Desaru coast in Malaysia is often considered the top beach holiday spot for families. It is a popular day trip option for both Singaporean and Malaysian families, offering a wide variety of activity hubs and attractions. From ATV adventures to coastal cruises, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a family trip to Desaru.

Image via Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

Active families that love to spend time outdoors engaging in a wide variety of nature-bound adventures must head over to Junglewalla. As a popular tour operator, Junglewalla organises kayaking trips, mangrove river cruises and bird-watching expeditions for those looking to discover Desaru's natural attributes. Kayaking tours across the mangrove forests of Desaru educate kids and adults about the ecosystem as some of the area's most colourful bird species and wildlife occupy these wetlands. Families that wish to simply observe bird life and take in the magical atmosphere of the mangroves are welcome to do so with a relaxing boating tour while those with a deep regard for nature can sign up for a seed planting session.

Named after and designed by the South African golf champion Ernie Else, the Els Club on Desaru Coast is the ideal venue for a family golfing excursion. Sprawled across a vast expanse of 41 ha, the 18-hole golf course boasts 187 bunkers that crisscross the valleys and streams of the Desaru Coastline. Although sunrise golfing sessions draw pro golfers to the club, families can enjoy a day in the rolling greens complete with a hearty lunch at the clubhouse. A tour of the 25,000-square feet Valley Course and its dining and shopping amenities is another must for golf fans while exploring the exhibition locker with Ernie Els's trophies and other memorabilia is equally essential.

Although fruit farms can be a hit or miss with kids, those who venture down to Desaru Fruit Farm will find there's more to experience than fruit-picking sessions at this vast enclave. Offering guided ATV tours around the 180-acre property, Desaru Fruit Farm is the perfect place for city kids to get a taste of country life while enjoying bumpy ATV excursions. Divided into bio-agricultural ones, the fruit farm not only includes acres brimming with tropical fruit plants but also herb gardens and bee-keeping stations. The venue's petting zoo is another reason that local school kids head to this famed fruit farm during the holidays apart from the chance to taste fresh juices and bee honey right from a comb.

Often described as one of the top things to do in Desaru for those based at the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas and other rests, Firefly Cruises are a great way to explore the Bujang River. Dubbed Firefly Cruises due to the abundance of fireflies occupying the riverbanks during the evening hours, this boating tour sets out after 7 pm. As another outbound travel option accessible via the Desaru Fruit Farm, the Firefly Cruise can be a magical experience thanks to the hundreds of fireflies that congregate around the river after sundown.

During a family trip to Desaru, it is essential to explore the incredible seafood options available in Tanjung Balau Fishing Village. This village, being one of Malaysia's oldest fishing villages, offers access to fresh seafood, resulting in delectable dishes and curries featuring fish, crab, prawn, and mussels along the coast.

Don't forget to drop by the Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark on a weekday morning or weekend afternoon, as the 25-acre enclave is a dream destination for active families. Boasting rollercoasters the likes of Kraken's Revenge, the splash centre also lays claim to the longest lazy river in the country.