Your Singapore trip would not be complete without visiting the exotic Kusu Island which is also one of the best places to visit in Singapore. Kusu Island is one of the Southern Islands in Singapore, situated around 5.6 kilometers toward the south of the principle island of Singapore.
One of the favourite destinations for a day trip from Singapore is Kusu Island. It is a preferred destination for the weekend because of its proximity from the city and almost magical landscape. Mother nature can be witnessed in different hues ranging from beaches to lagoon. The Island dates back to the 16th century and has stood the test of time. It has seen the change of several reigns over the centuries and has evolved in shape in size.
From a burial site during the colonial era to a most frequented day trip destination, Kusu Island has gone a long way. Plenty of visitors are found traveling to the island during the weekends to laze around the beach and unwind with friends. The favorite activities of the tourists include indulging in beach sports, fishing, making merry with family and friends at the barbecue pit, and lounging in general. For those seeking budget-friendly Singapore tour packages, Kusu Island offers a serene escape without breaking the bank.
The famous Chinese temple in the Island attracts a huge number of worshippers during a month-long festival organized on the Island. Local Chinese with Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian background offer prayers with great fanfare during the auspicious time. A visit to Kusu Island is a must to watch the marvels of nature along with the mind-blowing vistas from the glittering beaches. Pristine beaches, lonely lagoons, sacred temples and an intoxicating ambience calls for an immediate plan for the Island.
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Highlights
• Spend a fun-filled day out with your loved ones in the calm and peaceful environment on the picturesque Kusu Island.
• Seek blessings for your well being and prosperity from Da Bo Gong and the Guan Yin at the majestic Chinese Temple on the island.
• Climb up the 152 steps and pay homage at the Keramat Shrine dedicated to a Malay family, which resided here back in the 19th century.
• Take a break from your mundane life and unwind, relax, and enjoy a laid-back picnic with your loved ones.
• Prepare your own delicious barbeque in the barbeque pits and relish with your near and dear ones, sitting at the picnic tables.
• Take a refreshing swim in the calm blue lagoons.
• Take a walk along the shores and witness the beautiful soft and hard corals and fishes.
• Encounter the fascinating tortoises roaming freely at the Tortoise Sanctuary.
• Make a wish and toss a coin to ring the bell at the Wishing Well.
How To Reach
The only way to reach Kusu Island is to go by the seaway by ferry or a speedboat. The ferry is the most common transportation and runs till 3 pm on all days from Marina South Pier. To reach Kusu Island by MRT, you need to go to Marina South Pier via MRT using the North-South Line and take Exit B to go to the ferry terminal. Take a ferry from Marina South Pier to Kusu Island via St. John’s Island.
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Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit Kusu Island is either during the winter months of November to January or between May to August. These are the months when the weather is suitable for visiting the places in Kusu Island.
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Other Essential Information
Places to Eat near Kusu Island
- Rang Mahal: One of the best places to eat near Kusu Island is Rang Mahal. This fine dining Indian restaurant is known for its northern, southern and coastal cuisines of India and will delight you with its dishes such as Samarkand Prawns, Quinoa Upma, Tandoori Lobster and many more. The restaurant has won several awards for its culinary masterpieces as well as for its services.
- The Cliff: Another restaurant near Kusu Island is The Cliff, which will offer you an excellent view of the sea while you have a meal here. Feast on mouthwatering seafood and exotic Italian dishes in this restaurant and feel special as you are looked after and served well in this restaurant.
- The Colony: Those with a preference for different types of cuisines might like to visit The Colony, located near the Kusu Islands. This restaurant will serve you multi-cuisine buffets offering eight different cuisines and having live counters serving Indian, Indonesian, Chinese, Malaysian and other country cuisines. Some of the must-try dishes of this restaurant include Lassoni Lamb Steak, Prawn Kali Mirch, and assorted naans.
- Osia Steak & Seafood Grill: Dine in style at one of the best Michelin-star Sentosa restaurants, located near Kusu Island. Osia Steak & Seafood Grill will entice you with the aromas coming from the modern open kitchen. You will be delighted to have the well-presented tasteful dishes while sitting in a warm ambience with a classy design. Tantalize your taste bud with their signature flatbread and opt for their dishes from Australian, European, and contemporary cuisines.
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Tips for visiting Kusu Island
- The ferries ply at a fixed time, thus either book your tickets in advance or be at the counter before time. The ticket counter closes at 3 pm.
