Terengganu has some phenomenal activities for children. Skateboarding is popular in Terengganu, and there are some good facilities set aside for adept skaters and novices alike. Children are thrilled by the firefly sanctuary in Chukai and a planetarium offers a wealth of educational shows and exhibits. Meanwhile, volunteers are welcome at the Turtle Sanctuary, where parents usually enjoy the activities as much as children.

Firefly Sanctuary
Thirty minutes drive outside of Chukai in southern Terengganu, the Firefly Sanctuary is a magical place to take your children. The largest of its kind in Malaysia, this facility stretches more than eight miles along the Yak Yah River, where countless fireflies transform the scene every evening. It’s not uncommon for more than 1,000 of these luminous insects to congregate in a single tree. Tour operators launch excursions to the sanctuary from Kampung Ibok. The show is most impressive between July and September.

Ma’ Daerah Turtle Sanctuary
Around the world, there are six beaches where the enormous leatherback turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. One of them is along the Rantau Abang coastline in Terengganu. While visitors are welcome, everyone is required both to make a donation and to offer their assistance. Children relish the opportunity to help out with activities including releasing hatchlings, collecting eggs and monitoring turtle landings. To get here, take a bus or taxi from Kuala Terengganu Bus Station. Room and board are included with a set donation. Website: http://madaerah-turtle-sanctuary.org.

Skateboard Park
Skateboarding is a popular pastime around Terengganu. If your children are avid skaters, they can enjoy several outdoor (and a couple of indoor) parks in the area which are equipped with ramps, half pipes and skating tracks. The Pek-pek Team at Desa Pandan is a good place to inquire about the most recent developments in Terengganu’s skateboarding scene.

Terengganu Planetarium
The Terengganu Planetarium opened in 1996 and has since grown into a popular attraction for families with children. The primary dome hosts 3-D shows accompanied by an impressive sound and light production that educates while it entertains. A variety of programmes related to astronomy and physics play year-round. The facility sits just five minutes drive outside of Kuala Terengganu city centre. Phone: +60 3 2273 8253.

Culture is Terengganu’s forte. Across the region, you’ll discover workshops dedicated to the region’s handicrafts. Artisans craft anything from fabrics meticulously woven with gold threat to large boats built completely from memory. The influence of Chinese immigrants is paramount in Kuala Terengganu’s Chinatown. Throughout the capital city are a variety of museums and scientific institutes that educate and entertain guests. Most travellers agree that the opportunity to partake in Terengganu’s culture is the region’s primary attraction.

Boat-building
Terengganu has long been renowned for its traditional wooden boats (called bangau), constructed by expert craftsmen in the many harbours that dot the coastline. The tradition still lives on today. While today’s boat builders may have a few modern tools in their arsenal, these vessels are constructed in the ancient tradition from memory and completely without blueprints. Meticulous attention to detail and lavish decorations make these boats one-of-a-kind. Watching a boat-builder at work is a must for any visitor who has the opportunity.

Chinatown
Located in the state capital, Terengganu’s Chinatown is relatively small and keeps to a few compact side streets emanating from Jalan Kampung Cina. The two-storey houses in this area predate WWII, and many of them are a century old or more. Many ornate structures, a vibrant shopping strip and a Chinese temple dating to the early 19^th century make this a nice place to take a few photos and enjoy a sunset dinner.

Floating Mosque
The Masjid Tengku Tengah Zaharah appears to float over the Ibai River. This large building combines modern and traditional elements of Islamic (and specifically Moorish) architecture. At night, the gleaming white mosque is illuminated and its minaret and dome can be seen from a considerable distance. The mosque is cradled by its natural surroundings on the river estuary and can be reached on bus number 13 from Kuala Terengganu city centre.

Giant Top Spinning
Top spinning involves hurling a giant 11-pound gasing (top) into perpetual motion. The size of a dinner plate, these tops are carved from wood and carefully balanced with lead. The real experts can send a gasing careening for as long as two hours. Annual top spinning competitions take place along the Terengganu coastline and provide a great opportunity to view this longstanding tenet of Malaysian culture.

Kite-flying
Malaysian kite flying traditionally took place in the rice paddies during harvest season or along the coast when fishermen declined to take their boats out due to inclement seas. Today, kites are often flown on the beaches of Terengganu in the late summer. This presents a wonderful way for visitors to engage in a rich tradition without spending a lot of money in the process. Each kite (or wau) falls into a traditional category including peacock kites, moon kites and cat kites.

Martial Arts
The Malay martial art of silat is an impressive tradition of defence and artistic exhibition that has been practiced in this region for centuries. The best place to watch a match is at Gerbang Persilatan Negeri, located a few miles outside of Kuala Terengganu at Gong Badak. Major tournaments and competitions are also held here throughout the year.

