Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5

The last time we went to visit the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5, it was just the dredge alone and the visitor center. Now there’s a maze park to further attract visitors.

So is it worth it the long drive out of Ipoh to visit this heritage attraction?

We certainly think so but don’t just take our word for it – here are some photos and more details on what you can do here!

Table Of Contents:

History Of Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5

In case you missed it, Perak’s relative earlier development (compared to neighboring states) is owed to the area’s rich tin deposits.

Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 (TT5)
Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 (TT5) – Photo by Travelswithsun

These were highly sought after back in the 19th century tin rush.

And to get the tin out of the earth, massive tin mining dredges were imported overseas and assembled in Malaysia.

Perak had many such dredges (more than 120), but Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5 is the last of its kind. It is still standing after almost 50 years of operation (operations ceased in August 1982) and many years of neglect after.

Today, the dredge is managed by Menteri Besar Incorporated Perak (MB Inc.) and it is part of the Kinta Valley National Geopark.

You can learn a lot more about the dredge when you visit it in person as there are many information boards as well as guided tours that will take you onto the dredge itself!

The Back Of The Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
The Back Of The Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

Location Of Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5

As per the name, Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5 is located close to Tanjung Tualang in Batu Gajah, Perak. This is approximately a 45-minute drive out of Ipoh.

Tanjung Tualang is famous for seafood restaurants (particularly large head freshwater prawns) so many visitors choose to make a day trip that includes a visit to the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5, followed by lunch (or dinner) at one of the restaurants.

If you don’t have your own transport, give local tour service, RayTheTour a message on their WhatsApp (+60 16-329 8342) as it is possible to include the tin dredge and Tanjung Tualang as part of an Ipoh day tour.

Entrance Fee & Tickets For Guided Tours

Tickets can be purchased just inside the visitor center right after you enter the gate. They stop selling tickets after 5:15pm. Although the stated opening hours for Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5 is from 9am to 6pm.

There is the option to just visit the park and not go for the guided tours. And as usual, there are different prices for Malaysians and non-Malaysians.

Entering the TT5 Tin Dredge
Entering the TT5 Tin Dredge – Photo by Travelswithsun

Note that you cannot enter the dredge unless you take the dredge tour and have a guide with you. It’s also compulsory to wear a hard hat inside the dredge.

Nationality Category Entrance Fee Dredge Tour
Malaysian (MyKad holder) Adult RM8 RM10
Kid/ Senior RM8 RM5
Infant (below 2 years old) Free Free
Non-Malaysian Adult RM15 RM20
Kid/ Senior RM15 RM10
Infant (below 2 years old) Free Free

Timing For The Guided Tours

There are specific slots throughout the day for guided tours (i.e., hourly). And you can call them (+6014-904 3255) to book a slot.

Booking is necessary for weekends and public holidays as they do have limited slots for the tours.

Slots: 9:30am, 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm, 4:30pm

Tours can take up to 40 minutes and are typically conducted in Malay.

Facilities At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5

There are a number of facilities at Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5.

Most of the park is flat so strollers and wheelchairs can possibly access the park, just maybe not the dredge itself which has a few levels and is narrow in paces.

Visitor Center At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5

The visitor center doesn’t have much in it aside from one bench, the main counter where you can get tickets as well as fish food for RM2/ pack and souvenirs like t-shirts, etc.

Visitor Center At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No5
Visitor Center At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

Only staff can access the back portion of the building.

However, there are some informative exhibits and posters on the walls. A small panning station and some tin mining artefacts are available for visitors to examine (some are not for touching).

Ticket Counter At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No5
Ticket Counter At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

Do check out the diagrams that show the full structure of the dredge!

On-site Café (The Can Tin)

This outdoor café functions out of an old railcar (we think the name is very appropriate for the small cafe given that the site has tin history too) with many tables and chairs at either side of it.

On Site Cafe Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
On Site Cafe Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

Some of these tables overlook the clear and small manmade stream that cuts across part of the park. There are fans and cold drinks if you want some respite from the afternoon heat.

Manmade Stream At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Manmade Stream At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

Although you can also take your drink around to enjoy elsewhere around the park. Just be sure throw the trash in the provided bins throughout the park.

Other Facilities At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5

  • Parking – There is plenty of parking in the compound just in front of the park; only a few spots get shade, but there is no parking fee
  • Toilets – We only saw one toilet block in the whole park, and these between the café and chicken coops. They are in a good state albeit partially outdoors.
  • Benches – Anyone who needs a break or who just wants to admire the scenery can do so at almost every corner of the park as there are numerous benches around.
  • Kids Playground – While small, there is a very lovely kids playground overlooking the water hyacinth-filled lake.
Playground At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Playground At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

Things To Do At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5

1. Go For The Guided Tours

This is a must if it’s your first time visiting the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5! It’s really cool to be able to see the dredge up close. And the tours themselves are interesting.

