Island-hop to Southern Islands - Lazarus, Kusu, St. John's and Big Sisters

Other than Sentosa Island, do you know there are many islands that you can visit off the Southern shores of Singapore for a fun day out under the sun? While there some islands that are not accessible to the public such as Pulau Semakau and the Raffles Lighthouse that require special permit, there are still many islands that you can easily access with the regular ferry services.

These islands include St. John's Island, Lazarus Island (Pulau Sakijang Pelepah), Pulau Seringat, Kusu Island, Sisters' Island (Pulau Subar Laut) and Pulau Hantu. That's quite a lot, right? And many of these islands have colourful histories.

Lagoon at Lazarus Island

On all these islands you have wide open spaces for a day out of island-hopping, or you may want to just laze around at only specific islands. Ferry companies based at Marina South Pier (MSP) run inter island shuttle between Sisters, St. John's and Kusu Island.

The ferries from Marina South Pier run at specific time of around 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5;30pm and return ferries to MSP at 9:30am, 11:30am, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm. Different companies have different timings though the timings do not vary much.

Due to close timings between different operators, visitors can sometimes board incorrect ferries especially on the return ferries when many people are rushing to return to mainland and are afraid to miss the boat. Inter-island shuttle between St. John's Island (SJI) and Sisters' Island run at around 10am, 12pm and 2pm.

Jetty at St. John's Island

Again timing may vary. Ferry tickets cost a flat $15 return which include inter-island shuttles. You can walk-in at MSP to buy tickets. Not a problem during weekdays though during peak holiday season you may want to reserve tickets online.

Although there is no direct ferry services to Lazarus Island, it is only about 10 min. walk from St. John's Island (SJI) via a manmade causeway or link which connect these two islands. Once you get off at the jetty at SJI, turn left to head towards Lazarus Island. There are signboards to show the way to various places or attractions in Lazarus and SJI.

Long-tailed macaques at Big Sister's

Sisters and Kusu Islands are quite small which you can easily cover in less than an hour. At Sisters Island there are many long-tailed macaques which may unsettle visitors as these monkeys can sometimes come close to you. The monkeys are only looking for food, but do not feed them as the islands have plenty of trees with fruits such as the sea almonds. And coconuts. Monkeys love coconuts. Don't we all too would love a refreshing drink of coconut after a day of walking.

It is illegal to feed wildlife in Singapore and you may get a fine if caught feeding a wild-life. Long-tailed macaque (maraca fascicularis) is one of the most common monkeys in Asia. Do you know that long-tailed macaque is also known as crab-eating macaque?

On the Southern Islands, there are many common trees such as sea or indian almond trees. Sea or Indian almond (also known as ketapang in Malay) trees are easily recognisable by its big leaves and the almond seeds strewn on the ground.

Big Sisters Island Jetty (Pulau Subar Laut)

Sisters' Islands are made up of two islands, Little Sister's and Big Sister's Island, separated by a narrow channel. However only Big Sister's Island (in Malay it is called Pulau Subar Laut) is open to the public. Big Sister's Island is popular for nature and intertidal walks. There is a Marine Park Gallery on the island.

Kusu Island is popularly known as the Tortoise Island. The island has many legends. A legend tells a story of how of how a giant turtle saved sailors from shipwreck by turning itself into an island during the ninth lunar month and turned into a place of worship when sailors returned to make offerings.

Kusu Island

Some people pray for good luck and health at Kusu Island and pay their respects at the Chinese Da Bo Gong Temple or climb 152 steps to the top of the island where the shrine of the Malay holy persons are. Or you can just say Hi to the many tortoises there. In Chinese belief, the tortoise symbolises longevity and blessings. Tortoises indeed do have long life.

There is an annual pilgrimage to Kusu Island during the ninth month of lunar calendar whereby the ferry services will be restricted to the general public during those days. St. John's Island was once where new migrants to Singapore as well as returning pilgrims were were quarantined if their ships arrived with cases of infectious diseases such as cholera and smallpox. Later, the island were used to detain political prisoners and as a drug rehabilitation centre to rehabilitate opium addicts.

Walkway connecting St. John's and Lazarus

During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, St. John's Island was used to house prisoners-of-war and mentally ill patients. It is now a peaceful island with lots of greeneries, diverse flora and fauna and mangroves where you can see mudskippers skipping around. Look closely at the mudbanks and you may see some small creatures the colour of mud skipping around.

There is an educational nature gallery at St. John's Island. Historically also St. John"s Island was where Sir Stamford Raffles, considered as the modern founder of Singapore, anchored his vessel when he arrived here in 1819. There are also chalets that you can book to stay overnight and there are also camping sites. Note: with the pandemic these chalets and camping sites are unfortunately not open for booking.

Ferry at Marina South Pier

Did you know that Lazarus Island is also known as Pulau Sekijang Pelepah? (Daun) Pelepah is Malay word for 'palm leaf'. In 1899, after the British set up a lazaretto (isolation hospital) for patients with beriberi (a disease caused by a vitamin B1 deficiency) on the island, they renamed it Lazarus Island. The island was home to a large fishing village until the mid 1970s.

Now Lazarus, St. John's, Kusu and Sisters' Islands are indeed great getaway away from the urban mainland Singapore, which by the way is also an island! Singapore is made up of a total of 63 islands. The convenient location of Marina South Pier which is located just outside Marina South Pier MRT Station makes it so convenient for a dayout or two to the Southern Islands.