Terengganu State Museum
Framed by the Terengganu River, the State Museum is set amid carefully landscaped gardens about three miles from the capital. The façade is in traditional Terengganu architectural style and the facilities include a maritime museum; an Islamic textile gallery; arts and handicrafts galleries; and an exhibit dedicated to recent developments in the petroleum industry. Outstanding among all of these is the 19^th century wooden palace and the trove of artefacts it contains. Website: www.muzium.terengganu.gov.my.

There is a wide range of eating establishments in Kuala Terengganu, with options to fit the budget and palette of most travellers. The city’s restaurants are spread across the city centre and are generally situated close to the waterfront. There are also some nice places in Chinatown, where you’ll find plenty of Chinese-Malay fusion at great prices.

Given its long coastline, it stands to reason that fresh fish is central to local cuisine. Nasi dagang is a delightful Terengganu specialty made by cooking glutinous rice and regular rice together and then adding a generous amount of coconut cream. Usually taken at breakfast with fresh curried tuna and pickled vegetables, it’s an epicurean’s dream. Ketupat sotong, or stuffed squid, is another treat; the stuffing is a similar mixture of glutinous rice soaked in coconut milk.

A traditional Malay salad is perfect for a light lunch. It draws its unique flavour from local greens, fresh prawns, lime juice and grated coconut. As with all of Malaysia, laksa is immensely popular with locals. This rice noodle soup boasts an impressive list of ingredients and is usually eaten with chopsticks.

Make sure to visit the food hawker centre in Chinatown early in your visit to Terengganu. Once you’ve had the pleasure of a quick bite here, you’re sure to come back again and again. The Batu Buruk Food Centre is another good place to find tasty snacks like fried ice cream with local flair. There’s a weekend night market on the adjacent waterfront where various vendors also sell snacks.

Terengganu is surprisingly rich in shopping options, most of which centre on handicraft items like batik and traditional Malay clothing. Wood carving, basket weaving and metal work are also traditional pursuits that feed the local economy. Every major town along the coastline has its own weekend or night market—each specialising in its own product.

The Malaysia Handicraft Centre, near the Floating Mosque, deals in a variety of local handicrafts. While this is a great place to shop for gifts and souvenirs, it doubles as a sort of candid artists’ workshop where you can watch crafts men and women weaving songket (fabric with gold filigree), detailing batik-work and weaving baskets. Products ranging from clothing and jewellery to home furnishings created using traditional techniques.

In the smaller villages around Terengganu, artisans work with brass and other metals. Intricately-detailed candle stands and vases are popular items. If you prefer to shop closer to the capital, check out the Wanisma Craft and Trading centre where you can watch artisans working with brass as well as batik. There’s an adjoining marketplace that sells finished products; bargaining is expected here.

Woodwork is also widely available in Terengganu, with local wood products exhibiting meticulous workmanship. While handicraft centres are a good place to peruse traditional carvings, many of the woodworkers prefer to deal directly with customers.

For the most comprehensive shopping experience, take a stroll through one of the many outdoor markets. These popular shopping centres usually convene at weekends and offer anything from traditional clothing and handicrafts to fresh seafood.

Terengganu’s pristine interior is an ideal place for outdoor activities. The region holds plenty of freshwater streams and waterfalls, all set against old forests that haven’t been subjected to as much logging as other parts of Malaysia. Tasik Kenyir is the largest manmade lake in Southeast Asia, and the resort here draws tourists during every season. Jungle trekking, river rafting and mountain biking are all avid pursuits in the backcountry.

Cycling
Cycling is an excellent way to explore the small coastal villages that fan out from Kuala Terengganu. The roads in this part of the state are sealed and fairly flat. The most popular route travels north from Chukai to Kuala Besut, passing through many rustic towns and small villages along the way. Heading to the interior mountains, roads are much rougher and beckon mountain biking enthusiasts from around the world. Bicycles and equipment can be rented from any of the major cities, and travel agencies can help you arrange an itinerary. Terengganu has been a featured leg in the Tour de Langkawi cycling competition.

Rafting
Rafting is an excellent way to escape into Terengganu’s natural surroundings. Rafts are typically made with long pieces of bamboo fixed together. Passengers stand while riding the raft and a long bamboo oar is used to navigate the bends in the river. This pleasant retreat into nature is best undertaken during the monsoon season, when a multitude of travel agencies and hotels can arrange rafting activities for large and small groups alike. Most of these tours head to Pasir Raja Forest Reserve or Kenyir Lake.

Trekking
More than half of Terengganu’s land area is covered in forests, and many of these hold some worthwhile treks. The most primitive treks are found on some of the outlying islands, while inland Lake Kenyir has a nice mix of novice and advanced trails. Parks like La Hot Spring and Sekayu are fully equipped with shelters, BBQ pits and parking facilities for those who’d rather not stray too far from the creature comforts of life. All of these areas see an even mix of travellers on guided tours and independent hikers. Those who opt against hiring a guide are strongly advised to check in with a tourism information office for up-to-date trail information before setting out.