Berakas Forest Recreation Park

Berakas covers a block of coastal forest between the airport and the sea, with trails running through kerangas heath forest and casuarina down to a long stretch of beach on the South China Sea. Picnic shelters, a playground and an amphitheatre sit in the park. It is the nearest forest to the capital that reaches the coast, and it is used heavily at weekends. The park sits directly under the approach path, which is why it is one of the few places in Brunei where planning restrictions have kept the coast undeveloped.

What you actually see

• The kerangas forest - the heath forest type that grows on poor sandy soil.
• The beach access - trails running down to the South China Sea shore.
• The casuarina - the coastal stand between the forest and the sand.
• The picnic facilities - the shelters and amphitheatre through the park.

When to go

Year round. Weekends are busiest and weekdays quiet. Monsoon swell from around November to February makes the sea rough.

Honest expectations

Aircraft noise from the airport is constant. Litter after weekends is a problem. Currents on the beach can be strong and there is no lifeguard.

Nearby

The airport is south, and Muara is northeast.