I have been to Tanjung Simpang Mengayau in Kudat before, and I also recorded a video there for my YouTube channel.
What I remember most is the sea.
When the weather is good, the water around the area can look very blue, especially when viewed from the higher ground near the Tip of Borneo monument. The coastline is open, windy and quite different from the busier beaches closer to Kota Kinabalu.
Tanjung Simpang Mengayau is located at the northern tip of Borneo, in Kudat, Sabah.
Most visitors know it simply as the Tip of Borneo.
This is also the area where the South China Sea meets the Sulu Sea, which makes the place interesting not only because of the scenery but also because of its location.
For someone visiting Sabah for the first time, I think it is one of those places worth seeing at least once.
Getting There from Kota Kinabalu
From Kota Kinabalu, the distance is about 215 kilometres.
The journey normally takes around three and a half hours by car, sometimes longer depending on traffic, road conditions and how often you stop along the way.
The drive takes you north through areas such as Tuaran and Kota Belud before continuing towards Kudat.
From Kudat town, Simpang Mengayau is still roughly another 30 kilometres away.
For local visitors with their own vehicle, the trip is quite straightforward.
For overseas tourists, I think renting a car is probably the easiest option.
It gives you more freedom because you can stop in Kudat town, visit other places nearby and decide how long you want to stay at Simpang Mengayau.
A private tour or hired vehicle is another option.
Public transport is possible in the wider Kudat area, but getting directly to Simpang Mengayau can be less convenient, especially for someone who does not know the area.
This is one thing I think should be improved.
A regular shuttle or minibus service from Kudat town to Simpang Mengayau would make the place much easier for independent tourists.
The Beach and the Sea Are the Main Attractions
The biggest attraction here is not a building.
It is the natural surroundings.
The coastline is beautiful, and on a clear day the sea can be very blue.
Pantai Kalampunian is nearby, with a long stretch of sand and open sea.
You can walk along the beach, take photos, sit near the water or simply enjoy the wind coming from the sea.
At the Tip of Borneo itself, most visitors will stop at the monument for photos.
From there, you can walk towards the rocky point and look out across the sea.
For me, the view is much more interesting than the monument itself.
The monument tells you where you are.
The sea is what makes you stay.
Stay Until Sunset if You Can
If you have enough time, I would recommend staying until sunset.
The place changes in the late afternoon.
The strong daylight becomes softer, the sea looks different and the whole area becomes more relaxed.
This is also a good time for photography and video.
When I visited, that open view towards the horizon was one of the things that made the place memorable.
It does not need many artificial attractions.
The natural setting already does most of the work.
There Are Places to Stay
Visitors do not necessarily need to drive back to Kota Kinabalu on the same day.
There are accommodation options around the area and more choices in Kudat town.
If you are coming from overseas, staying one night would make the trip less tiring.
You can visit the Tip of Borneo in the afternoon, stay for sunset, sleep nearby and continue exploring Kudat the next morning.
That is much better than spending most of the day driving and then rushing back before dark.
The People and the Local Area
The area around Kudat is also interesting because of its local communities.
This is one of the main areas associated with the Rungus people of Sabah.
If visitors have more time, I think they should explore beyond Simpang Mengayau.
There are villages, beaches, local handicrafts, longhouses and other small attractions around Kudat.
The people are generally friendly, and the atmosphere is much quieter than Kota Kinabalu.
That is part of the appeal.
You are not only visiting a tourist spot.
You are also seeing a different side of Sabah.
The Place Still Needs Better Facilities
This is where I think more work is needed.
Simpang Mengayau already has the scenery.
What it needs now is better support for visitors.
Clean public toilets should be a basic requirement.
The same goes for public shower facilities, especially because many visitors spend time at the beach.
It is not enough to simply have a toilet building.
It needs to be clean, maintained and usable.
Transport is another issue.
A tourist who arrives in Kudat without a car should be able to get to Simpang Mengayau easily.
A scheduled minibus or shuttle service would help.
Taxi services could also be organised more clearly, with standard fares and proper pickup points.
Food choices could be improved too.
There are places to eat, but I think the area could support more restaurants and small cafes, especially if the goal is to encourage visitors to stay longer.
A supermarket or a well-stocked general store nearby would also be useful for people staying overnight.
More Attractions, but Not Too Much Development
I do think Simpang Mengayau could have more attractions.
But development should be done carefully.
The last thing I would want to see is the place becoming crowded with large buildings that block the view or make the coastline feel commercial.
A better idea would be smaller attractions that suit the area.
For example, a proper visitor centre could explain the geography of the Tip of Borneo, the meeting of the two seas, the history of Kudat and the culture of the Rungus community.
A small local handicraft centre would also make sense.
So would a viewing platform, information gallery or cultural space managed by local people.
These types of facilities would give visitors more to do without changing the character of the place.
Kudat Could Benefit More
Simpang Mengayau has the potential to bring more visitors into the Kudat area.
The important thing is to make sure visitors do not only arrive, take one photo and leave.
If people stay overnight, eat locally, use local transport and visit other nearby attractions, more of the tourism income stays in the district.
That would benefit accommodation operators, food sellers, drivers, handicraft makers and local communities.
For me, that is the direction that makes sense.
Would I Go Again?
Yes.
I would go again.
Not because Simpang Mengayau has a long list of things to do.
It does not.
I would go because the place is open, quiet and beautiful.
The beach is attractive.
The sea is impressive.
The sunset can be very good.
And there is something satisfying about standing at the northern tip of Borneo and looking out across the water.
The place already has what many tourist destinations are trying to create artificially.
It has a good location and a strong identity.
What it needs now is better maintenance, better transport, cleaner facilities and more useful services for visitors.
If those things improve without spoiling the coastline, Simpang Mengayau could become an even better destination than it is today.
