Setiu

Setiu is a district in northern Terengganu, home to the Setiu Wetlands (Tanah Bencah Setiu), a roughly 23,000-hectare complex — the largest natural wetland on Peninsular Malaysia's east coast — that combines nine interconnected ecosystems: sea, beach, mudflat, lagoon, estuary, river, islands, coastal forest, and mangrove forest. Declared Terengganu's first state park in 2018, it is the world's only known site with a viable population of the endangered painted terrapin (Batagur borneoensis), and also supports the river terrapin and green sea turtle. A conservation hatchery and gallery, "Kontena Tuntung," established by WWF-Malaysia and CIMB Islamic, documents the wetlands and terrapin conservation efforts. Kampung Penarik, with the Gong Batu and Pengkalan Gelap access points, is the usual base for wetland visits.

By Plane

Sultan Mahmud Airport (TGG) in Kuala Terengganu is the nearest airport.

By Train

No train service. Terengganu has no mainline railway.

By Car / Road

Setiu is on Highway 3, less than an hour's drive north of Kuala Terengganu.

A car is the most practical way to get around; public transport is limited.

• Setiu Wetlands State Park — mangrove, lagoon, and river ecosystems with boardwalks, staged from Kampung Penarik

• Kontena Tuntung — a hatchery and gallery on painted-terrapin conservation

• Take a boat tour of the wetlands lagoon

• Birdwatch along the boardwalks

• Permaisuri — the district's administrative centre
• Kuala Terengganu — state capital