Park?

Heading to Port Dickson and looking for a water park? Find all your options for a Port Dickson water park…

Rawa Island Johor

Why Travel To Malaysia? 10 Reasons To Travel To Malaysia Next!

Trying to work out if you should visit Malaysia next? The answer is yes! In this article, I give you…

Angry Birds Activity Park Johor Bahru

Angry Bird Park Johor Review + Cheap Tickets

Get ready for a super fun day at Angry Bird Park Johor, perfect for kids! Everything you need to know…

plaza premium lounge klia2 airside gateway

Short Stopover at KLIA2? Plaza Premium Lounge Transit Hotel KLIA2 Review

Looking for a place to nap on a KLIA2 transit? The Plaza Premium Lounge Transit Hotel KLIA2 is perfect. Read…

Cherating

Top 10 Best Hotels In Cherating [Book Them Now]

Looking for the best hotels in Cherating? We have all the top recommendations for the best resorts in Cherating for…

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…

grand lexis in port dickson outside

Grand Lexis Port Dickson Blog Review

If you are looking for the perfect resort in Port Dickson where you have your own private pool on top…

PD Ostrich Farm at port dickson one day trip

PD Ostrich Farm

Everything you need to know about the Port Dickson Ostrich Farm including opening hours, prices, what there is to do…

avillion pd water chalet

Avillion Port Dickson Review Blog

If you are looking for the perfect resort in Port Dickson, by a great beach where you can relax with…

Grand Puteri Hotel Kuala Terengganu Malaysia swimming pool

Grand Puteri Hotel Kuala Terengganu Review

Looking for a great hotel in Kuala Terengganu? Read our full Grand Puteri Hotel Kuala Terenggau review with everything you…

DoubleTree By Hilton Rooms

DoubleTree Hilton JB Review: Great Choice

A full review of the luxurious (but affordable) DoubleTree By Hilton JB including photos and everything you need to know…

Club Med Cherating Beach adults only pool

Heaven On Earth? Club Med Cherating Review

Considering Club Med Cherating? Read and watch our Club Med Cherating Beach review where we found heaven… Until it all…

Scuba diving on coral reef in sea

Best Diving In Malaysia: The Best Malaysia Dive Sites

Malaysia doesn’t just have awesome beaches – it’s also a great place to be under the water! If you are…

Capri By Fraser Changi City

Capri By Fraser Changi City Review: Great Choice For A Hotel Near Singapore Airport

Looking for an affordable and great hotel near Singapore Airport? Click here to read our full Capri By Fraser Changi…

Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour rooftop infinity swimming pool

Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour Review

Full review of the Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour JB including photos and everything you need to know about this top…

Port Dickson Army Museum for port dickson 1 day trip

Army Museum Port Dickson

The Army Museum Port Dickson is one of the areas top attractions. Read all details here including opening hours, prices,…

From one corner of the SATS Premier Lounge

SATS Premier Lounge At Singapore Changi Airport [Review]

All the details about what you get in this SATS premier lounge terminal 2 review including discounted entry passes.