Port Dickson – A favourite weekend beach getaway for people
Port Dickson or popularly known as PD to locals is a beach and holiday destination situated about 32 km from Seremban and 90 km from Kuala Lumpur. It is located in the state of Negeri Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia. It takes just over an hour by car to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Port Dickson along the North-South Expressway.
History
This small town used to produce charcoal, but it was later developed as a small port by the British during the Strait Settlement period. Port Dickson was also known as Tanjung. In Malay language that means “cape”. The oldest shophouses were the four situated presently at Jalan Lama. There was also a carbon mine at the first mile of the coast road (Jalan Pantai), and therefore Port Dickson was also called “Arang” (charcoal) in the Malay language.
Tin ore was plentiful in Lukut, an area within the Port Dickson district, during the 1820’s, and it attracted Chinese immigrant miners. The British considered the area to have great potential as a harbour. It was intended to supersede the port in Pengkalan Kempas. The in-charge officer’s name was Dickson, and thereafter the town was named Port Dickson. Others claim that Sir John Frederick Dickson founded Port Dickson and Pulau Arang in 1889.
Port Dickson evolved into a busy trading centre. Railways were constructed to facilitate the growth and development of Port Dickson. Although Port Dickson experienced rapid development, the beautiful beaches are fairly well preserved. Now, Port Dickson has become not only a beautiful tourist destination, but a large municipality with about 89,000 residents.
Recent developments
The 18 km extent of beach from Tanjung Gemuk to Tanjung Tuan is a popular holiday destination for visitors coming as far as those from Kuala Lumpur itself. Many Singaporeans have invested in holiday homes in and around Port Dickson.
Back in the late 1990s, Port Dickson went through a boom of hotels and resorts. Some of these projects never took off the ground and the unfinished construction projects can still be seen along the tourist town. However, today, with the economy improving and tourism booming in Malaysia, the projects are being revived.
A new project in Port Dickson is underway to construct the first Hard Rock Hotel in Malaysia.
Attractions
Beaches
There are many beaches coast along Port Dickson. Leisure activities which are available such as water-skiing, canoeing, snorkeling and wind surfing. Please ask at your hotel reception for arrangements to utilise these facilities. If you enjoy sailing, arrange to have temporary membership at the Yacht Club. One of the best things you can do here in Port Dickson is fishing. But due to pollution and development, the fish stocks in Port Dickson has severely depleted. Fishing is now best done of in a boat or in the kelong. Beach fishing is not recommended unless you are looking for ‘ikan keli’ or catfish.
5th Mile(Batu 5) Beach
Beach area that is covered by 4 hotels and chalet and also accessible by public.
Si-Rusa Beaches
3 beaches here,first is at Bayu Beach Resort and second is public beach in front of Petronas, there is Seri Malaysia and Avillion on northside and one more beach is nelayan beach.
Bagan Pinang Beach
The beach is located at 2nd Mile, after the Corus Paradise Hotel from PD Town.
Telok Kemang Beach
The longest beach area in Port Dickson is divided into 3 sections,Beach 1, Beach 2 & Beach 3.
Tanjung Tuan Beach
It’s a cape and it has 2 beaches.
Small Beaches
Pantai Dickson 12th Mile. Telok Pelandok.
Telok Kubur, Kampung Sungai Sekawang
Accessible using Eagle Ranch road.
Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon lies about 15 km from Port Dickson town which provides a breathtaking view of the surrounding greenery and the blue open sea and having fun in the sun. The lagoon is an excellent spot for swimming, boating, wind surfing and water skiing. Accommodation is easily available as many hotels and resortss are located here.
Cape Rachardo (Tanjung Tuan)
The Portuguese built the Cape Rachardo lighthouse in the 16th century. The lighthouse guided ships to the Port of Malacca. It is still operatoinal today. Gong up the narrow spiral staircase and see the panaromic view of the coastline of Sumatra, 38 km across the Straits. The cape is also the stopover point for migratory birds. From September to March, flocks of sparrows, honey buzzards and swifts can be seen here together with hawks and eagles. Walk down the 63 steps next to the lighthouse and follow the jungle trek to a secluded beach. The footprint embedded in a rock, about 50 metre to the right of the track, is said to be that of Hang Tuah, the legendary Malay warrior of the 15th century. Legend has it that upon acquiring innate strength and knowledge, Hang Tuah chose to meditate here. The footprint marks the spot where he first landed at Tanjung Tuan. A well close by whose cool chilled water is a haven for the tired and thirsty, is also said to have been dug by him. Local devotees have known to pay their homage at this spot.
Muzium Tentera Darat @ Army Museum
Located near next to a Malaysian Army Camp Port Dickson Based. This Museum is the latest attraction in Port Dickson. Some vehicles and aircraft previously used by Royal Malaysian Army are on display. There is also a mock Communist Tunnel.
Fort Lukut
Fort Raja Jumaat is about 7 km from Port Dickson. He was a 19th century Bugis warrior. The fort was built in 1847 to control the lucrative tin trade in the area. Today the muzzle loading guns used to defend the fort can be seen within the grounds of the District Officer’s residence and outside the Police Station in town. In the area of the fort are also the remains of the foundation of an old palace and a royal burial ground.
