Singapore’s southern islands are a pleasant technique to escape town life for a bit – St John’s, Lazarus and Kusu Island are a number of the extra well-known ones as they’re simple to get to, and you may even do intertidal walks at Pulau Hantu, however have you ever ever heard of Pulau Satumu? This is a Singapore’s offshore islands that you simply can’t simply go to by yourself as entry is restricted – I took a tour with Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority to go to Raffles Lighthouse on Pulau Satumu and right here’s a information on what you’ll be able to count on to see on the tour.
Where is Pulau Satumu?
If you head in a southwest path in the direction of the sting of Singapore’s waters with Indonesia, you’ll discover the island of Pulau Satumu on the western finish of the Singapore Strait. The boat took about 1.5 hours to get from Marina South Pier to Pulau Satumu.
Pulau Satumu was apparently often known as Coney Island again within the day – to not be confused with the present Coney Island in Punggol! The identify additionally apparently interprets to One Tree in Malay. Satumu is a really small island and as with many different Singaporean offshore islands, a few of its land was reclaimed from the ocean. The island’s foremost declare to fame is that it’s house to Raffles Lighthouse.
About Raffles Lighthouse
Standing 29m tall, Raffles Lighthouse is sort of a historic landmark. First in-built 1855, it’s one in all Singapore’s oldest lighthouses and remains to be in use at this time preserving ships secure as they enter the Singapore Strait. It’s the southernmost of the lighthouses.
The solely lighthouse I knew about in Singapore previous to this journey was the Raffles Marina Lighthouse in Tuas, which is definitely a privately owned lighthouse and doesn’t fall below MPAs governance. I didn’t even know now we have a lighthouse on high of a condominium block in Bedok!
The 5 lighthouses managed by the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority:
Fun fact: only Raffles Lighthouse and Pulau Pisang Lighthouse have lighthouse keepers, of which there are 8 people in total. 2 men are assigned to each lighthouse at any one time, working on 10-day shifts to ensure the lighthouse is in working order. It must be an interesting job but you have to be really good at being isolated because you’re actually in the midst of nowhere. There is web and cellphone connection although, however in any other case it’s all extensive open sea and passing ships and a really small piece of land to wander round.
We bought to see the two lighthouse keepers on responsibility after we visited. I hope they’re all good mates as a result of there may be actually no different soul round throughout your 10-day shift and nowhere to flee to.
The Raffles lighthouse Tour with MPA
Meeting level: Marina South Pier
The tour begins at 1pm however you’re inspired to reach just a little earlier because the boat normally units off on schedule. There is a desk arrange at Marina South Pier (take the North-South MRT line proper to the top NS28 Marina South Pier), which is similar place the place you’re taking the boat should you intend to go to St John’s, Lazarus and Kusu Islands.
The tour group that day was fairly massive, over 70 individuals signed up! And it was a mixture of Singaporeans and a few foreigners, although I get the sense that these foreigners are individuals dwelling in Singapore greater than vacationers passing by means of.
Overall it was fairly properly organised – we got a briefing on what to anticipate on the enroll level and cut up into 3 teams utilizing colored bands, every following a distinct information. Use the bathroom earlier than you go! There are some bathrooms on the island itself if you really want although.
The boat is a privately chartered boat with an open-air upstairs deck and a sheltered decrease deck. They organized it such that the totally different teams would swap ranges so everybody would get an opportunity to be on the higher deck. I managed to snag a seat proper up entrance on the higher deck on the journey there, however you’ll be able to truly stroll across the deck if it’s not too rocky.
The guides shared numerous info and tales all through the journey, from declaring the southern islands that we handed by to details in regards to the large tankers that might sail by, so it was fairly fascinating all through. On the best way again that they had quizzes and a few small prizes too.
Destination: Pulau Satumu
The 1.5 hour boat journey alongside the Singapore Strait permits you to see Singapore’s busy waters and admire the southern skyline. It’s instances like these that I actually admire the truth that Singapore is an archipelago – I normally say Singapore has 60+ islands, however based on our information, we’ve reclaimed, joined and demolished many of those islands within the identify of trade so the true variety of islands truly is round 40+ now.
The southern islands that you simply’ll move by alongside the best way:
- St John’s Island & Lazarus Island (Kusu Island is behind Lazarus) – see my information for more information
- Pulau Tekukor – a former ammo dump web site, presently uninhabited
- Sisters Islands – as soon as open to public, presently shut for refurbishment
- Pulau Sebarok – house to grease refineries that belong to Singapore Petroleum Company
- Pulau Semakau – Singapore’s landfill island, but it surely doesn’t look remotely trashy in any respect because the trash is incinerated and buried. I’ve heard that the biodiversity right here is fairly good.
Finally, Pulau Satumu!
Pulau Satumu is fairly small, you’ll be able to see nearly all of it at a look. The jetty and cove is on the east aspect of the island the place there are breakwaters to guard the coast, whereas the remainder of the island is grass and the lighthouse.
Raffles Lighthouse
Since there have been three teams, we rotated between exploring the island, trying out the museum and climbing the lighthouse. Raffles Lighthouse is 29m tall and 88 steps lead you to the highest. Lovely view of Pulau Satumu from above and the encircling islands in addition to an up shut take a look at the lighthouse lamp.
Raffles Lighthouse Museum
At the bottom of the lighthouse is a small room which serves as a mini museum of kinds for the lighthouse. They’ve saved some previous artefacts just like the previous lighthouse lamps and information clippings in regards to the lighthouse right here. We popped in for a quick look. They had a gun cupboard in case of pirates again within the day (it’s empty now although).
Raffles Lighthouse Tour Details
The Raffles Lighthouse tour runs from 1pm to 5pm and total I did take pleasure in studying about Singapore’s maritime historical past on this tour. It makes for an fascinating technique to see Singapore’s southern seas and also you get the possibility to go to a landmark and island that you simply wouldn’t usually have the ability to go to by yourself which is sort of cool. If you’re fascinated with Singapore’s historical past or simply wish to spend a day outdoors for a bit, I feel this tour is price trying out.
Check out Maritime and Port Authority on Eventbrite to see their newest occasion listings. Raffles Lighthouse excursions occur on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. At 8am on the first of each month, tickets are open for excursions for the next month. My ticket price was $58.81 for adults ($62.71 after Eventbrite charges).
Looking to see extra of Singapore’s offshore islands? Check out these posts right here or see all my posts about Singapore.