Jesselton Point for the park islands
You have the jetty name and want to know how the trip from there to an island works.
Jesselton Point in Kota Kinabalu is the jetty named for the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park islands in our brief. The Sabah Parks page does not give jetty details, so the departure point is something to confirm with your boat operator [1].
What Sabah Parks does confirm is the islands themselves: five of them, about three kilometres offshore [2]. This page walks through how to read the jetty-to-island leg without guessing. See also our park island guide and how to get from the city to Jesselton Point.
What is the jetty-to-island leg?
It is the short boat ride between a counter at the jetty and a landing on an island. Behind it sit three decisions: which island, which boat and which return time. Each decision belongs to the operator, not to the park page.
Because the islands are close, the trip feels simple. That is why people forget to ask about the last boat.
How do you read a ticket and boat arrangement?
Take the ticket in four parts and ask about each:
- Where is the departure counter or meeting point?
- Which island or islands does the ticket cover?
- What is the return time, and is it fixed or flexible?
- What is paid at the counter, and what is paid on the island?
If one part is vague, ask. A ticket without a stated return time is the one that strands people.
What fees sit on top of the boat?
The park entrance fee is charged per person per day. For Malaysians it is listed as RM8 for adults aged 18 and above and RM5 for ages 13 to 17 [3].
Children aged 12 and below and seniors aged 60 and above are free [3]. Confirm the current amount, who collects it and whether it is in your ticket.
Our cost calculator adds the boat, fee and food for your group.
What should you ask the operator?
- Where do I meet you, and by what time?
- Which islands can I choose, and does the price change?
- When is the last boat back from each island?
- Is the entrance fee included?
- What happens in rough weather or if the boat is full?
- Is there a life jacket for each child?
Boat times are not confirmed in our research, so the operator’s answer is the one that counts. Read boat basics to Manukan, Mamutik and Sapi for more.
How do you get to the jetty?
If you land at the city airport, our guide on Kota Kinabalu airport to Jesselton Point covers the last leg. Plan to arrive early on weekends and holidays, because queues can slow the morning.
A better fit if…
Booking through a package or an operator in advance may be a better fit if you travel with young children, older parents or a fixed schedule.
Arranging on the day may be a better fit if your plans are flexible and you are happy to wait for a boat. Either way, write down the return time before you leave the counter.
Common questions
Is Jesselton Point the jetty for Tunku Abdul Rahman Park?
It is the jetty named for the park islands in our brief, but the Sabah Parks page gives no jetty details and we have not verified it from that source. Confirm the departure point with your boat operator before you travel.
How far are the islands from Kota Kinabalu?
Sabah Parks places the five islands about three kilometres offshore. Boat time is not confirmed in our research, so ask the operator for the duration to your island and the departure times on your date.
Do I pay the entrance fee at the jetty?
Not confirmed. Ask whether the fee is in your ticket or collected separately, and who collects it. Malaysian adults are listed at RM8 per day, with children aged twelve and below free.
Can I arrange the island myself at the jetty?
Some visitors do, but availability changes with the day and the crowd. Ask the operator in advance which islands are offered and when the last boat returns, and arrive early on weekends.
Sources
- Sabah Parks (accessed 2026-10-16)
- Sabah Parks (accessed 2026-10-16)
- Sabah Parks (accessed 2026-10-16)