Tawau Hills National Park

Tawau Hills was gazetted in 1979 to protect the water catchment for Tawau, and it covers about two hundred and eighty square kilometres of forest on old volcanic ground - the three peaks in it, Magdalena, Lucia and Maria, are eroded cones, and the geology gives the park its hot springs, which come up near the headquarters and are channelled into small pools. The particular claim to fame is a yellow meranti in the Sungai Sepilok valley measured at over ninety-eight metres during a laser survey, which held the record for the tallest known tropical tree until a taller one, Menara, was measured at just over a hundred metres in Danum Valley elsewhere in Sabah; the Tawau tree is deep in the park and not on the standard trails. Most visitors do the walk to the Bombalai crater or along the river to the waterfall and the suspension bridge. Accommodation at the headquarters is basic.

What you actually see

• A near-record yellow meranti - over 98 metres, held the tropical record until Danum Valley.
• Hot springs - volcanic water channelled into pools near headquarters.
• Eroded volcanic peaks - Magdalena, Lucia and Maria above the forest.
• River trails - to the waterfall and the suspension bridge.

When to go

March to September. A day, or overnight.

Honest expectations

The record tree is not accessible on normal trails - do not come expecting to see it. Facilities are basic. Trails are hot, muddy and leech-heavy. Access needs your own transport from Tawau.

Nearby

Tawau town is close; Semporna and the dive islands are north-east.