Top things to do in the Cameron Highlands with children

When it comes to family-friendly destinations in Malaysia, the Cameron Highlands should be at the top of your list. This cool, refreshing hill station offers a variety of activities that are perfect for a visit to Cameron Highlands with kids. From tea plantations to lush forests, there’s no shortage of things to do in the Cameron Highlands with your family. Read on to discover the best things to do in Cameron Highlands with children!

Visit tea plantations with children in Cameron Highlands

In the Cameron Highlands, it’s easy to spot the legacy of the colonial past of Malaysia. One of the most evident signs is the abundant tea production. The region is famous for its lush tea plantations, and it’s hard to walk a street without seeing tea or teacups around every corner.

A visit to one of these plantations is a must when you’re in the Cameron Highlands. The most popular plantations belong to BOH. There are two main BOH tea plantations: one is located south of Tanah Rata, while the other, Sungei Palas, lies to the north of Brinchang.

We visited the Sungei Palas plantation. While the surrounding landscape and views over the tea fields were stunning, we expected more from the plantation itself. It felt more like a large restaurant with a viewing platform. It’s also a popular spot, so the area gets quite busy with people not only coming to enjoy the view but also to dine or have tea. You can take a brief factory tour, but we were out in just 5 minutes. It’s also worth noting that you can’t walk through the plantations, although there’s a small area where you can snap a photo between the tea plants.

Despite not living up to expectations, it’s still worth stopping to enjoy the views over the tea fields. Especially when traveling with small children, it’s perfectly fine to keep your visit to the tea plantations in Cameron Highlands short.

Cameron Highlands Mossy Forest with kids

A trip to Sungei Palas pairs nicely with a visit to the Mossy Forest, which is located nearby. This forest, sitting about 2000 meters above sea level near Gunung Brinchang (the second-highest mountain in the Cameron Highlands), gets its name from the thick moss that blankets the forest floor. The high altitude and frequent misty weather contribute to this lush, damp environment.

The Mossy Forest is a fantastic spot to visit with children in the Cameron Highlands. A well-maintained wooden boardwalk allows you to explore the forest easily. You must stay on the path, as venturing off-trail isn’t allowed. For younger children, a baby carrier is a must, as the path has many steps. The walk is short—around half an hour—and there are several platforms and a lookout tower offering panoramic views. That said, weather conditions are unpredictable. When we arrived, it was clear, but within minutes, thick mist rolled in, giving the forest an eerie, magical atmosphere.

Hiking routes in the Cameron Highlands

Thanks to its higher elevation, the Cameron Highlands enjoy a much milder climate compared to the rest of Malaysia. With average temperatures around 23°C, it’s a perfect place for outdoor activities like hiking. However, the weather can change quickly, so don’t forget to pack a poncho.

The Cameron Highlands offer several hiking routes, though not all are open year-round. Popular trails include route number 4 (leading to a waterfall) and route number 10 (which takes you up to Gunung Brinchang near the Mossy Forest). When we visited, both trails were closed, so be sure to check before setting out.

Strawberry picking with kids in the Cameron Highlands

In addition to its tea, the Cameron Highlands is also famous for its strawberries. You’ll find strawberries for sale at almost every market, and many (lunch) restaurants or coffee shops feature strawberry-themed items on their menus, like milkshakes or cheesecakes.

There are many strawberry farms in the area, and they’re a big part of the landscape—greenhouses dot the horizon. Some farms in the Cameron Highlands allow visitors to pick their own strawberries, a fun activity to do with kids. You’ll be given a basket and scissors to collect the berries. We visited Raaju’s Hill Strawberry Farm, but there are several other farms where you can do the same.

Visit Flora Park in the Cameron Highlands

Besides tea and strawberries, the Cameron Highlands also has its flower-growing culture. This comes to life in Flora Park, located in Kea Farm. This flower park is a major attraction for Asian tourists, and it’s a fantastic spot for snapping Instagram-worthy photos. When we entered, we were surprised to see changing rooms, but soon realized they were for visitors doing photo shoots in traditional or fancy dresses.

Flora Park is filled with various types of flowers, both in the greenhouses and in beautifully landscaped outdoor areas. Several photo spots are set up, and there are also a few restaurants where even the strawberry cheesecake is garnished with edible flowers. To reach Flora Park, you’ll need to park at a lot near the Kea Farm bus station, from where a shuttle (essentially a truck) will take you to the entrance.

Visit the markets of Cameron Highlands

While the markets in the Cameron Highlands are a fun experience, we didn’t find them to be the highlight of the region. Much like the rest of Malaysia, there are several markets in the Cameron Highlands, but they’re quite different from the vibrant night markets you might encounter elsewhere. These markets primarily sell cheaply imported Chinese goods like plastic toys, figurines, and keychains. You’ll also find an array of products related to tea and strawberries. The markets of the Cameron Highlands are interesting to visit with kids, but be prepared for an overload of sensory stimulation.

Child-Friendly accommodations in the Cameron Highlands

Most visitors stay in Tanah Rata, where the majority of hotels and hostels are located, and where long-distance buses stop. Tanah Rata itself isn’t particularly special—its center is essentially a busy main road lined with restaurants and shops. Another town with a fair number of accommodations is Brinchang, but we found that there were few Western tourists outside Tanah Rata. Overall, the Cameron Highlands tend to be more popular among local and Asian tourists.

When planning a stay in the Cameron Highlands with children, there are a few things to keep in mind. In addition to hotels, you can also rent apartments from private owners, though the privately owned apartments in the Cameron Highlands tend to be less modern than those in other destinations in Malaysia. Additionally, the roads connecting the villages and attractions are often congested. While everything is just a few kilometers apart, traffic—especially on weekends—can make getting around time-consuming. We stayed for 3 nights, which seemed reasonable with a young child. In hindsight, 2 nights would have been more than enough.

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