 A map of the west coast of Kota Kinabalu city and Gaya Island | |
  Gaya Island | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 6°1′5″N 116°2′7″E / 6.01806°N 116.03528°E |
| Administration | |
| State |  Sabah |
Gaya Island (Malay: Pulau Gaya) is a sizeable Malaysian island of 1,465 ha, just 10 minutes off Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and forms part of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Gaya Island derived its name from the word "Gayo" which means big in both the Kadazandusun and Bajau[1] languages and occupies an area of 15 km2 (3,700 acres) with an elevation of up to 300 metres. Several ridges rise more than 600 feet (180 m), peaking at 1,000 feet (300 m), along the backbone of Gaya Island.
Gaya is the largest island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, closest to downtown Kota Kinabalu (KK) and is covered with dense virgin, tropical forest. It has been a forest reserve since 1923. The island has 20 km of hiking trails and three 5 star resorts named Gayana Marine Resort, home to the Marine Ecology Research Centre, the neighboring Gaya Island Resort (by YTL Hotel Group), the Bunga Raya Island Resort on the north-east part of the island. Historically, Gaya Island was also the site of the British North Borneo Company's harbour, which was razed by the folk hero Mat Salleh on 9 July 1897.
In recent years, there has been a plan to turn Gaya Island into a city island and tourism hub.[2] A cable car line has also been proposed before to connect with the city centre.[3]
- ^ ""Gayo" in Kadazandusun". Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "Master Plan for touristic Pulau Gaya being drawn up". Daily Express. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "Chamber proposes KK-Gaya Island cable car link". The Borneo Post. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2016.