Southern Albatross – Cruising the Southern Islands

Sentosa Island

The Southern Islands of Singapore comprise eight isles south of the main island. Sentosa Island is a bustling hub with pristine beaches, diverse attractions, and vibrant nightlife. Visitors can enjoy Universal Studios Singapore, relax on Siloso and Tanjong beaches, or explore Fort Siloso and the Merlion statue. Sentosa also has luxurious resorts, golf courses, and numerous dining options. Beyond Sentosa, the Southern Islands offer tranquility and biodiversity. St. John’s and Lazarus Islands are ideal for day trips, featuring serene beaches and lush greenery. Kusu Island, with its Chinese temple and Malay shrine, is significant for religious pilgrimages. These islands provide a peaceful escape from urban life.

• Admission Ticket Free

Labrador Nature Reserve

Long Ya Men Means Dragon’s Tooth Gate In Chinese. Some Travelers Recorded Their Journeys And The Places They Visited. Wang Dayuan’s Account, He Described His Travels Around The Region. Historians Agree That Wang Was Referring To Singapore And Its Surroundings, Including The Old Singapore Strait And Blakang Mati. The Dragon’s Teeth Likely Refer To Batu Belayar Sail Rock In Malay, Now Replicated At Labrador Park And A Promontory Near Today’s Fort Siloso. These High Ground Was Removed During The Construction Of The Fort By The British In The 19th Century, While Batu Belayar Was Also Demolished By The Colonial Authorities To Aid Navigation Around Keppel Harbor.

• Admission Ticket Free

Lazarus Island

Lazarus Island, Once Known As Pulau Sakijang Pelepah, Meaning Island Of A Deer And Palms In Malay, Housed Prison Confinement Sheds In The Late 19th Century. These Were Abandoned After A Prisoner’s Daring Escape. Today, The Island Attracts Visitors To Its Clean, White Sandy Beach On A C-Shaped Lagoon Known As One Of Singapore’s Best Kept Secrets. Lazarus Island Is One Of The Few Spots In The Southern Islands Where Private Yachts And Boats Can Anchor, Allowing Visitors To Enjoy Its Pristine Beaches And Unspoiled Beauty.

• Admission Ticket Free

Kusu Island

Kusu Island Is Home To A Chinese Temple And Three Malay Keramat (Shrines), Attracting Thousands Of Pilgrims Annually, Especially In The Ninth Lunar Month Between September And October. Kusu Means “Tortoise” Or “Turtle” In The Hokkien Dialect. The Island, Also Known As Pulau Tambakul, Goa Island Or Peak Island, Was Originally 1.2 Hectares In 1975. Landfill And Reclamation Joined It With Another Coral Outcrop, Expanding It To An 8.5 Hectare Resort During The Colonial Era, Kusu Island Served As A Burial Site For Immigrants Who Died While In Quarantine On St John’s And Lazarus Islands.

• Admission Ticket Free

St John's Island

Saint John’s Island, Once A Penal Settlement, Is Now A Holiday Resort With A Significant History Tied To Singapore, Stamford Raffles Anchored Off The Island On 28th Of January 1819, Before Heading To Mainland Singapore. During The Influx Of Immigrants, The Island Served As The Report Boat Station For The Marine Department Until A Cholera Epidemic In 1873 Caused 448 Deaths. Saint John’s Island Then Hosted A Floating Police Station, A Hospital And A Quarantine Burial Ground At Peak Island, Handling Over 1300 Cholera Infected Chinese Coolies. After Mass Immigration Ceased, The Island Housed Political Detainees And Secret Society Ringleaders. Later, It Was Converted Into A Drug Rehabilitation Center. And In 1975, It Became A Popular Holiday Camp Site For Schools And Students.

• Admission Ticket Free

Sisters' Islands

Sisters Islands Located South Of Singapore Consist Of Pulau Subar Darat (Little Sister’s Island) And Pulau Subar Laut (Big Sister’s Island) Covering 1.7 And 3.9 Hectares Respectively. According To Legend, Two Sisters, Minah And Linah, Were So Close That They Vowed To Marry Two Brothers To Always Live Together. When The News Spread, Many Suitors Came, But None Were Brothers. One Day, A Pirate Chief Tried To Force Linah Into Marriage. In Their Attempt To Escape, The Sisters Drowned In A Storm. The Islands Emerged Where They Perished And The Villagers Named Them Sisters Islands In Their Memory.

• Admission Ticket Free

Tekukor Island Or Pulau Tekukor Just Off Sentosa Is Rarely Visited Due To The Need For Special Permission. Recently Special Authorization Was Secured To Search For Giant Clams, Allowing A Rare Trip To The Island. Historically, It Served As An Ammunition Dump Until The 1980s. The Island Is Expansive With Rocky Cliffs And A Lengthy Intertidal Zone On One Side And Reefs Encircling Its Perimeter. “Tekukor” Translates To “Turtle Dove” Or “Spotted Neck Dove”, Hence Pulau Tekukor Means Turtle Dove Island Or Island Of Turtle Doves.

• Admission Ticket Free