These are five running spots in Kuching, plus three parks for walking. It isn’t an exhaustive list, only the places I’ve tried myself.
One thing first. Local Kuchingites often run on the roads very early, around 4am or 5am, for example on the road towards the airport. I wouldn’t recommend it. Pavements are few and far between here, and you often end up running beside cars that may not give you the space or distance to run safely.
Where Are the Best Running Spots in Kuching?
The five spots below run from the roads around Saradise to the forest tracks at Sama Jaya. You can run at any time of day, but the general rule here is to go before the sun is fully up, from about 5am to 7am, or from about 6pm onwards.
Saradise
- Location: The Saradise business district off Jalan Stutong. You can run all around it, and people often run behind Saradise and along the roads to and from Borneo International School. I don’t know the road names, and everyone I know just calls the running area “Saradise”.
- Best times to go running: Early morning before work, or at night once the sun has gone down. The area is open, so there is zero shade. The road to Borneo International School is the school’s access road, and it gets very busy with cars at morning drop-off.
- Easy parking: Use the parking around the Saradise shoplots.
- Terrain type: Mostly flat, on wide, well-lit pavements.
The Waterfront
- Location: Jalan Main Bazaar, along the Sarawak River. The Waterfront promenade runs about 1.5km, with toilets, benches and a food kiosk on the way. It isn’t a running track, so expect walkers to share it with you.
- Best times to go running: From about 5am to 7am, or from about 6pm onwards. Midday is hot and quiet, and weekends can be quite busy.
- Easy parking: There are car parks along the waterfront.
- Terrain type: Flat riverside promenade.
Around the Northbank Area
- Location: The NorthBank, a 123-acre riverside township off the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway. It has parks, lakes, jogging tracks and a riverfront promenade.
- Best times to go running: From about 5am to 7am, or from about 6pm onwards.
- Easy parking: Use the parking around the township’s shops.
- Terrain type: Jogging tracks and a riverfront promenade.
Sama Jaya Forest Park
- Location: Lorong Setia Raja 14A, Taman Rimba, about 10 minutes’ drive from the city centre. It has two jogging tracks, one of 870m and one of 1,600m, plus a fitness area.
- Best times to go running: Soon after it opens at 7am, or in the late afternoon before it closes at 6pm. The usual 5am start and 6pm start don’t work here because of the park’s hours.
- Easy parking: There are car parks on site.
- Terrain type: A mix of hills and flat areas through the forest.
Around MBKS
- Location: The MBKS Garden Park, which surrounds the MBKS building in central Kuching. Entry is free.
- Best times to go running: From about 6am to 7am, or from about 6pm onwards.
- Easy parking: There is plenty of parking in the park, and the shaded MBKS car parks are open to the public after office hours.
- Terrain type: Jogging paths loop around a man-made lake.
Where Can You Go for a Walk Instead?
Hui Sing Park
Hui Sing Park sits inside the Hui Sing Garden housing area and has its own car park. It is where many retired folk exercise in the morning, and it gets so busy that most people walk, which makes it unsuitable for running. People are cordial and friendly, and it is typically empty at night.
Friendship Park
Friendship Park, formally the Malaysia-China Friendship Park, is a wide open space with a walking path near Jalan Song. Parking is accessible, but the Jalan Song area often gets busy, so you may hit traffic.
Batu Kawa Riverbank Park
Batu Kawa Riverbank Park is relaxing to walk in, especially at night. Its 15.6 acres of former floodplain were designed to work as a park when dry and to take the river when it rises. After dark, the Sky Window is lit up.