Did you know there are numerous little islands around Singapore that you could tour without your passport? For those who are searching for a day of exploration and relaxation, St. John’s Island will be your best choice for both. This island provides untouched landscapes and an up-close experience with nature. St. John’s Island is the biggest island among all the Southern Islands, like Kusu Island and Lazarus Island.
In the past, St. John’s Island used to be an island for quarantining infectious diseases and has a drug rehabilitation centre. Now, it has been repurposed for all Singapore residents and visitors who need a quick getaway to recover from city life fatigue. It has now become a place for research and a holiday lodge. Let’s introduce to you some things you can do on St. John’s Island.
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What to do on St. John’s Island?
1. St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory
I am quite fascinated by the variety of marine life you can find here from the coral reefs to intertidal habitats. You can also explore the Public Gallery which displays marine biodiversity and conservation in Singapore‘s waters. This includes a 3D miniature model of dive trails, a historical chronology of Singapore’s conservation efforts, and several viewing pools and aquariums. Bring your kids along to the Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre to enjoy the vast knowledge of our marine ecosystems.
2. Explore the island’s flora and fauna
I always have the impression that mangroves can only be found in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. But St. John’s Island’s trail takes you on the journey through the island’s rich biodiversity, from mangroves to coastal forest and even some Singapore Heritage Trees! The trail spans 2.8km across the island with 15 stations to explore its flora and fauna.
Let’s challenge ourselves to a game called Find The Animal! Take pictures of their resident Brahminy Kite soaring through the sky or the Gold-ringed Cat Snake. I wish you the best of luck to encounter the island’s unique animals.
Here is a guide provided by NParks to explore the trials on your own
You can also sign up for a free 90 min guided walk that happens every first Sunday of the month.
3. Spot marine life on an inter-tidal walk during low tide
Do you always have a dream of taking a stroll along the beach filled with seashells and starfishes? St. John’s Island will be a great choice for you. During its low tide, the edge of the shore will expose its hidden gems; from reef fishes to sea sponges and starfishes. If you’re interested, make sure to check the tide timings beforehand or you might miss the opportunity!
4. Traditional island life at Bendera Bay
Did you know that there were still local islanders on St. John’s Island until 2018? However, they were required to move out to welcome new developments on the island. To recognise the Islanders, St. John’s Island has created new education programmes to share more about their traditional living methods.
You will learn a lot about the heritage and conservation efforts on the island including an exhibition of traditional canoes, also known as Kolek.
Please take note that the area has yet to be open for public access. Friends of the Marine Park aims to carry out activities for the public that will be released at a later date.
5. Staycation at St. John’s Island chalets
Unlike other southern islands which do not allow overnight stays, you may organise huge parties at St John’s Island chalets, with a capacity to host up to a maximum of 132 people. The St. John’s Island Lodge has four different lodges with unique naming – Eagle, Turtle, Dolphin and Otter. These accommodations come with kitchens where you can cook your daily meals there. Remember to purchase your own ingredients on the Mainland of Singapore as there are no super markets on St. John’s Island!
You can view more details and book here.
6. Camping by the beach
Excited to be living your life on the wild side? St. John’s Island is the right place to go. You can apply for Temporay Occupations Licence via the Singapore Land Authority website to obtain a camping permit, and it is totally free of charge. Kindly be reminded to make a booking at least two weeks in advance to secure your ideal dates.
7. Meet the St. John’s Island cats
St. John’s Island was once known as the cat island due the enormous numbers of cats staying on this island. Currently, only 16 cats live there now but you will still be received with a very warm welcome by them. However, if you feel like going there to feed the cats, do take note that there are dedicated volunteers feeding them daily.
Visit St. John’s Island
We’ve been fortunate to have such places in Singapore and the best way to show gratitude is to take care of them. There aren’t many trash bins at St. John’s island. So carry alongside a few plastic bags to collect your trash. And if you’re by the beach, you can help by doing a quick clean-up before you go! Although the cats and monkeys are adorable, it is best not to feed them or bring them back to the Mainland of Singapore.
There are various other southern islands besides St. John’s Island. You can also take this opportunity and visit the other islands like Kusu Island, Sister’s Island and Lazarus Island.
Book ferry tickets to St. John’s, Kusu & Lazarus Islands
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St. John’s Island
