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Myths & folklore

  Every island has its fables and folklore, and Redang boasts a few of its own, such as an inexhaustible pool of water at Pasir Gontang, and the lingering fragrance of a princess who long ago lived at Puteri Mayang Mas at Pasir Mak Kepit.

Tales are told of stones and rocks which were once sea-elephants at Batu Gajah (Elephant Rock), fowls tied to a rock at Pasir Macam Ayam, people immortalized in prayer at Batu Tokong, and a turtle guardian at Batu Pepanji (Turtle Rock). With some imagination, these stones do have some resemblance to the characters in these tales.

The magical residents of Pulau Redang, the Orang Bunian, are said to be behind a cluster of stones called Batu Surat (Letter Rock) near Pasir Chagar Hutang. These stones are supposed to contain some sort of message.

Marine Park Centre

Redang is the first of the Malaysian Marine Parks to have a Marine Park Centre. Established in 1990, the Centre is located at Pulau Pinang, just off the southern tip of Pulau Redang. It acts as a focal point of administration and management and also provides facilities for research and education purposes.

This is one of the most popular snorkelling destinations due to the large number of fishes and marine life that are resident here, including giant groupers and moray eels. Almost all resort snorkelling packages will include a trip to the Marine Park Centre. Admission is RM5 per adult per entry (children pay RM2.50). Usually the resort operator will collect this fee from visitors.

Boats will drop visitors off at the jetty, which is used by many as the jump-off point for snorkelling. There is also a shipwreck to the east of the jetty, probably the only wreck shallow enough for snorkellers to explore.

Most visitors will just spend all their time in the water. For those who don't want to wet their feet, you can head for the beach and explore the island. Turn right and follow the broadwalk all the way to the end, then go left up the hill. There is a hiking trail on which will bring you to a viewing tower at the top of the hill near a lighthouse, where you can get a nice panorama of Redang island across the channel.
 

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise is something not to be missed, even if the thought of waking up at 6am in the morning is not your idea of a holiday! Those living at Pasir Panjang or Teluk Kalong have front row seats to a breathtaking view, provided the weather is good and there are few clouds in the sky. The best sunrise occurs when there are no clouds in the sky, but such situations are rare.

On a clear night, gaze at the heavens and be amazed at the myriads of stars in the night sky. Look long enough and your eyes will adjust to the darkness, revealing even more stars. If you're lucky, you might even see a few shooting stars. If you're into stargazing, bring your star maps and spot all your favourite constellations and nearby planets. And if you're a really serious stargazer, bring a telescope - we even managed to spot one of Mar's moons!

Bring your torchlights and go beachcombing at night, especially if the tide is out. Among the rocks and tide pools you'll spot crabs, hermit crabs, mudskippers, tiny crustaceans and other small active nocturnal creatures.

April - October

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