If you proceed straight, you will find two ways down: straight ahead is the staircase that brings you all the way down to the main arch at Moon Gate. A hike up Moongate 5 in Penang Island back in March. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Moon Gate is situated along the road to the Botanical Gardens, on the left side of the road, and about 200mt before the gardens’ main parking lot. This is right before you’ll see a concrete house set next to a small bridge on the left. By the time I had bagged a taxi, which were hard to come by, and arrived at Moon Gate near the Botanical Gardens, I was 30 minutes behind schedule and RM18 poorer. The highest point is 833m (2723 ft) altitude which is Western hill. The trail was built by convict labourers of Indian descent from British Bencoolen. Reading Time: 3 minutes Previously I’ve walked up Penang Hill, starting at the Penang Botanical Gardens.This time I decided to start at Moongate, especially given that it’s easy to park in the carpark a couple of minutes walk away, whereas the Botanical Gardens carpark is packed first thing in the morning. The entrance to this road is just to the left of the entrance to the Botanic Gardens. Read on for all the details. But if you are wondering what to do in Penang Hill, remember that it also has plenty of hiking opportunities. To save your holiday money, download Uber or use GrabTaxi or hitch a ride from the jetty or Komtar area on the U102 Rapid Penang bus for between RM2 to RM4 . Getting there I took a taxi from Georgetown to Moon Gate on Waterfall Road / Jalan Kebun Bunga just outside the Botanical Gardens and got fleeced for RM18. For further info, particularly related to specific trails or parks, please do visit the respective official Facebook page. Check the Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Selangor Facebook page for changes. The restaurant serves up traditional British pub fare like Beef Wellington, Chicken and Mushroom Pie, and tea and scones. Getting back Penang Hill Railway costs RM5 one way for Malaysians and RM15 for non-Malaysians. You’ll find drinks at Station 5 Suggested hiking times: don’t start from Moon Gate after 5.45 pm if you are a slow hiker or want to have some time on top between ascending and descending. Hike duration: 25 to 45 minutes each way, depending on your level of fitness. Ni Min nak share dengan korang, kot-kot korang ada peluang ke Penang, nak hiking santai-santai, boleh la korang hike Bukit Bendera aka Penang Hill (833M). On the left side is a terrace with chairs where you can relax and have some views of Penang from the canopy. The Best Steamboat in Penang? Marco Ferrarese has lived in Penang since 2009 and is an expert on Malaysia and Borneo. He gave us a paper map of Penang Hill and, on request, told us a bit about the open hiking trails. It’s really up to you, your timing, and your level of tiredness. At 783 meters, Bukit Bendera or Flagstaff Hill is 50 meters lower than that, and as one of Penang’s most popular tourist attractions, you’d think getting there would be a nothing more than a leisure hike. He said “Officially, it’s not open. Astaka Cliff Café. If you’re headed down, just line up and pay for your ticket after you alight. Change ). For the latest update, visit the Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Johor Facebook page. Taman Persekutuan Bukit Kiara has been closed from Wednesday January 13th 2020 until further notice following a decision made by Jabatan Lanskap Negara (National Landscape Department). Look on your right, and you’ll find another path, and another set of steps, just a few meters before the other. If you turn right, you’ll arrive at the traffic light and crossroads in front of the Waterfall Hotel, with Jalan Gottlieb to your left. It had become patently obvious now that there are a staggering number of ways to get up Penang Hill. We have dinner at the Cliff Cafe; because it was during the puasa month, most of … A short, flat but wide section offered respite and then … the trail’s first rest stop, Point 5. Try to arrive around 7.15 pm, right before sunset, when the sky turns pink over George Town and the Straits of Melaka, casting long shadows and glittering light all over George Town. Not my cup of tea. I was with the same crowd, FH and Chai Ling, whom I went to Pantai Kerachut aka Monkey Beach hike with the addition of a new friend - Teng. 1. The second is right below Station 3, after the road curls down to the right, and opens up over a very scenic view of Penang’s northern coast extending all the way to Bukit Mertajam to