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

Koh Lipe

Top 10 Awe-Inspiring Things To Do In Koh Lipe [Don’t Miss Them!]

Heading to beautiful southern Thailand and want to know all the best things to do in Koh Lipe? We have…

Koh Lipe

Where To Stay In Koh Lipe Revealed: Every Area, Every Budget🏝️

Heading to Koh Lipe? Lucky you! Whether you are dropping by as a side trip from Langkawi or as part…

Ferry from Telaga to Koh Lipe

EXACTLY How To Go From Langkawi To Koh Lipe [2024]: 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…

Penang accommodation batu ferringhi beach

Exactly Where To Stay In Penang Island [2024] Best Places🏝️

Travelling to Penang and wondering where to stay in Penang Island? We can help you out. We have not only…

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Ferry Brunei To Labuan⛴️: Exact Details! [2024]

Heading to Labuan and looking for exactly how to take the ferry Brunei to Labuan? You are in the right…

Sunway Lagoon

The Most Fun In KL? Sunway Lagoon Review [2024]

Heading to Kuala Lumpur and looking for an awesome day of fun? Looking for a KL Airport stopover alternative? Seen…

Central Johor Bahru

Best Budget Hotel In Johor Bahru [2024]

Heading to Johor Bahru (JB) and wanting to book the best budget hotel in Johor Bahru? Excellent! In this article,…

Mari Mari Cultural Village Kota Kinabalu

Perfect Kota Kinabalu Itinerary For 2 – 5 Days [2024]

Heading to Sabah and looking for the best Kota Kinabalu travel itinerary? Perfect! We can help in this Kota Kinabalu…

Our seats

Jetstar Business Class Review✈️: Is It Worth It? [2024]

I’m never quite sure what to expect if I pay extra for business class on a budget carrier. Is it…

The window seat is fully reclined with the foot rest all the way up. The aisle seat is fully upright. Not much of a difference

Scoot Business Class Review✈️: ScootPlus [2024]

I first flew ScootPlus back in 2019. I was starting my Malaysian adventure at Tioman Island and Singapore seemed to…

AirAsia, Penang International Airport

Best Hotel Near Penang Airport [2024]

Travelling to or from Penang Airport and looking for a hotel near Penang Airport? Excellent! In this article, we have…

Tun Sakaran Marine Park tropical island Bohey Dulang Island Semporna

Top 13 Fun Things To Do In Semporna [2024]

Going on a Semporna trip and want to know all the fun things to do in Semporna? We have you…

where to stay in Langkawi beach Andaman

Best Luxury Langkawi Hotels – 5 Star Choices For Everyone! [2024]

Travelling to Malaysia and looking for the best Langkawi 5 star hotel? Great! There are some fabulous Langkawi luxury hotels,…

Legoland Malaysia The Great Lego Race VR Coaster

CLOSEST Hotels Near Legoland Johor Bahru, Malaysia [2024]

Heading to Legoland Malaysia and looking for the best hotels near Legoland Johor Bahru? Excellent! You are in exactly the…

Kuala Lumpur hotel infinity pool

12 Best Kuala Lumpur Infinity Pool Hotel Options! [2024]

If you are looking for a Kuala Lumpur hotel with infinity pool, you are in luck! There are so many…

Tioman Salang - Malaysia collab

Best Resort In Tioman Island [2024]: Where To Stay In Tioman Island For The Best Trip Ever!

Thinking about visiting the Malaysian east coast island of Tioman and wondering what the best resort in Tioman Island is?…

things to do in port dickson

Top 19 Absolute Best Things To Do In Port Dickson [2024]

Are you headed to Port Dickson? And now you’re looking for things to do in Port Dickson? Well you’re certainly in…

Pantai Cermin Port Dickson beach

The Best Port Dickson Beach: Everything You Need To Know! [2024]

If you’re looking for a beach holiday then look no further then Port Dickson!  Port Dickson (or PD as it…

Bukit Bintang KL

Best Hotels In Bukit Bintang [2024]

Heading to Kuala Lumpur? Narrowed down your search to the best hotels in Bukit Bintang? Looking for the perfect answer?…

Sultan Ibrahim Jamek Mosque Muar

EXACTLY How To Go From KL To Muar [2024]

Want to visit historic Muar and wondering how to go from KL to Muar? We can help! Muar is often…

Legoland Malaysia Miniland

EXACTLY How To Go From Legoland To Desaru [2024]

Want to visit both Legoland Malaysia and Desaru Coast and wondering how to go from Legoland to Desaru? We can…

TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) in KL

EXACTLY How To Get From Kuala Lumpur To Cameron Highlands✅[2024]

Cameron Highlands is filled with magical waterfalls, picturesque views, temples and strawberry farms. Not only is it home to the…

Mountain Road on Cameron Highlands, Pahang

EXACTLY How To Go From Ipoh To Cameron Highlands [2024]

Ready for some cool air and fabulous highlands scenery and want to know how to take transport from Ipoh to…

Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur

CLOSEST And BEST Hotels Near Twin Towers In Kuala Lumpur [2024]

Heading to Kuala Lumpur and looking for an ultra-central hotel near Petronas Twin Tower? Great choice! This is a great…