Kusu Pilgrimage 2025: 21 Oct-19 Nov

Expect massive crowds at Marina South Pier during weekends and public holidays. And changes in ferry route to get to Kusu Island, St John's Island, Lazarus Island and Big Sisters Island.

The last remaining lively cultural event that occurs annually in our Southern Islands! The pilgrimage can draw as many as 1,000 devotees in a day. Read more in "Kusu Island comes to life as pilgrimage season kicks off; temple celebrates 100th anniversary" Shermaine Ang Straits Times 15 Oct 2023

During the Pilgrimage Season, Singapore Island Cruise makes separate trips to Kusu and other islands (usually incoporated into one round trip).

Ticket to Kusu Island only
https://tickets.islandcruise.com.sg/tours/singapore/singapore/kusu-pilgrimage-season-2023

Tickets to St John's, Lazarus, Big Sisters Island (minus Kusu)
https://tickets.islandcruise.com.sg/tours/singapore/singapore/roundtrip-ferry

Singapore Island Cruise is the only designated ferry to Kusu. So Marina South Ferries won't take you there. But can still take you to St John's, Lazarus, Big Sisters Island.

100k Coral Initiative plus new coral facility at St John's Island

 100k Corals Initiative announced: to plant corals in Singapore over the next 10 years and beyond. A new facility at Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre, St. John's Island will grow corals for this effort. Corals will be cultivated by coral restoration experts and researchers from the National University of Singapore at the St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory. 

A training programme will also be developed by NParks, St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory and Friends of Marine Park for citizen science monitoring of the transplanted corals. Volunteers will be trained to assist with coral husbandry and underwater monitoring techniques. More details of volunteer training opportunities will be shared when ready.

You can visit the St John's Island facility by joining the guided tour of St John's Island held on the first Sunday of every month. Or do a self-guided tour with the Trail Guide - free for download from the NParks website.

More details: media articles, press release on the wildshores blog.

6 Feb (Sun): Another way to explore the Marine Park - kayak St John's-Tekukor Trail

The western shores of Pulau Tekukor and St. John's Island are part of the Sisters Islands Marine Park. And the Marine Park public gallery is on St. John's Island.

Join Kayakasia to head for the beautiful St John's island with old growth trees and an even older history. Once, this island was the largest quarantine centre in the world. On this easy and relaxing paddle, we will visit the parkland of St John's island, go on a short nature hike to the Sisters' Island Public Gallery and swim in its clear waters. Get to also see Pulau Tekukor, St John's almost forgotten neighbour, that is now home to sea eagles that soar our Southern shores! 

7 Feb (Sun): Registration opens for FREE walk at St John's Island on 7 Mar (Sun)

Registration opens on 7 Feb (Sun), 10am for this FREE guided walk at St John's Island on 7 Mar (Sun) at 10am.

This free 90-minute guided tour will be held on the first Sunday of every month. NParks volunteers will introduce you to the key features along the St John’s Island Trail and includes the Sisters' Islands Marine Park Public Gallery.

1 Nov (Sun): Registration opens for FREE walk at St John's Island on 6 Dec (Sun)

Registration opens on 1 Nov (Sun), 10am for this FREE guided walk at St John's Island on 6 Dec (Sun) at 10am.

This free 90-minute guided tour will be held on the first Sunday of every month. NParks volunteers will introduce you to the key features along the St John’s Island Trail and includes the Sisters' Islands Marine Park Public Gallery.

4 Oct (Sun): Registration opens for FREE walk at St John's Island on 1 Nov (Sun)

Registration opens on 4 Oct (Sun), 10am for this FREE guided walk at St John's Island on 1 Nov (Sun) at 10am.

This free 90-minute guided tour will be held on the first Sunday of every month. NParks volunteers will introduce you to the key features along the St John’s Island Trail and includes the Sisters' Islands Marine Park Public Gallery.

Expect delays visiting St John's Island during the Kusu Island pilgrimage 17 Oct to 19 Nov 2020

To note if you are planning to visit the Sisters Islands Marine Park public gallery on St John's Island. During the annual pilgrimage, thousands of visitors are expected to visit Kusu Island from 17 Oct to 19 Nov 2020.  Ferry services will continue to St John's Island during the period. But expect delays due to crowd control measures at Marine South Pier. Parking at the Pier is likely to be limited.

Check out Jerome Lim's awesome blog post for a glimpse into the history behind Kusu Island and the pilgrimage.

6 Sep (Sun): Registration opens for FREE walk at St John's Island on 4 Oct (Sun)

Registration opens on 6 Sep (Sun), 10am for this FREE guided walk at St John's Island on 4 Oct (Sun) at 10am.

This free 90-minute guided tour will be held on the first Sunday of every month. NParks volunteers will introduce you to the key features along the St John’s Island Trail and includes the Sisters' Islands Marine Park Public Gallery.

Happy New Year from the Marine Park!

Great news for the New Year! Now open again: Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre at the St John's Island National Marine Laboratory. It was closed due to asbestos being found on St John's Island. More about how to get there, and what you can see and do at the Centre here.