the east, and Gunung Jerai in Kedah to the west. They can’t close it. This is the Amazing Penang Hill Secret Hike Locals don’t want... 7 Reasons Why You should Visit the Habitat Penang Hill. Moon Gate, once the grand entrance to the home of Penang millionaire Cheah Chen Eok, is where the trail starts, innocuously enough, along a pleasant forest track with the sounds of a burbling sound emanating nearby. Fortunately within half an hour (although it seemed longer) the first few colonial bungalows came into view: the eerie outline of an abandoned building; Grace Dieu previously Uplands Kindergarten; and Richmond, a government bungalow that’s available for rent. I have been living in Penang since 2009 and have written guidebooks to Malaysia and George Town for the Rough Guides. Nor was Bukit Bendera the only destination or turning point for hikers, there’s Youth Park and Bukit Cendana. Get the latest info at the Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Pahang Facebook page. The basketball court is straight below you, next to the main paved road. This moongate is located along the road to The Botanical Gardens. Due to the current CMCO, all eco-forest parks managed by the Perak State Forestry Department will be closed to the public from November 9th 2020 until further notice. 10.25am Reach boulders But you’d be wrong. For sure you’ll have to earn your way up and work up a bit of sweat. You can also read our selection of the best hikes in Penang Mainland. In this post, we are going to suggest to you our favorite way to make your hiking trip to Station 5 at Moon Gate a most rewarding one. Don’t worry, as you can’t get lost: there are several red “Number 5” signs spray-painted on rocks and tree trunks along this side route. Details on the Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Kelantan Facebook page. Air Terjun Pelangi, Sungai Lembing, Kuantan, 8. Once you have left the main path, continue upwards, where a very adventurous and steep climb welcomes you into Penang Hill’s real jungle. As one last pointer, remember that after the shortcuts, you’ll arrive at a pretty steep slant in the path that cuts through dense forest. As you come in, on the lower right, there’s a space filled with exercise machines; just up a couple of steps is the main rest area, where you can find a rock table with pots filled with warm water, Chinese tea, and even some delicious coffee and biscuits, all prepared by hikers for other hikers, and available free of charge. If you pay attention to the right-hand side of the track you’ll find a couple staircases: these are shortcuts to descend quicker and cut some of the bends. The hike consisted of 30 mins of continuous stair ascent to rest stop 5, followed by 1.5 hours of uneven slopes along rocky terrain, and then finished with a 30 min hike up continuous steep inclined slopes along the cemented jeep path (the moment we turned each corner, we saw a slope that's steeper than the … Very steep in the beginning and end but fairly smooth otherwise. 10.35am Downhill stretch Trekked up Moongate trail to the top of Penang Hill and learned a lot about perseverance! The entrance of the hill is located at the Penang Botanical Garden, very easy to find with the awesome entrance gate out front, and parking is actually by the roadside (let's hope no saman). For Check in to the Majlis Perbandaran Petaling Jaya Facebook page for changes. If you continue straight, you will make your hike a bit longer and not significantly easier, ending up at the back of Station 5. The Moongate trail is one of the trails leading up to the peak of Penang Hill. Occasionally a 4×4 or motorbike would whip past at breakneck speed. But as we don’t suggest you take this route up, we think you also shouldn’t use it to hike down. It’s a tough climb over roots, vines and mud steps carved into the path. Eco-forest parks (Taman eko-rimba or TER for short), state park forest and permanent forest reserves in Pahang under the state forestry department will be closed to the public from November 14th 2020 to January 15th 2021 owing to the monsoon season. The park is expected to reopen once the CMCO has been lifted or SOPs are changed. Why? Penang Hill Café. why you should visit the Habitat Penang Hill, Hiking in Penang Hill at Moon Gate: an alternative trekking route, The Final Ascent to Moon Gate Station 5 on Penang Hill, What to Do at Station 5 after your Penang Hill Hike at Moon Gate, 26 Great Penang Foods, and 80 best places where to find them, The Ultimate Guide to Avatar Penang Secret Garden. The Team Lead for this trail was