FAQs

Everything you need to know about Batu Batu

Getting to Batu Batu

Batu Batu is located on Pulau Tengah, (meaning “Middle Island” in Malay), part of the Seribuat Archipelago off Malaysia’s east coast. It’s 16 km from Mersing in Johor, Malaysia, and about 130 km north of Singapore. View Singapore to Batu Batu on Google Maps.

All non-Singaporean and non-Malaysian passport holders must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) before entry. Fill it up here.

Pulau Tengah, 86800 Mersing, Johor, Malaysia.

Take our private speedboat from Mersing, Johor. Mersing is about 2.5–3.5 hours by car from Singapore and 4–5 hours from Kuala Lumpur. The boat ride to Pulau Tengah takes 20 minutes in good weather. View our travel guide here.

We don’t arrange transport, but we can recommend reliable taxi services. Contact us for details.

  • Johor Senai Airport: 135km from Mersing
  • Singapore Changi Airport: 160km from Mersing
  • Kuala Lumpur International Airport: 340km from Mersing
  • By Car: Mersing is about a 2.5 to 3-hour drive away from Singapore and a 4-5 hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. There is parking available near the jetty.
  • By Bus: Several bus services operate from major cities, including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Malacca, to Mersing.
  • By Private Transfer: For a more convenient option, we can arrange a private car transfer.

When you arrive at Mersing Jetty, we’ll take care of the rest to ensure a smooth journey to Batu Batu! View Singapore to Batu Batu on Google Maps.

Yes, all Singapore-registered cars must have a VEP RFID tag to enter Malaysia. You can apply for one via the official JPJ portal or use a Singapore-based agent to help you with the application. View our travel guide here.

  • After crossing the Woodlands Causeway into Johor Bahru, stay in the left lane and take the EDL (Eastern Dispersal Link) towards Kota Tinggi. Follow Highway 3, which is signposted for Kota Tinggi, and continue towards Mersing.
  • Ignore signs for Tanjong Leman Jetty (this is for islands like Sibu and Tinggi) and stay on the road heading straight to Mersing.
  • The last town before Mersing is Jemaluang, about 20 minutes before Mersing. Once you reach Mersing, go straight through the roundabout onto Jalan Abu Bakar, which leads to the main Passenger Jetty (also called Tioman Jetty).

View Singapore to Batu Batu on Google Maps.

There are several gated car parks near the jetty, such as the Rawa Car Park (RM18 per day). You can unload luggage at the jetty before parking.

  • A. Rawa Car Park Contact: +60 17-716 7652 (Mr. Razak) Charges: RM18 per day.
  • B. Majlis Daerah Mersing Car Park R&R Contact: +60 7 798 1818 / +60 7 799 7980 Charges: RM30 (for 3 Days 2 Nights)
  • C. Private Car Park Mr. Jamil Contact: +60 17 737 1664 / +60 19 625 4857 Charges: RM30 (for 3 Days 2 Nights)

Please note that parking fees may change.

Our Mersing representative will meet you at the Mersing Waterworld office, a small building on the left as you enter the main passenger jetty (Jeti Penumpang). Look out for Syimah or Azwat, our Guest Services representatives, wearing a bright turquoise Batu Batu t-shirt. If you need help or can’t find either of them, you can call Syimah at +60 17 755 4381. On her days off, another representative will assist you.

If you arrive early, you can leave your luggage at the office and explore the town. We’re happy to recommend places to visit, eat, or drink.

The drive from the Malaysian border (after immigration) to Mersing takes about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. If you’re running late, please call our Front Desk at +60 17 755 0672 or +60 17 755 5888.

The boat ride from Mersing to Pulau Tengah typically takes around 20 minutes, depending on the weather conditions.

Yes, we have scheduled boats, but the timings vary daily based on tides and occupancy. Please contact our Reservations or Front Desk team for the boat schedule for your travel dates. If there are more arrivals than expected, we may add extra boats to the schedule.

Our Reservations team will send you the boat times for your check-in and check-out dates. Please reply to confirm your preferred time. Seats are limited for safety reasons and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll receive an email confirmation once your boat is booked. If your preferred time is unavailable, we apologise as boats may fill up quickly.

No, a physical ticket is not required.

For 2025, the return boat transfer (Mersing – Pulau Tengah – Mersing) costs RM190+ per adult and RM130+ per child (4 years and above). This charge will be added to your bill and payable at check-out.

We’ll try to arrange another transfer, but this may involve additional charges for a chartered boat.

No, Batu Batu is the only development on Pulau Tengah. The rest of the island is uninhabited.