- The ferry timings vary on weekdays and weekends.
- Children above 12 years of age will be considered for adult ticket charges in the ferry.
- St. John’s island has a single washroom, so refresh yourself before you explore the island.
- Do not touch the tortoise or other reptiles at the Kusu Island Tortoise Sanctuary as it may contact diseases.
- There are no shops and eateries, thus get your food and drinks to the island.
- Be moderately dressed while visiting religious places, like the Chines temple.
- St. John’s Island has numerous cats for company. Be prepared to be greeted by the feline family right at the pier.
- Overnight stay at the Island is not permitted by the officials.
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Kusu Island Temple
Kusu Island Temple is a Chinese temple, which is locally known as Da Bo Gong or Tua Pek Kong. Established by a rich businessman back in 1923, this majestic temple is dedicated to two deities - Da Bo Gong and Guan Yin.
Visitors pay homage to Da Bo Gong for well-being and to keep away danger and attain prosperity in life. On the other hand, devotees pray to the God of Mercy, Guan Yin with the hope to get blessed with offspring.
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Annual Kusu Island Pilgrimage
Thousands of devotees from across the globe visit Kusu Island for the Annual Kusu Island Pilgrimage during the 9th month of the lunar calendar. The devotees come to pay homage here and seek blessings for good health, happiness, prosperity, luck, and peace in life.
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Wishing Well
The Wishing Well is located somewhere on the elevated walkway that takes you from the jetty to Da Bo Gong temple. The Wishing Well has a concrete lotus-shaped structure inside it with bells in its center. After making their wish, the visitors can toss a coin into the well and hit the bells.
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Tortoise Sanctuary
The Tortoise Sanctuary is one of the prime attractions of Kusu Island and the very name ‘Kusu’ translates to ‘turtle’ in Chinese. You can see the friendly tortoises roaming freely in their natural habitat.
You will find various species of turtle here with many different shell patterns. Watching the turtles taking their tiny steps is really therapeutic and enjoyed by many visitors on the island.
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Picnic at Kusu Island
There are a number of benches and shaded picnic tables that let you enjoy a relaxed picnic with your loved ones in the tranquil environment of the island. You can either buy refreshments from the small food court here or carry your own picnic lunch.
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Tourism Board Alliances
Kusu Island FAQs
What is Kusu Island famous for?
Kusu meaning Tortoise is also referred to as the Tortoise Island in Hokkien. It is famous for its pristine beaches, solitary lagoons, rustic locales and untouched beauty of mother nature. Nature lovers and tourist inclined towards sun and sand frequent this place for its unique natural beauty.
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What is the history of Kusu Island?
- The history and discovery of Kusu island date back to the 17th century when the Governor of the Philippines found it accidentally in 1616. Thus, it was named as Governor’s Island. The British empire further renamed it as Goa island. The British hydrographer Daniel Ross further glorified the island and used it as a reference point for ships entering the new port.
- The 1.2hectare Kusu Island gradually grew to a current 8.5hectare over years. The Island grew in size with an accumulation of landfill and reclamation which was planned by the then ruling Government. A coral outcrop was further joined the newly formed island to make it inhabitable. During the colonial era, the Island was primarily a burial site for immigrants who died in quarantine either at St. John’s Island or Lazarus Island.
- During the 9th day of the 9th month of the lunar calendar, a month-long festivity is organised between September to November in the Island. The festival draws thousands of Chinese worshippers following Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism.
- There are many legendary stories woven in and around Kusu island, out of which the Giant Turtle and the affection between two men, a Chinese and a Malay does the round more often.
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How long does it take to visit and view the entire Kusu Island?
It takes an entire day to explore Kusu Island at leisure. Visiting the Chinese temple and offering prayers at the three Malay shrines, watching the tortoises from close quarters, lounging at the lagoon and having fun on the beach takes almost half of the day. One has to return the same day as staying overnight is not allowed on the island.
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What is on Kusu Island?
Kusu Island has a few interesting sites which are of major tourist attraction. Right from sacred places like the Chinese Temple and the 3 Malay shrines. There is a Tortoise sanctuary for conserving the reptiles and breathtaking beaches and lagoons. Most of the tourists visit Kusu Island to lounge around the beach and have fun with family and friends. There are plenty of picnic tables and chairs set up for visitors to enjoy along with barbecue pits to relish their food.
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