We’ve been on the tour before and highly recommend it! The friendly guides will share how the dredge works as well as interesting fun facts about it.

2. Walk Around The Dredge

You can’t fully appreciate the size and engineering ingenuity of the tin dredge without seeing it from every angle.

So take advantage of the well-lit and even concrete path that goes all around the lake where the tin dredge is!

Another Angle Of The Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Another Angle Of The Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

3. Feed Fish

There is fish in the stream by the on-site cafe as well as in the lake surrounding the dredge. The numerous fish in the lake are very hungry and you can purchase fish food from the counter at the visitor center to feed them.

Hungry Fish At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Hungry Fish At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

4. Chill By A Stream

After walking around the park, there’s nothing more refreshing than having a cool drink and a rest under the shade of trees!

5. Feed Goats

A small herd of goats can be seen roaming around the park. They cannot access certain areas because of the double-gate systems in place.

Wandering Goats At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No5
Wandering Goats At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

You can feed them if you wish too. However, the goat pellets are different from fish food, and these can be purchased from the café for RM3/ pack.

The goats are not afraid of humans but are not invasive or threatening either. They are very content to munch on grass and keep to themselves if you don’t have any food for them.

6. See Chickens & Rabbits

Besides goats, there are small chickens housed in two wooden coops not far from the toilets.

Rabbit Enclosure And Maze At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Rabbit Enclosure And Maze At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

As for rabbits, you’ll have to go deep into the maze park to find them.

Rabbits Taking Their Afternoon Nap In Their Hutch At Tanjung Tualang TT5 Maze Park
Rabbits Taking Their Afternoon Nap In Their Hutch At Tanjung Tualang TT5 Maze Park – Photo by Travelswithsun

Overall, we are happy to see that the animals are all in good condition and have very well-tended enclosures with ample space.

7. Get Lost In The Maze Park (Different Maze Sections)

The first maze you will see after going past the tin dredge still needs time to mature, and therefore it’s not impressive.

Entrance To TT5 Maze Park At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Entrance To TT5 Maze Park At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

However, the real maze park is after the café, and the initial stone maze will lead you to other sections (e.g., bamboo, recycled materials, rabbits, Jasmine bushes etc).

Stone Maze Section At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Stone Maze Section At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun
Bamboo Section At The TT5 Maze Park At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Bamboo Section At The TT5 Maze Park At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun
Wall Made Of Glass Bottles And Concrete At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Wall Made Of Glass Bottles And Concrete At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun
Maze Structures Featuring Recycled At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Maze Structures Featuring Recycled At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun
High Jasmine Hedges At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
High Jasmine Hedges At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

You really do get the sense that you are lost in some parts! And if you want to add a mission to your exploration, look for these colorful post boxes!

Hidden Postboxes At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Hidden Postboxes At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

Note: A staff member will pass you a TT5 postcard to put into one of these post boxes and they will even post them out for you too.

8. Learn Some Geography

Early on in the maze (and after the stone section), there’s a huge ivy-covered dome with some rock and mineral exhibits.

It’s quite dark in here but there’s enough light to make out the different rocks they have on display here.

Rock Display Inside The TT5 Maze Park At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Rock Display Inside The TT5 Maze Park At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

9. Admire The Art

Also in the maze park, are some pretty paintings that pay tribute to Perak’s tin mining history.

10. Bird Watch

The larger lake that is next to the tin dredge is full of water hyacinths, but also brogas and herons that are busy catching fish beneath the plants!

Heron Standing Among Hyacinths At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No5
Heron Standing Among Hyacinths At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

11. Take Lots Of Photos

We see dozens of photo opportunities everywhere in the park whether it’s in the maze park, in front of the dredge, or by the lake!

Decor Within The Park At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Decor Within The Park At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun
Old Rail Tracks At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5
Old Rail Tracks At Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 – Photo by Travelswithsun

Conclusion

For the price, we think it’s worth checking out the Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5 and the Maze Park even if the drive to get here is long. Where else are you going to see a tin dredge up close?

Also, there is a lot to do besides the dredge tours. And the beautiful park is well-maintained. If you love nature, taking photos, or reading up on the dredge, expect to spend a few hours here!

Don’t hesitate to add this place to your list of things to do in Ipoh! It’s close to Kinta Nature Park too.

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