Tawau offers a variety of ways to explore the area: at Tawau Tanjung Market, fresh produce and long-lasting dried goods are spread across different floors; at Tawau Town Padang stands the Belfy Bell Tower, built in 1921. Teck Guan Cocoa Village combines insights into cocoa processing with a hands-on chocolate-making activity and trails leading to natural features. Nearby, forests, waterfalls and basalt offer more to explore. When planning your visit, the type of outing matters as much as the theme.

Cocoa and nature at Teck Guan Cocoa Village

The Cocoa Heritage Gallery & Museum at Teck Guan Cocoa Village offers educational videos and exhibits about processing raw cocoa beans into cocoa powder. At the Chocolate Making Station, visitors can make their own chocolate. This offers two distinct ways to explore cocoa: the Gallery & Museum explains the processing, while the station focuses on making chocolate yourself. Visitor offerings may change, so check in advance which activities are available during your visit.

The Cocoa Culture Spring trails add a chance to explore the landscape on foot: visitors can hike along the trails to a waterfall and see columnar basalt formations on the Balung River. Exhibits, hands-on chocolate-making and trails through nature offer different ways to experience the village.

Market goods by floor at Tawau Tanjung Market

The floor-by-floor layout at Tawau Tanjung Market makes it easier to find your way around. The ground floor offers fresh fruit, keropok amplang, dried crackers made in Indonesia and other fresh produce. On the first floor, you’ll find long-lasting dried goods such as salted dried fish, dried anchovies and dried prawns. This means fresh products are downstairs, while long-lasting foods are upstairs. The selection may change; if a particular product is important for your visit, check what is currently available.

The Belfy Bell Tower at Tawau Town Padang

The Belfy Bell Tower stands at Tawau Town Padang. Prisoners of war built it in 1921, with financial support from Japanese businesspeople. The date and the people involved give the structure a specific historical connection to Tawau—another way to explore the town alongside its cocoa and market goods.

Hiking trails, waterfalls and basalt nearby

Tawau Hills Park lies near the destination. A 14 km hiking trail leads to the park’s highest peak, Mt. Magdalena, and passes through lowland and lower montane forest. The trail’s length gives the hike a clear scope; if you choose this route, you can plan it as a dedicated nature outing. The park’s rivers also form several waterfalls. A natural swimming pool has formed at Table Waterfall.

Another geological point of interest is the village of Balung Cocos, where columnar basalt can be found. The village is less than an hour from Tawau. This gives you two distinct nature experiences: a forest hike to the highest peak in Tawau Hills Park, or the basalt formation at Balung Cocos. Which one you choose depends on whether you’re more interested in a hiking route or a geological formation.

Discover more destinations: Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Penyu, Beaufort, Ranau, Kota Belud, Kundasang, Papar, Semporna

For the regional travel overview: Sabah.