Tanjung Aru Beach

Tanjung Aru runs along the coast just south of Kota Kinabalu towards the airport, a few kilometres of sand backed by the casuarina trees that give it its name - aru - with the islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman marine park lying offshore. It is the city's beach in the true sense: not a resort strip but the place people go after work, with food stalls, coconut sellers, kite flyers, football on the sand and a large crowd every evening for the sunset, which here goes down behind the islands and is the reason Kota Kinabalu markets itself on sunsets at all. The water is not clear - this is a city shore with a river and a port nearby - and swimming is not really the point. The Prince Philip Park and a golf course run along the back.

What you actually see

• A casuarina-backed city beach - a few kilometres of sand along the coast.
• Sunset behind the islands - the evening event that draws the crowd.
• Food stalls and coconut sellers - the after-work gathering on the sand.
• The marine park islands offshore - Gaya, Sapi and Manukan on the horizon.

When to go

March to October; late afternoon into the evening. Half a day.

Honest expectations

The water is murky and not appealing for swimming. Litter after busy evenings is a problem. Sandflies bite at dusk. It is a local hangout rather than a resort beach.

Nearby

Kota Kinabalu centre is north; the marine park islands leave from the city jetty.