Tanjung Gemok Jetty: Ferries, Islands & Getting There

Tanjung Gemok is a passenger ferry terminal on the Pahang side of the Endau River mouth, about 35–40 km north of Mersing, and its main job is getting people to Tioman Island. It is not the departure point for Rawa or the other Johor islands near Mersing: those boats leave from Mersing jetty in town. At time of writing, sailings from Tanjung Gemok are seasonal, running roughly March to October and stopping for the northeast monsoon, so the first thing to check is whether your ticket actually says Tanjung Gemok.

This guide stays on the jetty itself: where it is, what is there, which islands you can and cannot reach from it, and how to arrive on time. For the Tioman timetable in detail, see our Mersing to Tioman ferry guide.

Where is Tanjung Gemok jetty?

The terminal sits on the north bank of the Endau River estuary in the Kuala Rompin district of Pahang. The river is the state border: Endau town and its fishing port are on the Johor side, and the Endau Bridge links the two banks. In practice this means a jetty that feels like part of Endau, even though the address is in Pahang.

Quick facts	Details
State / district	Pahang, Rompin district, beside Endau (Johor)
From Mersing jetty	About 35–40 km, roughly 30–40 minutes by road
From Singapore	About 3 hr 15 min – 4 hr door to door, via the Woodlands Causeway, Kota Tinggi and Mersing
Islands served	Tioman Island (west coast villages)
Season	Roughly March to October; closed during the northeast monsoon, November to February

You may also see the jetty called Teluk Gading or Tg. Gemok on ticket sites. They mean the same terminal.

Which islands can you reach from Tanjung Gemok?

This is where many trips go wrong. Tanjung Gemok is a Tioman jetty, and only a Tioman jetty.

• Tioman Island: ferries and speedboats call at the main west-coast village jetties: Genting, Paya, Tekek, Air Batang (ABC) and Salang. One operator also lists occasional special runs to Nipah, Juara and Mukut when they are scheduled.
• Rawa, Besar, Tengah, Aur and Pemanggil: Johor National Parks says boats to these northern islands of the Sultan Iskandar Marine Park leave from Mersing jetty, and that resorts arrange their own guests' transfers. Do not go to Tanjung Gemok for these.
• Sibu and Tinggi: the same source says these leave from Tanjung Leman, a jetty just over an hour's drive south of Mersing.

If you are heading to Rawa or another resort island, your resort will tell you the jetty and boat time when you book. Our Johor islands compared guide helps you choose between them, and the Tioman Island guide covers where to stay once you land.

Who sails from Tanjung Gemok in 2026?

Services here change more than at Mersing, so treat this as a snapshot at time of writing and confirm with the operator before you plan anything else.

Tioman Speedboat

A newer operator that started in May 2026, with its counter (No. 5) inside the Tanjung Gemok passenger terminal. Its website describes two enclosed, air-conditioned 36-seat speedboats and a crossing of about an hour to Tioman (the return is listed as about 90 minutes). It says daily service runs from March to October and is suspended in the peak monsoon, typically 1 November to 28 February. Tickets are sold online and at the counter, and each passenger fills in their IC or passport details before travel and boards with a QR code.

Bluewater Express

The ferry company most often linked with Tanjung Gemok. Published schedules show it running here on selected dates only; for example, a ferry schedule site listed Tanjung Gemok sailings in early September 2026 and none for October. When it does run, the crossing is usually given as about 90 minutes.

Cataferry

Cataferry's website has information pages for the Tanjung Gemok jetty, but at time of writing its booking form only offers departures from Mersing. Check its site for your date.

Tip: if you cannot find a Tanjung Gemok sailing for your dates, look at Mersing. It has more operators and runs later into the year, although Mersing sailings depend heavily on the tide.

Why some travellers prefer Tanjung Gemok

• Less tide trouble. Travel guides note that departures here are less affected by the tide than at Mersing, where the river mouth can be too shallow at low water.
• Shorter crossing by speedboat. About an hour, if the speedboat service suits your stop.
• Quieter. No town crowds at the gate; you arrive, check in and board.

The trade-offs: it is a longer drive from Singapore than Mersing, there are fewer sailings, and in the off-season there may be none at all.

At the terminal: what to expect

Tanjung Gemok is a transit point, not a destination. Ticket listings describe a basic set-up with operator counters, seating, toilets, parking and a few small food stalls. Plan around that:

• Marine park fee. Tioman is a marine park, and the conservation fee is paid at the terminal before you board, with different rates for Malaysians and foreign visitors. Bring ringgit cash.
• Eat before you arrive. Food at the jetty is limited. Endau, just across the bridge, has local eateries and a fishing port, and Mersing has more choice if you stop on the way.
• Keep essentials in a day bag. Large bags usually go into the boat's luggage space. Passports, tickets, water, medication and seasickness tablets should stay with you.
• Dive gear. If you are carrying tanks or oversized kit, message the boat operator in advance, as luggage rules vary.
• Arrive early. Operators set their own check-in times. Follow the instructions on your ticket and allow extra time on weekends and holidays.

The monsoon: November to February

The east coast faces the northeast monsoon from about November to February. Berjaya Tioman Resort's own travel page says the Tanjung Gemok ferry terminal closes during these months, and the speedboat operator suspends service over the same period. If you are travelling in this window, plan on Mersing instead, keep your dates flexible and check sailings again a day or two before you go.

Timing your car to the ferry

Ferries do not wait for late passengers, and the drive from Singapore crosses two checkpoints before the long road north. Work your pick-up time backwards:

1. Start from the check-in time on your ticket, not the sailing time.
2. Subtract the drive: about 3¼ to 4 hours door to door to Tanjung Gemok, depending on traffic and where you live in Singapore.
3. Add a checkpoint buffer. Friday evenings, weekend mornings and the eve of public holidays are the slowest. Our guide to border travel timing shows when queues usually build.
4. Consider a night nearby for a very early sailing. Staying in Mersing or Endau the night before takes the checkpoint risk out of the morning.

Example: for a 10am sailing with check-in at 9am, a pick-up around 4.30–5am gives a comfortable margin on a normal weekday. Leave earlier on a long weekend.

For the way back, return boats can run late because of weather or loading. Give your driver the scheduled arrival time and send a message when you board on the island so the car is there when you land.

Getting there by private car

There is no direct public transport from Singapore to Tanjung Gemok, so most visitors either drive themselves or book a car. A private car makes sense here for three reasons: the start is usually before dawn, island luggage is bulky, and the jetty is on the far side of Mersing where buses are scarce.

With Luxway SGMY, the driver picks you up at home anywhere in Singapore at a time worked out from your ferry, everyone stays in the car through immigration at both checkpoints, and you are dropped at the terminal entrance. Fares are per car and include tolls, checkpoint fees, fuel and parking. A Toyota Innova to Tanjung Gemok starts from SGD 220 one way, the same as Mersing, and the price is the same in both directions. Groups with dive bags can choose a Toyota Hiace (up to 9 passengers with luggage) or an 18-seater van. Ferry tickets and marine park fees are paid separately to the operators.

Book your car to Tanjung Gemok

Once your boat is confirmed, send us the jetty name, sailing and check-in times, your pick-up address, and the number of passengers and bags. See fares and vehicles on our Singapore to Tanjung Gemok private car page, read how booking works, or Whatsapp us for a pick-up time. There is no deposit: you pay the driver on arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 14 October 2026