Located two miles from peninsular Malaysia’s southeastern coast, the small town of Bandar Penawar is just minutes from the blue waters of the South China Sea. People are drawn here to soak up the laid-back coastal vibe, hanging out at brightly colored beachfront cafes serving up freshly caught crab and red snapper. Coffee shops and family-run restaurants dot the town, which is bisected by the winding Sungai Chamang river. On the other side of a patch of woodland lies the golden coast, where you’ll find locals flying kites, kayaks bobbing around in the surf, and jet skis whizzing along further out to sea. Many visitors rent fat bikes to ride along the sand to seaside shacks where locals tuck into pepes — fished wrapped in banana leaves — and spicy, sour asam pedas stew.

From Bandar Penawar, the buzz of Johor Bahru is only an hour away. Southern Malaysia’s largest city is home to a mix of mosques, Chinese temples, cafes, artisan boutiques, and sprawling shopping malls.

The temperature in Bandar Penawar is warm to hot all year long, with quite a bit of rainfall. While February tends to see the least precipitation, it is still relatively wet, which is typical of the area’s tropical climate. Bandar Penawar is more of a sleepy seaside destination than a magnet for large events, with perhaps the exception of Lunar New Year in February or March, when the area comes alive with festive decorations and feasting. You may also want to check the calendar of events in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, both within driving distance.

Gunung Panti Recreational Forest

The Gunung Panti Recreational Forest, which is located only one hour northwest of Bandar Penawar, is a popular site for day hikes. Miles of trails in varying difficulty levels wind through the mature forests alongside rushing rivers and cascading waterfalls. The Gunung Panti summit hike and the Kota Tinggi waterfalls are favorites with hikers.

Tanjung Balau Fishermen Museum

Located just off the coast of the South China Sea, less than 10 minutes from Bandar Penawar, the Tanjung Balau Fishermen Museum features exhibits focused on the region’s maritime and fishing history. It displays boats, fishing equipment, and trapping devices that have been used throughout the years, as well as a model of a traditional fishing family’s house.

Old Town Johor Bahru

Around an hour’s drive west is the city of Johor Bahru, which is joined to the neighboring city-state of Singapore by the Johor Causeway Bridge. The narrow, tree-lined streets in Johor Bahru’s heritage district are packed with a maze of pastel-hued shops adorned with wooden shutters and climbing plants, small art galleries, and cafes with tables that spill out onto the sidewalk.