Pulau Gaya is the largest island of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, located opposite Sapi at west. The most visible island from KK City, visitors arrive by speedboat from Jesselton Point or Sutera Harbour Resort's private marina. Historically, Pulau Gaya was the first British settlement in Borneo (1881) before it was destroyed by Mat Salleh, a Sabahan warrior.
The British then moved to the mainland and established Jesselton, the predecessor to Kota Kinabalu. Today, the island is a nature attraction, housing the only wild colony of Proboscis monkeys off KK with jungle trails that explore rainforest, mangroves and beaches. A few exclusive resorts have also settled around the island.
