Kukup Island (or Pulau Kukup) is essentially one giant mangrove island. You will not find any nice sandy beaches or coral reefs here. Instead what you will find here is a rich coastal habitat that is home to many species of fish and plants.

Kukup Island is located off the South West coast of Johor, Malaysia. There is no bridge connecting this island to the mainland so you will need to take a bum boat over. There is a regular service from Kukup to Kukup Island. The island has no settlement on it and it is entirely a National Park.

Your journey to Kukup Island starts on a bum boat from Kukup. The bum boat cuts its way across the string of kelongs (floating fish farms in the sea) that lie between the island and the mainland. It is only a 10 minute ride across and would be much faster if the boat traveled faster.

You disembark at a jetty on the island and head up to the park's office. There is one main route and it allows you to loop around while keeping on the boardwalk. The whole island is low lying and a mangrove habitat. Expect to see mangrove plants and Bakau trees (the plants where your scaffolding comes from). There is also a tower to climb up to get a better view.

An option in the park is to hire a motor sampan. You need to pay a small amount to take a trip, but since you have made your way there, it is worth a trip. You get a water level view of your surroundings and a somewhat fun ride. You travel through what appears to be the main waterway back to the jetty.

Close to the jetty you will find a suspension bridge. The bridge itself is not long but once again you get a good view of your surroundings from the bridge. The mainland and kelongs are clearly visible. One interesting sight is to look back at the town of Kukup and realise that all the buildings by the sea are actually resting on stilts that rise out of the water.

You would have covered the entirely walkable part of the island in a hour or so. When you board the bum boat on the return journey, the boat stops at one of the kelongs so you can have a closer view of the fish being farmed. They even keep archer fish in the farms together with more familiar species. You can buy a fish there and then if you want one that's really fresh.

Sungai Buloh, Kukup Island and Tanjung Piai may one day become a combined eco-tourist destination. Perhaps the sleepy feel of Kukup Island will make way for something more interesting to bring in the crowds. But until that day, it remains an interesting out the beaten track place to visit.

Getting there:

The straight line distance from Singapore is actually not that far from Tuas. However, to drive there, you will need to head fairly far North to skirt around the large river separating the South-West coast from the Second Link.
The best way to get there is to drive across the Second Link. You will get onto the E2 and go past Gelang Patah. Exit at Skudai and head West on Trunk Road 5.

You will go through Pekan Nanas (there is a Pineapple Museum here, not really worth your time unless you are a big fan of the fruit and keen to know more about a purplish pineapple species, etc). You will take a right when you reach Pontian (follow sign that says towards Kukup) and head South. Kukup will be on your right as you head South and being the largest town in the area, you should have no problems finding it. You can expect a 40 minutes to 50 minutes drive from the Second Link.

You could park your car along the main road and walk towards the ferry terminal where you can catch the bum boat to Kukup Island.

Alternative ways to get to the park from the Causeway includes skirt around JB by heading towards Danga Bay and take a left onto Trunk Road 5 at Taman Jaya. This is somewhat confusing with insufficient road signs so perhaps it is just best to take the Second Link. You could also get one the North-South highway, take a left to the E2 (towards Second Link/Tuas) and get off at Skudai.

You could also visit Tanjung Piai if you plan a trip here, since it is only a ten minute drive away.

 

 

Bring the Iguania 4-men Dome Tent when you visit Pulau Kukup