Things to Do in Kukup & Tanjung Piai

Around Kukup you can stand at the southernmost point of mainland Asia at Tanjung Piai, walk a mangrove boardwalk, explore a fishing village built on stilts and take a boat to the kelong fish farms or the Pulau Kukup mangrove island. Tanjung Piai is the easiest win: a national park with a boardwalk to the tip, open from 9am with last entry at 4pm at time of writing. Pulau Kukup has had long closures, so check before you go. Everything is within about 20 to 30 minutes’ drive, which makes a relaxed day trip from Singapore.

Most visitors also come for lunch. We cover what to order and how pricing works in our Kukup seafood guide, so this post is about everything else.

Kukup and Tanjung Piai at a glance

Place	What you do	Time needed
Tanjung Piai National Park	Mangrove boardwalk to the southern tip of mainland Asia	1.5–2 hours
Kukup Laut stilt village	Walk the plank paths between houses, temples and boats	45 minutes–1 hour
Kelong fish farms	Short boat trip to floating fish farms	1–2 hours
Pulau Kukup National Park	Mangrove island with boardwalk and lookout tower	2–3 hours; check status first
Pontian town	Stop on the drive in or out	30 minutes

Tanjung Piai: the southern tip of mainland Asia

Tanjung Piai is one of Johor’s five state national parks, and the smallest but most visited. Its 325 hectares of mangroves and mudflats were made a national park in 1997 and listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2003. The headline, though, is geography: at about 1°16′ north, the end of the boardwalk is the southernmost point of continental Asia.

What you will see

• The boardwalk. About 1.2 km of raised walkways wind through the mangroves to the tip, so you stay dry and above the mud. It is flat and easy for most ages.
• The southern point. A signboard and viewing area mark the tip. From here, ships queue in one of the world’s busiest sea lanes, and on a clear day you can see Singapore and the Indonesian islands at the same time.
• Mangrove wildlife. At low tide, look down for mudskippers and small crabs on the mud. Long-tailed macaques are common; the park asks visitors not to feed them, and you should keep snacks out of sight.
• The visitor complex. An information gallery near the entrance explains the mangroves and the coastal erosion the park has fought, with offshore breakwaters and replanting helping some areas recover.

The park also has an elevated campsite in the mangroves for those who want to stay overnight; ask the park office about bookings.

Tanjung Piai tips

• Hours: the official park page lists 9am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm. Plan the visit for the morning or right after lunch.
• Fees: there is a small entrance fee, higher for non-Malaysians. Check the current rates on the Johor National Parks website.
• Turn off data roaming or set your network manually. The park itself warns that phones may connect to a Singapore network this close to the border.
• Bring: water, insect repellent, a hat, and binoculars if you have them. A raincoat helps in the wet season.
• No pets are allowed, and take your rubbish home.

Pulau Kukup: one of the world’s largest mangrove islands

Directly across the channel from Kukup village lies Pulau Kukup, a 647-hectare island protected as a national park since 1997 and listed as a Ramsar site in 2003. The Johor National Parks Corporation describes it as one of the largest uninhabited mangrove islands in the world. Its mudflats feed migratory waterbirds travelling the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, and visitors reach a boardwalk and an observation tower by boat.

Status check: the island was closed to visitors in 2019 because of damaged jetties and equipment. In 2024 the state announced a reopening with a temporary floating jetty and a daily cap on visitor numbers. Because access depends on the jetty and boats, contact the park office or check the Johor National Parks website before you plan a visit.

Kukup Laut: a village on stilts

Kukup Laut is a Chinese fishing village built on wooden and concrete stilts over the Straits of Malacca. Away from the busy restaurant halls, the plank walkways lead past family homes, small temples, drying racks and moored boats. At low tide the mud below is alive with crabs; at high tide the sea runs right under your feet.

• Walk slowly: some planks are uneven, and walkways can be slippery after rain.
• These are people’s homes, so keep voices down and ask before photographing residents.
• Go in the morning before the lunch crowds for quieter paths and softer light.

Kelong fish farms

In the channel between the village and Pulau Kukup, floating kelong farms raise fish in net cages. Boats from the village jetty run short trips out to them. Children enjoy watching the feeding, and some farms let visitors try line fishing. Operators and prices change, so agree on the price, duration and what is included before you board, and make sure everyone wears a life jacket.

Pontian and the drive in

Pontian is the district town you pass on the way. It is a handy break for toilets, a drink or a quick snack before the last stretch to Kukup, and a good place to buy supplies if you are heading to the park first.

A relaxed Kukup and Tanjung Piai day

1. 8.30am: leave Singapore and cross at the Tuas Second Link, usually the quicker crossing for this side of Johor.
2. 10am: Tanjung Piai boardwalk while it is still cool.
3. 12pm: seafood lunch in Kukup Laut.
4. 2pm: village walk and a kelong boat trip, or Pulau Kukup if it is open.
5. 4pm: head home, ahead of the worst evening checkpoint traffic.

If you are choosing between crossings, our comparison of Woodlands vs Tuas explains when Tuas makes more sense.

Practical tips

• Check the tide. Low tide is best for wildlife on the mudflats; high tide looks best from the stilt village.
• Sun and insects: the boardwalks have patchy shade, and mangroves mean mosquitoes.
• Shoes: closed shoes with grip beat sandals on wet planks.
• Cash: carry ringgit for boat trips, park fees and small shops.
• Seniors and wheelchair users: the Tanjung Piai boardwalk is flat but long; the stilt village has steps and uneven planks.
• Taking food home: if you buy dried seafood, check our guide to the Singapore customs allowance first.

Why a private car suits this trip

Kukup is about 60 km from the Tuas Second Link, and there is no direct public transport from Singapore. Public buses from Johor Bahru run to Pontian, with a local bus or taxi onward, and Tanjung Piai has no direct bus, so getting between the park, the village and the jetty without a car means waiting for taxis.

A Luxway SGMY private car picks you up anywhere in Singapore, you stay seated through immigration at both checkpoints, and you are dropped at the park gate and the village. With our hourly Day Trip Service, the same car and driver stay with you for the whole loop. Fares start from SGD 170 one way in a Toyota Innova, per car, with tolls, checkpoint fees, fuel and parking included and the same price in both directions. No deposit; you pay the driver on arrival.

Plan your trip

Check fares for every vehicle on our Singapore to Kukup private car page or book through our online booking page. You can also Whatsapp us your date, pick-up address, group size and the stops you want, and we will send a written quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 14 October 2026