Tasik Biru Bau, translated as “Blue Lake,” is the centrepiece of the small town of Bau. Formerly an open-pit mine, the crater was flooded in the 1970s, spurring its transformation into today’s tourist hub. Located 35km (45-minute drive) from Kuching, Tasik Biru Bau offers family-friendly fun with boat rides and lakeside food stalls.
How to Get to Tasik Biru Bau
E-hailing
The quickest way to Bau is to use the Grab app. We had no trouble getting a Grab car in Kuching to take us to Bau, but it took about 10 minutes of searching to get a Grab back to Kuching at 5:30 pm. The ride cost us around RM55 per way and took about 45 minutes.
Bus
A much cheaper alternative is to take the Q08 Bus from Kuching to Bau. The bus fare is RM3.90, and payment can be cashless with PayWave. The bus boards at Kuching’s “Stesen Bas Saujana” at the corner of Jalan Gartak and Jalan Masjid. The journey takes an hour.
The Bau Bus Terminal is the final stop on the route, so there’s no missing it. The drop-off is about 700m northeast of Tasik Biru Bau, so you’ll have to walk for ten minutes to get to the lake. The first bus leaving Kuching is at 6 am, with the last bus leaving Bau as early as 8 pm. During our visit, the bus ran on the hour every 60 minutes, but check the official Sarawak government website for the latest schedule.
Admission Price & Opening Hours of Tasik Biru Bau
Tasik Biru Bau itself is free and open 24 hours. The lake is not behind a gate or anything. The boat excursions and floating bridge close at 5 pm, however.
What to Do at Tasik Biru Bau
There are three main activities at Tasik Biru Bau.
Walk the Floating Bridge – RM10 adult / RM5 child (under 12)
The blue floating bridge spanning the widest length of the lake is probably the first thing visitors see. The plastic tiles bob on the water’s surface, becoming noticeably wobblier as other tourists walk across the bridge. Tasik Biru Bau is home to schools of huge fish, which you can easily spot when peering over the side. You can feed them with bags of fish food sold at the dock. Adult bridge tickets also include a free ice cream, redeemable at the Wedrink Cafe. The cafe is a little far from the ticket hut (past the Golden Lake Tavern), so it’s best to get your complimentary ice cream later.
RM10 may seem like a steep price to walk across a bridge, but for now, this is the only shortcut access to Tasik Biru Tua Pek Kong temple on the opposite bank. You can, of course, take the road, but it’s a looong walk around the lake. After crossing the bridge and navigating through the resort to the road, there’s a big sign next to a set of stairs. The Miner’s Walk is the pedestrian-only route to the hill temple. It’s a whopping 800 steps (almost 3x of Kuala Lumpur’s Batu Caves!) and takes 60 minutes to get up there. Keep in mind that the floating bridge closes at 5 pm on the dock side. If you spend too long at the temple, you’ll have to walk the long way around back to central Bau.
Pedal Boat – RM10 per pax
What’s more idyllic than leisurely paddling around a peaceful lake? You get up to 30 minutes to pedal around the sectioned-off portion of the lake. The best time to do this activity is around noon, when the sun is directly overhead and the boat’s roof can provide shade. Otherwise, you’ll be broiling and have to exercise! Once you’ve finished your pedal boat ride, you can enjoy the floating bridge, which is included in the ticket price.
Boat Ride – RM10 adult / RM5 child (under 12)
Feeling lazy but still want to boat around the lake? This quick 10-15 minute motorboat ride goes across the entirety of the lake, including the small bay to the south. It’s a way to enjoy being on the water with none of the effort, while also enjoying a cool breeze as the boat zooms along. The boat holds about fifteen people, so it’s not a private ride. The ticket price also includes admission to the floating bridge.
Walk the Suspension Bridge – Free
There is also a short suspension bridge across the narrow mouth on the eastern side of the lake. It’s nothing special, but it’s free, and you can watch the motorboats pass underneath. There was a locked gate at the other end, so there’s only one entry and exit point.
What to Eat at Tasik Biru Bau
The food court across from the boat dock is a popular spot with locals. It is the usual, open-air nasi kandar style of eatery serving up mostly Malaysian food.
If you want somewhere more comfortable with air conditioning, head to the plaza on the main road (Jalan Tasik Biru By-Pass). Zus Coffee and Secret Recipe are more western-style cafes where you can order dishes that you recognise. I recommend stopping into The Golden Lake Tavern, a few steps further from the plaza. Not only is this one of the few places to get a beer, but their patio is right on the lake.
Facilities
Although the lake has seen rapid development in recent years, there are no toilet facilities at Tasik Biru Bau yet. The closest washrooms are at the food court across from the boat dock. There are more free public toilets in the food court in the plaza where the Zus Coffee is. My recommendation is to use the washrooms at whichever restaurant you have your food break.
Saturday Worthy?
Tasik Biru Bau is not worth the long drive if you only intend to visit the lake. Though, if you’ve ended up in Bau, chances are that you’re doing the Wind or Fairy Caves. Tasik Biru Bau is a chill way to spend an hour in addition to these attractions. Or you can make an afternoon of it by attempting the climb to Tasik Biru Tua Pek Kong temple.
