Piasau Nature Reserve
Miri, Sarawak

park entrance and admin block

Piasau Nature Reserve in Miri is located on a narrow peninsula of land with Sungai Miri on one side and the South China Sea on the other. It was previously known as Piasau Camp.

History of Piasau Camp

The Shell oil company has been active in Miri since 1910 when Malaysia's first oil well was discovered on Canada Hill. In the 1950s Shell developed Piasua Camp to accommodate senior staff and at its peak it had 250 residences , a club called the Piasau Boat Club and an international school. Now the area has been given over to Piasua Nature Reserve with the aim of bringing back the rainforest and restoring and conserving its flora and fauna. With this aim various zones within the reserve have been created such as the Mixed Species Garden, the Ficus Garden, the Piasau Garden, the Herbal Garden, and the Fruit Tree Garden.

former Shell bungalowA few of the former Shell employee bungalows still stand while others have been demolished and their plots are being slowly reclaimed by the jungle.

Visitors can wander around the reserve on tarmac roads and on three short trails - the Community Trail, The Jimmy Trail (370m) and the Juliet Trail (97m). If you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of the Reserve's most famous residents, the hornbills. (The must have been having a siesta break during our visit because we failed to spot them.)

beware of snakes signWatch where you are treading!

Piasau's Hornbill Family

A pair of Oriental Pied hornbills were resident at Piasau since 2005, fondly known as Jimmy and Faridah. They had produced 56 offspring before Faridah was killed by poachers in 2013. The outcry resulting from the death of Faridah was the catalyst for the creation of Piasau Nature Reserve and for the area to be declared a Totally Protected Area. Following Faridah's death Jimmy acquired a new mate called Juliet and together they have produced 7 offspring from 4 nesting cycles.

stuffed Oriental Pied hornbill

Role of Hornbills in Sarawak Culture

The Interpretation Centre at the Reserve explains how Hornbills are an important cultural symbol for the people of Sarawak especially the Dayak communities as they allegedly signify the spirit of their God and must be treated with respect. Sarawak is of course known as the Land of the Hornbills and the Rhinoceros Hornbill features on the State's Crest.

The Beach & Piasau Boat Club

Piasau Boat Club

We had a pleasant lunch at the Piasua Boat Club Restaurant and enjoyed the refreshing breeze coming in off the South China Sea. Non-members are welcome.

offshore oil rig

From the restaurant's terrace we could see an oil platform (or gas?) on the horizon, the source of much of Sarawak's wealth.

Review Verdict

This is a good project. It stands on prime real estate so it is commendable that it has been designated a Totally Protected Area.

The beach is nice too but rough seas and probably not safe for swimming.

Bring insect repellent.

beach at Piasau Nature Reserve

Opening Hours & Admission Charges

Open daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm


Ticket Prices

Free of charge.

Just sign in the register.

How To Get to Piasau Nature Reserve

The exact location is marked on this map:

Free car park.

You can read more about Piasau Nature Reserve on the official Sarawak Forestry Corporation website.

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AUTHOR BIO

the author

David (the one on the left) is the writer behind Malaysia Traveller, sharing first-hand travel advice from over five decades of living and travelling across Asia and the Middle East. Based in Malaysia since 2009 and now in Kuching, he has published over 790 pages on this website, personally visited every place he covers, and uses only his own photos. Readers can learn more on his About Me page. He also shares updates on Facebook and YouTube. He loves uncovering overlooked places that even some Malaysians have never visited.