It consists of broad coastal and forested areas.

[1][2][3] The tectonic of the peninsula started from Oligocene to Early Miocene, followed by deformation from Early Miocene to Middle Miocene that resulted in the opening of Sulu Sea and widening of Sandakan Basin.

[4][5] The rifting stopped in Late Miocene to early Pliocene which caused a major uplift around the Sandakan Peninsula with heavy erosion.

[5] The Upper Miocene formation dominates the eastern area of the peninsula with two main lithologies of sandstone and mudstone.

[7] In the peninsula located the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve which is a type of lowlands of eastern Sabah with over 90 species of mammals and 200 species of birds have been recorded inhabiting the area.