Teluk Bidara Beach — Attraction in undefined

TL;DR:

This beach has definitely seen better days. It's currently full of rubbish and gets super crowded during the holiday season. Otherwise, there are plenty of sand and swimming spots for families, and witnessing the surf breaking against the rocky formations at the southern part of the beach is an amazing experience.

DETAILED REVIEW:

A few years ago I would've said this beach is one of the reasons you might want to visit the east coast of Malaysia. Long sandy shores provides ample room for beach activities and the relatively gentle incline from the beach face to the longshore trough means you could, depending on how daring you are, swim in these waters in months when the seas aren't choppy (usually between May to August). The backshore areas has sand so soft your feet would sink into it an inch deep, cocooning your toes in a warm, soothing embrace.

If you head towards south of the beach (at the foot of the Teluk Bidara lighthouse) you'll reach a large rocky outcrop and, if you're observant, notice a small cave. Pass through this cave, please, for those with an adventurous spirit will be rewarded with a view that is, in a word, breathtaking. Emerging from the cave, you would be greeted with sheer precipices and the glorious sight of the surf breaking upon the slanted rocky formations, channeling calmer ripples into shallow tide pools that host the presence of small sea critters. It's all at once beautiful and deadly, because the terrain is rough and are filled with rocks sharp enough to slice you if you're not careful. However, if you're careful, and avoid the slippery algae-coated rock surfaces, take the time to just sit and relax and enjoy the view.

This would be the beach a few years ago. The state of the beach at Teluk Bidara today is far more depressing. The shoreline is littered with rubbish, from the plethora of visitors as well as washed-up ocean debris. Amenity-wise, the public washroom/showers are dilapidated and in need of repair. During the school holidays there are so many people that the best swimming spots are often overcrowded with too many screaming children. Overall, the beach looks postcard-picturesque from afar, but up-close, it is a sorry sight. I wouldn't recommend visiting this beach until the local authorities fix and clean up this attraction. I'm tempted to add that the Teluk Bidara beach could use better roads and signage to get there but at this point, the beach needs a break away from people, rather than inviting more irresponsible tourists and visitors who couldn't care less about the cleanliness of this...

Hands down the best beach on the Peninsula mainland for me. The beach is wide with golden sand and when the weather is good, the water is crystal clear. The currents can be treacherous for swimmers though, so need to be extra cautious. The safest place to swim is probably at the lighthouse end of the beach near the cave, where the rocks shield you from the waves. Best time to go is in the morning when the sea is calmer and it's not too hot.

Only thing that spoils the experience is the rubbish visitors leave behind and the dilapidated state of the toilets and playground. Really can't understand how some folks think it's ok to just leave soiled diapers right there on the beach where they changed them. The council workers do a pretty good job cleaning up...

Acceptable beach for spending leisure time with family. Regrettably, civic consciousness is not too great in this country, and thus inevitably, there will be pieces and bits of human traces along the beach. I couldn’t see any waste bin around. The toilets and prayer room were out of clean water. Interestingly, there are a few hawking food at the pavilion nearby. I am doubtful of the hygiene. Pedestrian pavement was eroded and appeared intimidating when...