Fort Kempas
About 23 km from the lighthouse, there is a small village called Keramat Ujung Pasir. Here you will find a 15th century tomb of a leading historical personality, Ulama Sheikh Ahmad Makhtum, with its famous carved megalith. Next his grave are the famous stone inscriptions or “Batu Bersurat” which depict his struggle and victory. The enigma surrounding the stone remains unsolved to this day. Of special interest is the ‘ordeal stone’, an ancient lie-detector, through which a person puts his arm when answering questions. If he lies, the stone tightens like a vice.
Restaurants
For those who are into gastronomic activities, one can get the taste of the hot and spicy local cuisine. There’s fish cooked in thick gravy of coconut milk and the killer’s cili padi’s- guaranteed to make your mouth and eyes smart. One can try the rendang (beef cooked with coconut milk and a rich assortment of spices). This is normally eaten with ‘Lemang’ – glutinous rice cooked in bamboo. Few famous restaurants are ‘Seaview’ along Jalan Pantai, ‘Curry house’ along Jalan Pantai as well. ‘Mak Mah’ next to Shell gate entrance, ‘Restaurant SN Mohhamad’ in Port Dickson town area next to the post office and many more. Every first Saturday of the month, there is a night market in Port Dickson Town, which is full of different variety food and fruits.Beside that,’Country home’ also a very famous restaurant in Lukut which famous with its delicious foods.The Famous PD Eating Point is popular with Chinese and western delicious.In Port Dickson also you all cannot miss to try Nasi Lemak stall known as ‘Wak Rahman’ consider as one of the most famous nasi lemak stall there.If you go to town side there is a bunch or restaurants choices waiting such as Restoran Abu Bakar, SN Mohammad and a lot out there. Marketplace is another interesting food festival in Port Dickson at which you are exposed to variety of foods ranging from Chinese, Indian, Malay and international cuisine. Among the famous and well known is home made Putu Mayam sold by Abdul Rahman bin K. Ismail, the founder and owner of Bismi Putu Mayam. Don’t miss to try out the delicious homemade Putu Mayam by Bismi Putu Mayam. These Putu Mayam are also available for orders for many functions and gathering.The famous fish head curry restaurant, the popular restaurant and number one in Negeri Sembilan “Restoran Deen Berjaya” by Alaudin bin Samad, it’s located in Port Dickson town, so don’t miss to try it out.
Accommodation
There are numerous resorts, hotels, villas and bungalows which have sprung up along the coast, providing a variety of accommodation facilities.There are at least 20 hotel above 3 stars in Port Dickson.
- Ancasa Resort Apartment
- Avillion Village Resort
- Bayu Beach Resort
- Casa Rachado Resort
- Corus Paradise Resort
- Desa Lagoon Resort
- Duta Villa Gulf Resort
- Duta Hacienda Riviera Resort
- Eagle Ranch Resort
- Glory Beach Resort
- Guoman Resort
- Ilham Resort
- LE Paris Resort
- Ris Beach Hotel
- Selesa Beach Resort
- Seri Malaysia Hotel
- Sunshine Bay Resort
- The Legend Water Chalet
- The Regency Tanjung Tuan Beach Resort
- Tiara Beach Hotel
How to get there
Port Dickson is a gazetted entry point for Malaysia, used mainly for ferries from Dumai.
By road
Port Dickson is well-linked to the rest of Peninsular Malaysia by roads.
The Seremban-Port Dickson Highway (E3) links Port Dickson with Seremban and directly onto the North-South Expressway (E2) which spans the length of Peninsular Malaysia. For Port Dickson town, you should exit at the Lukut interchange (Exit 316) while those heading to the beach resorts south of town can continue either to Si Rusa or the end of the highway near the hospital at Teluk Kemang. To access the Seremban-Port Dickson Highway from the North-South Expressway, exit at the Port Dickson interchange (Exit 219) between Seremban and Senawang interchanges.
Port Dickson is on Federal Route 5 or the Coastal Trunk Road, linking it to Malacca to the south, and Klang to the north.
Port Dickson is 32km from Seremban, 60km from Kuala Lumpur, 60km from Malacca and 320km from Singapore.
By bus
Frequent buses – both direct express which use the highway and local which use the old toll-free road – link Port Dickson with Seremban. Travel time is about one hour and cost RM2.50. If coming from other parts of Malaysia, the easiest way by bus will be to travel via Seremban.
Local buses also link Port Dickson with Sungai Pelek in Sepang district in Selangor, where there are connections to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. To the south, local buses go to Pengkalan Kempas and Tanjung Agas (these buses actually go right up to Kuala Linggi in Malacca) where there are connections to Malacca city.
By train
Although Port Dickson has a rail link, there are no longer any train services. The nearest train station is in Seremban which can be easily reached from Kuala Lumpur. You have to catch a bus or taxi from Seremban to Port Dickson.
By boat
Daily ferries connect Port Dickson with Dumai in Sumatra, Indonesia. The Acob Express (Jetty office Tel: +6(06)6471599) leaves from the jetty in the middle of town at 1030. Return trips depart Dumai at 1300. Tickets cost RM80/150 one-way/return.