Niah’s Great Cave reopens, and the flood detour has become an attraction in itself

Miri, October 5 — The Great Cave of Niah National Park has recently reopened, now featuring a brand new access trail that offers visitors unique views of its limestone and rainforest surroundings. Miri MP and Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Chiew Choon Man revealed that the reopening represents a significant milestone in enhancing Niah’s appeal as a sustainable heritage tourism destination.

The new path was constructed following the severe floods in 2025, which destroyed the original access route between Traders’ Cave and the Great Cave. Chiew believed that the newly constructed 600-metre trail has also unintentionally become an attraction in its own right. He mentioned that visitors now enjoy fresh perspectives of the surrounding limestone massif, rainforest, and mountains, including panoramic views that were previously inaccessible.

The reopening is particularly noteworthy as the Great Cave is an integral part of Niah National Park’s Caves Complex, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024. Chiew emphasized that Niah National Park encapsulates millennia of human history, archaeology, indigenous cultural traditions, abundant biodiversity in the rainforest, and impressive limestone landscapes.

He stressed that investing in the park’s infrastructure is a long-term commitment to both sustainable tourism and preservation of heritage. The upcoming priority is to restore access to the Painted Cave, which remains shut down due to soil erosion impacting parts of its walkway. Chiew stated that comprehensive technical, engineering, and heritage impact assessments will be required before a safe, permanent solution can be implemented.

A potential longer-term option is to extend a branch of the new trail towards the Painted Cave, possibly creating a circular route that links Traders’ Cave, the Great Cave, and the Painted Cave. Chiew estimated that the extension could cost between RM2 million and RM3 million, depending on the final design and technical requirements.

He noted that such a project could become one of northern Sarawak’s most significant tourism assets. Chiew expressed gratitude to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation, the Sarawak government, the Sarawak Museum, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and other agencies involved in the restoration and reopening efforts.