Friday, 24th April 2026

Depart Hotel: 8:15am
Return: about 5:00pm

Travel about 25 minutes west of Sandakan, to visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre where the orangutangs are prepared for introduction back into the wild. Walk along the boardwalk through the jungle and look out for these amazing animals. Arrive at the ‘Nursery’ where you will see firsthand, mothers and babies undergoing their daily routine. Next door, visit the Sun Bear Conservation Centre and observe the smallest of the bear species.

Return to Sandakan late morning and have lunch (own expense) at the English Tea House. Perched on the side of a hill with spectacular views overlooking Sandakan, this colonial style restaurant serves a mix of English and Asian delights.

After lunch, walk next door and visit the Agnes Keith House, a museum dedicated to this famous American author who wrote about life in British North Borneo. Continue your local tour of Sandakan observing places of interest such as the stilt houses at Sim-Sim Water Village, the Puh Jih Shi Buddhist Temple.

Arrive at the Sandakan Memorial Park, the site of the Sandakan POW Camp in WWII and where the Anzac Day Dawn Service will take place the following day. Use this time free of crowds, to walk around this lush and serene park seeing relics that still exist today. Visit the park’s Interpretive Pavilion which tells the story of the camp and the infamous death marches.

Return to your hotel but on the way, visit St Michael’s and All Angels Church and discover the magnificent stain glass Windows of Remembrance and the Friendship Windows before having a moment of quiet reflection in the POW Chapel. Your evening is free.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Livingston Hotel (or similar)

Saturday, 25th April 2026

Depart Hotel: 4:15am
Return: 8:15am

Travel to the Sandakan Memorial Park for the moving Anzac Day Dawn Service. After, attend the Gunfire Breakfast and mingle with other Anzac Day travelers, before leaving at about 8:00am to return to your hotel.

Depart Hotel: 11:30am
Arrive Hotel (Kota Kinabalu): 3:30pm

Check-out in time for your transfer to the airport for your afternoon flight to Kota Kinabalu. Arrive at Kota Kinabalu where you will be transferred to your hotel. With the early start to the day, the rest of your day is free.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Grandis Hotel, Kota Kinabalu (or similar)

Sunday, 26th April 2026

Depart Hotel: 8:00am
Return: about 5:00pm

Depart your hotel but before leaving Kota Kinabalu, visit the Australian Armed Forces Memorial which commemorates the role that Australian Forces played in the liberation of Borneo in WWII.

Leave Kota Kinabalu on your day trip to Ranau, to learn more on the tragic story of the infamous Sandakan Death Marches. About 90 minutes into your journey, visit the Kundasang War Memorial. Established in 1962 and nestled in the highlands of Kundasang below Mt Kinabalu, this memorial was one of the first to honour those who perished during the death marches. Comprising of four interconnecting gardens – the Australian Garden, the British Garden, the Borneo Garden and the Contemplation Garden and Pool – each symbolises the peace that the POWs never found. A black marble Memorial Wall lists the names of all the POWs who died at Sandakan, on the marches and at Ranau.

Another 25 minutes on, arrive at Ranau, the destination of the death marches. Only about half the POWs who left Sandakan arrived at Ranau. The others had died along the route, from starvation, disease or execution, and their bodies left where they fell. Visit the 1st POW Campsite Memorial and beside it, the Cleary Monument which honours Gunner Albert Cleary who was brutally bashed by the Japanese and later died of his injuries.

Have lunch (own expense) at Sabah Tea Plantation, close to the march route.

After lunch, visit Quailey’s Hill, a memorial to another POW killed by the Japanese before travelling the short distance to the Last POW Campsite Memorial which commemorates the tragic end of the death marches.

Return to Kota Kinabalu late afternoon and your hotel. Your evening is free.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Grandis Hotel, Kota Kinabalu (or similar)

Monday, 27th April 2026

Depart Hotel: 4:15am
Return: 6:30pm

Transfer to the airport and your early morning flight to Labuan. On arrival at Labuan, meet your guide and, with the early start, go for breakfast (own expense) at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, visit the Labuan War Cemetery and Labuan Memorial. Take time for a moment of quiet reflection and walk amongst the rows of graves. Perhaps find the grave or memorial listing of someone of interest to you.

Continue about 10 minutes, to the west coast of Labuan and visit the Surrender Point Memorial. Here, on the 9th September 1945, Major General George F Wootten, Commander of the Australian 9th Division formally accepted the unconditional Japanese surrender to end the war in Borneo.

Have lunch (own expense) at a local restaurant and then visit St Anne’s School. The school was occupied by the Japanese during WWII and was liberated by the Australians who are held in great esteem by the locals and the school, even to this day.

Return to the airport about mid-afternoon, to meet your return flight to Kota Kinabalu.

Hotel: Grandis Hotel, Kota Kinabalu (or similar)

Tuesday, 28th April 2026

Your day is free until your driver arrives to take you to the airport to meet your outbound flight from Kota Kinabalu.

Meals: Breakfast