Kusu Island

Kusu Island is one of Singapore's Southern Islands, lying in the sea south of Marina South in the Southern Islands planning area. Its Chinese name means Turtle Island, and its Malay name is Pulau Tembakul. Folklore tells of a giant turtle that turned itself into the island to save two shipwrecked fishermen, one Malay and one Chinese. Kusu was once two small islands joined by a sandbar at low tide, and reclamation in 1975 enlarged it to about 8.5 hectares. The Tua Pek Kong Temple, or Da Bo Gong Temple, was built in 1923 for a deity linked with prosperity and seafarers.

On a hill behind the temple stand three Malay shrines, the keramat, which commemorate the 19th century pious man Syed Abdul Rahman, his mother Nenek Ghalib and his sister Puteri Fatimah. Devotees come in the greatest numbers during the ninth lunar month. For the 2026 pilgrimage season, from 10 October to 8 November, only ferries run by Singapore Island Cruise & Ferry Services may land passengers, sailing hourly from Marina South Pier from 7am, with the last boat leaving Kusu at 7pm.

Outside the season, scheduled ferries from Marina South Pier serve St John's Island and Kusu, according to the Singapore Land Authority, which manages both. Kusu has no shops, so bring water and food; overnight stays and pets are not allowed. At the temple and keramat, cover shoulders and knees and keep voices low. Marina South Pier MRT station is the nearest station on the mainland.