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

Muhammadi Mosque or Kelantan State Mosque

Best Hotels In Kota Bharu [2024]

Looking for the best hotels in Kota Bharu? Find all the options for the best hotel in Kota Bharu, Malaysia…

Entry to KL Sentral

EXACTLY How To Get From Kuala Lumpur To Melaka [2024]

Need to know how to get from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka? Taking a bus, taxi, train or car is described…

Bintulu

12 Top Things To Do In Bintulu, Sarawak [2024]

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

Andaman Langkawi

Langkawi Private Pool Villa: The Best Hotel Options [2024]

Planning your dream vacation to Langkawi? Find all the Langkawi private pool villa options compared here so you can pick…

Putra Mosque

Top 11 Best Day Trips From KL – Caves, Jungle, Cruises And More [2024]

All the best day trips from KL from a Genting day trip from KL or Malacca tour from Kuala Lumpur…

'Welcome to Melaka' Gateway Arch

EXACTLY How To Get From Melaka To Ipoh [2024]

Need to know how to get from Melaka to Ipoh? Taking a bus, train or car is described here in…

Tioman Island best time to visit

EXACTLY How To Get From Kuala Lumpur To Tioman Island [2024]

Need to know how to go from Kuala Lumpur to Tioman Island? All the options are described here in detail…

Arriving at Tanjung Gemok Jetty

EXACTLY How To Get To Tioman Island [2024]

All the exact details for how to get to Tioman Island whether you are coming from Johor Bharu, Penang or…

Ipoh Street Art

21 Best Things To Do In Ipoh, Malaysia [2024]

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

Streets of Ipoh

Ipoh Itinerary 2024: The Perfect Itinerary For 1 – 3 Days

Looking for the perfect Ipoh itinerary? Here it is! Whether you are looking for 1, 2 or 3 days in…

Chin Swee Caves Temple Genting Highlands

16 Incredible Things To Do In Genting Highlands⛰️[2024]

Have the ultimate Genting Highlands trip with this guide of all the best things to do in Genting Highlands and…

Diving on Redang Island - Dive Boat

EXACTLY How To Go From Singapore To Redang Island✅[2024]

Need to know how to go from Singapore to Redang Island? All the options are described here in detail so…

Ipoh Old Town

Top 12 Best Hotels In Ipoh

Looking for the best hotels in Ipoh? You are in luck – there are some great choices! We have all…

lost Tambun water park scenery

Mixed Feelings About Sunway The Lost World Of Tambun: Review 2024

Considering a visit to the Lost World of Tambun theme park in Ipoh? Read our full Lost World of Tambun…

Inside a train between KL and Padang Besar

EXACTLY How To Get From KL To Ipoh [2024]

Need to know how to get from KL to Ipoh? Taking a train, bus, taxi, or car is described here…

Seats nside an ETS train between KL and Padang Besar

EXACTLY How To Go From Ipoh To Langkawi🏝️[2024]

Embark on a journey from the charming city of Ipoh to the sun-kissed shores of Langkawi, and immerse yourself in…

Inside our ferry to Langkawi from Kuala Kedah

EXACTLY How To Go From Alor Setar To Langkawi [2024]

Need to know how to go from Alor Setar to Langkawi? Whether you’d like to take an Alor Setar to…

Port Dickson Hotel Near Beach Avillion

Top Options For A Port Dickson Hotel Near Beach [2024]

Looking for the best Port Dickson hotel near beach? Read our reviews and find your perfect choice for you of…

Rice paddies round Bario

Bario Sarawak – Everything You Need To Know [2024]

Looking for somewhere completely different to go when you’re travelling in Sarawak? Consider Bario in the Kelabit Highlands. A collection…

Singapore Airlines Business Class seat

Singapore Airlines Business Class Review [2024] A350-900: Is It Worth It?

Thinking about flying Singapore Airlines business class and wondering if it’s worth it? Already booked and want to know what…

Watching another ferry arrive at Kuala Kedah

Exactly How To Get The Kuala Kedah to Langkawi Ferry [2024]

Need to know how to take the Kuala Kedah to Langkawi ferry? Read our complete step-by-step guide all about taking…

Arch Studio Cenang

Arch Studio Cenang Review: Beautiful Boutique Option In Langkawi 😍

Looking for a great place to stay in Langkawi that is a super handy position in the main beach area,…

beach and pool at Club Med Cherating

Top 16 Best Resorts in Malaysia [2024]

Looking for the best resorts in Malaysia? Read our list of the top 15 from all parts so you can…

lexis hibiscus port dickson private pool

Best 5 Star Hotel In Port Dickson, Malaysia [2024]

Looking for a 5 star hotel in Port Dickson, Malaysia? Click here for out Port Dickson 5 star hotel list…