Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, Marine national park off Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park covers 4,929 hectares, two-thirds of it sea, across five islands: Gaya, Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug, 3 to 8 km off Kota Kinabalu. The coasts of most islands show exposed sandstone forming cliffs, caves, honeycombs and deep crevices, the eroded edge of the Crocker Range formation. Gaya, the largest at 15 km², rises to 300 m and holds dense forest and a stilt village facing the city waterfront.

The islands formed roughly one million years ago when rising sea levels separated them from the Crocker Range. This geological separation created distinct landforms and isolated ecosystems on each island.

Gaya Island's name comes from the Bajau word "Goyoh", meaning big, while Sapi is Malay for "cow". The park itself is named after Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first Prime Minister. On Sapi, macaques inhabit the forest, and camping and campfires are allowed with permission from the park warden.

Visitors reach the park by regular boat services from Jesselton Point in Kota Kinabalu, with daily operations from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Travel time ranges from 15 to 30 minutes depending on destination islands and weather conditions.

Sulug, the farthest island, is the least developed of the five; a long sand spit that formed during the island's creation closed into a round hill. Its reef patches lie along the southern end, and it draws visitors who want fewer people around.