Teh Wei Ee, an avid hiker and trail runner who live in Penang. At the back are a few fitness machines, which have seen better days, but are good enough for some serious weight lifting and exercise. The 3 1/2 km jeep track felt tougher than the forest trail. ( Log Out /  For the latest info, go to the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur Facebook page. Follow it: after descending along the side of the hill, you’ll come to face a huge boulder soaring on the right side of the path. ( Log Out /  700 m climb I did yesterday from Moongate to the top of PEnang Hill via the Moniot Road. Moon Gate Station 5 is where you want to stop after all this sweaty hiking. (Penang Hikes lists all of them here.). While the urban park itself isn’t a hiking spot, Youth Park has been frequented by locals … One way up to the peak of Penang Hill was 3 hours. The simplest route is through the iconic Moongate, a historic gateway just 500m before the entrance to the Penang Botanic Gardens. After reopening to the public on Wednesday 9th December 2020, Taman Tugu is now closed from Wednesday 13th January 2021 until further notice following the announcement of the most recent Movement Control Order. Alternately try Kopi Hutan. Moon Gate, once the grand entrance to the home of Penang millionaire Cheah Chen Eok, is where the trail starts, innocuously enough, along a pleasant forest track with the sounds of a burbling sound emanating nearby. The exception being the following places, which are managed separately. Hike level: medium, steep in places. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 10.55 Exit onto jeep track After briefly closing, public parks in Putrajaya have reopened as of Friday 15 January 2021. It’s a good place to stop and observe the surrounding nature: bats live in the hollow between the base of the rock and the forest’s floor, and occasionally swarm out, making for an interesting site. I asked the security guard at the entrance to the jeep track which is the best route to take. You will climb over tree roots and rocks, and you may help you up with the rope that is installed on the right hand of this new path until you’ll get to a point where it levels out straight, and your hike becomes a smoother affair. 11.30 Pass entrance to Richmond We suggest you turn left and follow the track as it snakes upwards along the flanks of Penang Hill. Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera) Since 1700, Penang Hill has a great history being the oldest British hill … Then the initiation begins – a half an hour of stairs. 11.20 Pass first bungalow Another popular hiking route is from the Moongate, along Waterfall Road. The path is clearly marked and supported by ropes wherever necessary, so no worries as you won’t lose your way. Public parks managed by Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur City Council) are open for public use under strict SOPs. Hike: For the adventurous, you can opt to hike up Penang Hill, as there are several trails that lead to the top. From this moment onwards, you will be able to walk pretty much on plain ground, making your way around the side of Penang Hill, and only occasionally going up an down over rocks and trees. Visit the Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Terengganu Facebook page for updates. No group activities are permitted, exercise should be conducted alone and facilities such as bike rental are closed for now. Penang Hill: Hike from the Moongate... - See 8,282 traveller reviews, 7,741 candid photos, and great deals for George Town, Malaysia, at Tripadvisor. Had I ducked in at Moniot turn off, the hill’s original bridal path turned Heritage Trail, the route would have been longer but more scenic. It was also pretty hot. We hope you enjoyed your Penang Hill hike at Moon Gate Station 5! I never made it there but had planned to. Apart from Western Hill, the other peaks that form Penang Hill include Bukit Laksamana, Tiger Hill, Bukit Bendera and Bukit Kerajaan. Eco-park and state park forests under the jurisdiction of the State Forestry Department of Johor are closed until January 26th 2021 to coincide with the onset of the monsoon season and to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Be prepared because, after the boulder, you are in for the toughest climb of the trek. I had only hiked once, when I was in my teens. The start is a tough 30 minute uphill climb but that levels off to a moderate climb thereafter until you hit the final coup Due to the rise in the number of COVID-19 cases within the state, hiking and other recreational