As the year ended, volunteers conducted more awesome intertidal walks, divers explored the reefs, a massive artificial reef structure was deployed at the Marine Park and the Friends of the Marine Park met on the islands.

St John’s Island Trail and Marine Park Centre closed until further notice

From the NParks website: As the access route to Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre and St John’s Island Trail is affected by SLA’s maintenance and repair works, the Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre and St John’s Island Trail are closed until further notice.

More details behind the closure on wild shores of singapore.

Updated notice on the NParks website: "The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) had closed part of St John's Island from now till the end of the year arising from the asbestos found in the campsite area. As investigations and works to remove the asbestos are ongoing, the St John's Island trail and the Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre and St John’s Island Trail will be closed until further notice. We seek your understanding for the inconvenience caused."

24 Mar (Sat): Reefs 101 - FREE workshop at St John's Island about the Marine Park

Registration now open for limited slots. Join Sea Our Shores for our FREE workshop at St John’s Island! You will get to hear about our fascinating marine life and see them up close and personal in a guided gallery tour at Marine Park Outreach and Education Center.

Look forward to exciting discussion sessions for YOU to voice out your opinions on the marine park and also brainstorm on what we can do to help conserve our reefs.

Busy January at the Marine Park!

A big start to the year as the Marine Park joins the community in Celebrating Singapore Shores for International Year of the Reef 2018. With a Marine Bioblitz, and workshop on plastics.

Visitors on Day 2 of the first public intertidal walks of 2018
Photo by Collin Tong.

A rescued baby sea turtle was released at the Marine Park. Volunteer guided walks at the Marine Park remains a big highlight. Meanwhile, the Friends of the Marine Park met up and the Kayaking Working Group made a working visit to the Marine Park.

Awesome year end 2017 at the Marine Park

As the year ends, an announcement from NParks: The Public Gallery on St John’s Island will be closed on 21 Dec 2017 (Thu) for maintenance. The Public Gallery will open on 24, 25, 31 Dec 2017 and 1 Jan 2018 but from 10 am to 11.45am only.

Visitors during the November public walk.
Photo by Belinda Tan.

Here is a look back at happenings in November and December! Sea turtles hatching, more intertidal walks, a dive at the marine park and more!

Awesome October at the Marine Park

The first St John's Island public walk was held, while rainbows brightened up the intertidal walks at the Marine Park! Dive surveys give us a glimpse of life underwater.

Photo by Kar Mun.

The Friends of the Marine Park met again, while more information about the sea turtle hatchery being set up at Small Sisters Island.

No ferry to St John's Island during Kusu Pilgrimage Season: 20 Oct - 17 Nov 2017

The regular ferry to St. John's Island will be suspended during this traditional season. Limited parking and expect boarding delays at Marina South Pier for other Southern Island destinations during this traditional season.

Traditionally happening on the ninth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, 100,000 devotees and visitors are expected to visit tiny Kusu Island for the annual pilgrimage season.

Update on 21 Oct on the NParks website: "The Sisters’ Islands Marine Park Public Gallery on St John’s Island is closed from 20 October to 17 November 2017, as the daily scheduled ferry services to St John’s Island is temporarily stopped during the Kusu Pilgrimage season. Please visit the Public Gallery from 18 November onwards."

Spectacular September at the Sisters Islands Marine Park

On 2 Sep, Minister Desmond Lee launched the free volunteer guided walk at St. John's Island, which is part of the Sisters' Island Marine Park and hosts the Marine Park Public Gallery.

The Public Gallery now has many additional features, including a mangrove display and a huge touch pool. Volunteers also continued to bring the public on intertidal guided walks at Big Sisters Islands. And more happenings...

Marvellous May at the Sisters Islands Marine Park

New animals at the Sisters Islands Marine Park! First sighting of a beautiful bannerfish, and a species of coral. A bioblitz also turned up some interesting finds and a sighting of dolphins!

Photo by Richard Kuah.

Meanwhile, volunteers continued to conduct intertidal walks for the public, and the public dives continue.

Calling for volunteers for the Sisters Islands Marine Park!

You CAN make a difference for marine biodiversity in Singapore!

Join the enthusiastic volunteers of the Marine Park!

Register to volunteer with the Sisters' Islands Marine Park as a guide, diver or citizen scientist. Places are limited. Sign up now!

November at the Sisters Islands Marine Park

More wonderful intertidal walks at the Marine Park. Led by volunteers and NParks staff, the public had a glimpse of some of the amazing marine life found the Park.

Photo by Richard Kuah

There was also an opportunity to introduce the Park to the Deputy Prime Minister when he visited St John's Island, the location of the Park Visitor Center. And the Park was featured at the Singapore Eco Film Festival through Victor Tang's award winning film.

Job opening to do outreach about the Marine Park!

Have you always wanted to work on a Singapore island? Doing outreach and education about our marine life and about the Sisters Islands Marine Park?

The Sisters Islands seen from St John's Island.

Here's your chance! There's a job opening to join the cool and fun people at the St John's Island Marine Lab. Closing date 8 Apr 2016.

More details here:
https://www.jobsbank.gov.sg/ICMSPortal/portlets/JobBankHandler/SearchDetail.do?id=JOB-2016-0048626