Kundasang map: Kinabalu Park, Mesilau and Poring

Kinabalu Park HQ: where the climb starts

On the map, Mount Kinabalu lies about 50 km east-northeast of Kota Kinabalu city⁵. Kinabalu Park HQ, at around 1,520 metres², is the first place you reach on the road up.

Every summit climb starts at Park HQ, with a transfer to Timpohon Gate with your guide and a rules briefing⁶. From the gate, the trail is 8.72 km to the summit⁷. Routes, costs and the via ferrata are on the Mount Kinabalu climb page.

You don’t have to climb, and most visitors to Kinabalu Park do not climb all the way to the peak⁷.

• Opening hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Sunday⁸
• Conservation fee: RM50 for international visitors aged 18 and above⁶
• Food: cafeterias and restaurants at the park entrance gate⁹

How far is Kundasang from Kinabalu Park?

Kundasang town is about 6 km from Kinabalu National Park¹⁰, further along the same road. The town sits at almost 1,900 m and is 15.6 km from Ranau town centre¹⁰.

What’s in and around Kundasang town:

• Kundasang War Memorial: it commemorates the 2,428 Australian and British prisoners who died during World War II¹⁰. Google Maps lists it as open 8:30 am to 5:00 pm daily¹¹. More: Kundasang places to visit.
• Kundasang market: Google Maps puts it at 37, AH150, Pekan Kundasang¹¹, but the traders were moved to a temporary trading area while new roadside stalls are built¹² (checked October 2026). What to buy and when: Kundasang market and Pekan Nabalu.
• Kundasang Point View: on AH150, Pekan Kundasang, and Google Maps lists it as open 24 hours¹¹.

Which sights are near Mesilau?

Mesilau has the farm stops: Desa Dairy Farm, Mesilau Strawberry Farm and Sosodikon Hill. The Clover, a resort on the Masilau Highland Plateau¹⁴, says it is just minutes from Desa Dairy Farm, Sosodikon Hill and Kinabalu Park¹⁵.

• Desa Dairy Farm (Ladang Tenusu Desa Cattle on Google Maps): at the foot of Mount Kinabalu in the Kundasang Valley¹⁶, on Jalan Cinta Mata Mesilou¹¹. Its shop sells freshly made yoghurt ice cream, cheese and milk¹⁷. Tickets and feeding times: places to visit.
• Mesilau Strawberry Farm: on Jalan Mount Kinabalu, Golf Club, open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily¹¹ according to Google Maps. Kundasang is known for its fresh vegetables and strawberries³.
• Sosodikon Hill: open 6:00 am to 5:00 pm daily¹¹, according to Google Maps.

Where is Poring Hot Spring?

Poring Hot Spring is on the park’s eastern boundary¹⁸, about 20 minutes from Ranau¹⁹. It’s far lower than Park HQ, at about 400 m above sea level, in lowland forest¹⁸.

The Poring pins on the map:

• Poring Hot Spring: open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, with last entry at the gate at 3:00 pm¹⁸
• Kipungit Waterfall: the closest waterfall to Poring Hot Spring¹⁸
• Adenna Rafflesia Garden: at 5, Jalan Poring, open 9:00 am to 6:00 pm daily¹¹ on Google Maps. The Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower¹⁸, is one of Poring’s main draws.

Local buses to Ranau and Poring leave the Kundasang bus stop every 30–40 minutes³. Wikivoyage suggests staying the night at Poring, because transport back to Kota Kinabalu can be hard to find in the evening⁹.

Getting to Kundasang from Kota Kinabalu

The road trip from Kota Kinabalu takes about 2 hours and passes Tuaran town, Tamparuli and Pekan Nabalu²⁰. Pekan Nabalu, with its stalls and a lookout, is 12 km before Kinabalu Park²¹.

• Minibus or shared taxi: from Jalan Padang Bus Station²⁰ in Kota Kinabalu.
• Express bus: buses pass the entrance of Mount Kinabalu National Park, Kundasang and Ranau²².
• Driving: there are no petrol stations on the mountain road, so fill up before you go⁹.

Fares, timetables and the shuttle are on Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang.