Things to Do in Johor Bahru
Laser Battle Johor Bahru (near Malaysia’s border with Singapore) is one of the largest laser tag venues in Asia and offers a wide range of arenas and game modes. The popular venue’s laser guns are technologically advanced, offering tournament features that make the game even more fun for large groups and special occasions.
The Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque is the state mosque of Johor state in Malaysia; it is located just a few miles north of the Singaporean border. Sitting atop a prominent hill overlooking the Straight of Johor, the mosque was commissioned in 1900 by Sultan Abu Bakar; he was a highly respected monarch, widely referred to as the “Father of Modern Johor” by both his people and the international community.
The architect, Tuan Haji Mohamed Arif bin Punak, was largely inspired by English Victorian architecture, going as far as designing the unusually large four minarets in the shape of 19th century British clock towers – in fact, several other monuments in the area were built in similar fashion. But he also integrated pieces of foreign architecture as well, such as Moorish tile works and Malay features, in order to reflect the diversity of the local population.
The mosque can accommodate 2,000 worshippers at once and is commonly recognized as one of the most beautiful old mosques in Malaysia, thanks to its white-washed towers and ornate yet modest interior. It therefore doesn’t come as a surprise that the mosque is now listed as a protected heritage monument by the Malaysian Department of Museums and Antiquities. The mosque is also surrounded by a lovely garden filled with frangipani trees.
Tailored specifically to families, Thomas Town can be a fun-filled way to spend a day in Puteri Harbour—whether or not your kids are familiar with the park’s namesake Thomas the Tank Engine. Here you’ll find themed rides suitable for young children, such as Bertie the Bus, Harold’s Helitours, and the Colin Crane Drop, while daily live shows feature characters such as Bob the Builder, Barney the Dinosaur, and Pingu.
More than just a water park, Austin Heights Water & Adventure Park is a 3-in-1 park. A rope course with seven levels and over 50 obstacles delivers adventure. Slides, wave pools, boomerangs, and racer bowls form the water-park element. Go-karts, synthetic ice skating, and the Jump Street trampoline zone make up the leisure section.
Cool off and enjoy water play at Dinosaurs Alive Water Theme Park in Johor Bahru. Located at the KSL Hotel & Resort, the water park features several pools, waterslides, and other water features, along with animatronic dinosaurs ranging from a 2-foot (0.6-meter) compsognathus to an 85-foot (26-meter) brachiosaurus.
Conveniently located inside the Komtar JBCC shopping mall, Johor Bahru’s Angry Birds Activity Park is a small-scale attraction with activities suited to children from preschool age to tweens. Kids can play at the video-game console, clamber over the pirate ship play structure, and drop onto a giant air mattress, while parents relax in the lounge.