A Ferry Away To Tanjung Pengelih, Johor, From Singapore – Where To Stay, Eat, And Things To Do

As the Singapore Dollar hits an all-time high against Malaysian Ringgit, some of those residing in Singapore may be inclined to cross over to Johor during the weekends or holidays to enjoy more affordable shopping, dining and even travelling.

Due to high traffic between Singapore and Johor, the Causeway can get congested at times, especially during the holidays. In fact, Malaysia received 1,809,837 tourists from Singapore during the period of January and July 2022 – which is more than half of total arrivals at 3,208,378.

Fortunately, residents in Singapore can reach Johor easily by a ferry ride as well.

Tanjung Pengelih is a small coastal town in Pengerang situated in the Kota Tinggi district and is only a 45-minute ferry ride away. There are family-friendly attractions and seafood restaurants in Pengerang for those who might want a short getaway over the weekend.

Pengerang is known for being a focal point of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry where final products of crude oil and natural gas are formed. Starting from 2012, the Johor government had established industrial zone Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) that spans approximately 20,000 acres.

Within the PIPC, there are oil refineries, petrochemical plants and regasification plants. Pengerang’s strategic location with easy access to international shipping lanes makes it an ideal location for the downstream processes of oil and gas.

Read Also: Step-By-Step Guide To Getting A Revolut Card For Your Travels, Overseas Money Transfers And Foreign Currency Spends  

How To Get To Tanjung Pengelih

Travellers can get to Tanjung Pengelih directly via ferry from the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, which is close to the east side of Singapore. The Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal provides ferry services to Singapore residents who want to travel to destinations in Indonesia and Malaysia such as Tanjung Pengelih.

The nearest train stations from the ferry terminal are the Bedok or Tanah Merah MRT Station. From there, you will need to board the SBS Service Number 35 that will take you straight to Tanah Merah.

At the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, you can take the Batam Fast Ferry Service to the Tanjung Pengelih Ferry Terminal. There are three rides a day. A check on Easybook.com shows that a roundtrip ferry ride from Tanah Merah to Tanjung Pengelih costs S$43 per person. You may purchase ferry tickets online or at ferry operator counters.

The Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal is further away from Singapore. It will take around 90 minutes to ferry passengers from Tanah Merah to Desaru.

Where To Stay: Relax In A Golf Resort

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One of the notable accommodations in Pengerang include the Sebana Cove Resort that comes complete with an 18-hole golf course, docking and berthing facilities. To cater to golf enthusiasts, there is a clubhouse within the massive property and other facilities such as swimming pool, playground, barbeque area, sauna, restaurants and poolside bar.

If you’re willing to travel further, you could consider the Sebana Cove Resort situated around 21 minutes from Tanjung Pengelih by car. Sebana Cove Resort has relatively low-density with 40 executive rooms and 20 suite rooms spread across five double-storey buildings.

The properties were designed to provide guests with serene views of lily ponds or marina basins, surrounded by lush greeneries. All rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, Master Antenna Television (MATV) and selected Singapore TV channels.

The executive rooms are priced from RM280 (S$81.25) while suite rooms set you back RM400 (S$116.07).

A search on Agoda also reveals that there is a Desa Selatan Resort located around nine minutes from Tanjung Pengelih. The property comes with basic facilities like a pool and fitness centre as well as complimentary parking and Wi-Fi.

A standard room with a king-size bed has a usual price of RM204 per night (S$58.28).

What To Do: Family Fun In A Mini Zoo And Quiet Bamboo Walk

There are two popular attractions in Pengerang namely the Desaru Mini Zoo and The Bamboo Walk @ Sebana Woods.

The Desaru Mini Zoo is a relatively new attraction launched in 2022. The one-stop destination offers a farm experience with feeding sessions with alpacas, goats, fish, and chicks where visitors can observe and feed the animals with food they can purchase at the zoo.

You can also sign up for thrilling all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rides that take you through a nature path starting from RM65 (S$18.57).

If you’re staying at the Sebana Cove Resort, you can drive to the nearby Bamboo Walk in Sebana Woods. The serene park is popular for its walkway that is flanked by green bamboo trees to form a nature tunnel, perfect for some picturesque photos.

What To Eat: Seafood Dishes  

As a coastal town, there are a few seafood restaurants in Pengerang where you can taste staple recipes that complement catches from the ocean.

The Super Lobster Village restaurant has Chinese staple dishes such as sweet and sour crab, salted egg lobster, curry fish head, soy sauce steamed fish, stir-fried clams, and ‘kangkung belacan’.

Another seafood restaurant is the Jade Garden Seafood Restaurant that you could consider if you don’t mind a further drive. Situated further away by the ocean – around 20 minutes from Tanjung Pengelih by car – the restaurant specialises in Chinese dishes cooked with ingredients like lobsters and Alaskan king crabs.

Read Also: A Ferry Away: 6 Short Holiday Destinations Singaporeans Can Travel For The Weekend 

Featured Image Credit: Batam Fast Ferry

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