activities in eco-park and state park forests within Kelantan have been suspended beginning Monday January 18th 2021 until further notice. You will know that you have roughly reached the mid-point of this trek once you’ll climb upwards one-umpteenth time, to find a section of the path paved with concrete tiles. The other route is the 'Jeep track', a tarmac road to the summit which is open only to the cars of residents who live on Penang Hill and other authorised vehicles. Announced by MPPJ, the temporary closure also extends to public parks, lake gardens, playgrounds and sports fields in the Petaling Jaya district. Check in at the Perbadanan Putrajaya Facebook page for the latest news. Post-hike reward Treat yourself at David Brown’s. We love hiking in Penang Hill: we have already described how to strike off on one of its secret hiking trails, or why you should visit the Habitat Penang Hill and its interesting zipline Flight of the Colugo. Consider it as a nice treat after a good sweaty climb. I took this photo because I love the shape of the gate. With the adrenaline coursing through my veins at the very memory of breathtaking Taroko Gorge, I caught up with Ticket To Ride anchor Azura Rahman. Any form of exercise within the parks and recreational areas must be conducted alone and no group activities are permitted. You can drive to the parking lot at Youth Park or directly to the Botanical Gardens and walk back to Moon Gate entry, or you can catch a Grab here from George Town. Depending on the time of the day and the visibility, you’ll have some great picture opportunities here. The location of pre-independance Malaya’s first hill resort, Penang Hill is not one hill but a collection of peaks, of which the off-limits Western Hill is, at 833 meters the island’s highest point. Unsure of where to go, I simply followed the tarmac road up. Serving up tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cakes, it’s located at Monkey Cup Garden and takes another 20-30 minutes walk from the Upper Station. Check back at the Friends of Bukit Gasing Facebook page. Taman Negara Pulau Pinang, which falls under the care of the Parks and Wildlife Department (Perhilitan) is closed to the public beginning Wednesday January 13th 2021 until further notice due to the ongoing CMCO within the state. The descent is easy along stairs and a well-manned hiking trail. Take all the time you need here — but remember that it’s quite hazardous to stay well after 7 pm, as otherwise, you’ll end up hiking down in the dark. Past this, the stairs melted away and the hike returned to a more natural trail of red earth. Taman Negara Pahang which falls under the care of the Department of Parks and Wildlife (Perhilitan) has reopened as of October 23rd 2020. All activities within Permanent Forest Reserves such as hiking, off roading  and other recreational activities are prohibited during the MCO period. But don’t lose heart. It is the gateway to the 19th Century country house of Cheah Chen Eok, the famous millionaire best remembered for building the Queen Victoria Memorial Clocktower at the Esplanade to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of the monarch. Moon Gate, Penang (2 June 2013) Moon Gate (GPS: 5.43567, 100.29278) is a heritage gateway along Jalan Kebun Bunga , on the way to the Penang Botanic Gardens . The trek here is still quite interesting, without those small, steep staircase steps that frankly ruin it for everyone. Walk down and to the left, and you’ll see the parking lot, your vehicle (if you have followed our parking suggestion), and the main Waterfall Temple Road to the Botanical Gardens. Taxis from Ayer Itam back to the city (Komtar) are RM30; I hopped on the 204 Rapid Penang bus for RM2 from opposite the Lower Station. You should be able to see the first one exactly here on the rock to your left. But the truth is that The Moongate Trail was never closed. Penang Hill: Moongate trail only for advanced hikers - See 8,285 traveler reviews, 7,733 candid photos, and great deals for George Town, Malaysia, at Tripadvisor. Completed in 1825, it became as one of the oldest tracks at Penang Hill. Great views, comfort, and some exercise. Penang Hill: Hike from the Moongate... - See 8,285 traveler reviews, 7,733 candid photos, and great deals for George Town, Malaysia, at Tripadvisor. Click here to find out more about me and why I want to share my Penang knowledge with you. The event was recent enough that the writing was still legible so I imagined would end up somewhere useful. 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