Rates and Reservations

Visit our website at www.batubatu.com.my and select “Book Online”.

Click on ONLINE RESERVATION on our website (www.batubatu.com.my). Enter your travel dates at the top of the booking page, and available villas will appear. Select a villa and enter the number of guests to see the rates.

The villa rate covers accommodation only. Boat transfers and the 3-meal plan are charged separately.

The rates in our reservation system are calculated based on your input on the number of adults, children and infants staying in the villa. The rates are as follows:

  • Extra adult in room (includes anyone 18 years and above) RM 340+
  • Extra child in room (4+ years) RM 160+. 2x children are included in the villa rate. An extra child refers to 3rd child.
  • Extra Infant (0-3 years) Complimentary

Yes, we have a 2-night minimum stay.

Yes, we require a 100% deposit of the villa rate for your stay, inclusive of 8% SST (in RM).

Deposits are collected via credit card when booking online.

  • We offer a full refund (minus processing fees) if you cancel more than 14 days before your arrival.
  • If your deposit is forfeited but you find a replacement guest for your booking who makes a deposit payment, we will reimburse your deposit.

Accommodation

We have 20 one-bedroom villas and 2 two-bedroom villas.

  • Beach Villas: Located directly on the beach with easy access. Ideal for families.
  • Ocean Villas: Elevated with great sea views but no direct beach access.
  • Jungle Villas: Nestled in lush vegetation with partial sea views.

A small room with bunk beds attached to the main villa, perfect for kids.

Each villa includes:

  • Tea and coffee-making facilities
  • Kettle
  • Minibar fridge
  • Standalone bathtub and shower
  • Locally-made natural toiletries
  • Hairdryer
  • In-room safe

Beach Villas and Two-Bedroom Poolside Villas are closest to the main facilities and ideal for families with young children.

1-Bedroom Villas:
2 adults and 3 children (using bunk beds and a day bed). The day bed can be set up for an extra adult or child.

  • Base occupancy: 2 adults and 2 children. Extra guests will incur additional charges.

2-Bedroom Villas:
4 adults and 2 children or 2 adults and 4 children without needing extra beds.

  • Bedroom 1: King bed + sofa bed (fits 1).
  • Bedroom 2: King bed or 2 twin beds + sofa bed (fits 1).
  • Cots can be added to both rooms. Each bedroom has its own outdoor bathroom.

Food & Beverage

Meals are served at the main restaurant:

  • Breakfast: 8am–11am
  • Lunch: 12 pm–3 pm
  • Dinner: 7 pm–10 pm (Children’s dinner starts at 6 pm)

The Tiki Bar at Long Beach is open from mid-morning to sunset.

Our menu features Malaysian, pan-Asian, and European dishes, with daily-changing options. Highlights include fresh seafood, quality meats, and homemade desserts.

Children are served a rotating menu of kid-friendly meals like pasta, stir-fries, and homemade desserts. Baby food purees are also available.

All children are on the 3-Meal Plan.

  • Children under 4 years old: Eat for free.
  • Children 4-12 years old: Placed on a Children’s 3-Meal Plan.

Children don’t choose their main course or dessert (to speed up meal service), but if the meal isn’t to their liking, let our restaurant staff know, and they’ll provide alternatives. We also accommodate allergies – please inform us when booking and at check-in.

All guests are on the 3-Meal Plan, charged per person per day (not included in the villa rate):

  • Adults: RM 350+ per day
  • Children (4-12 years): RM 175+ per day
  • Infants (under 4 years): Free

The plan includes breakfast, a two-course lunch (main & dessert), and a three-course dinner (starter, main, dessert). Drinks are charged separately and paid at check-out.

Extra meals:

  • Adult breakfast: RM 72+
  • Adult lunch: RM 103+
  • Child breakfast: RM 36+
  • Child lunch/dinner: RM 52+

Adults can choose from 3 options per course. Children don’t have a choice for main course or dessert, but alternatives can be arranged if needed.

Yes, we accommodate vegetarians, allergies, and other dietary needs. Please inform us in advance and remind our staff upon arrival.

Batu Batu offers a great selection of wines, beers, and cocktails. If you’d like to bring your own alcohol to the restaurant, bars, Long Beach area, or poolside, corkage charges will apply.

Families at Batu Batu

The children’s annexe is a small 2m x 2m room attached to the main villa bedroom with bunk beds. A cot can fit beside the bunk bed, but it will be very tight. It’s a cosy space that lets parents put kids to bed separately without needing to stay in the dark.

We recommend the 1-bedroom villas with a children’s annexe or the 2-bedroom poolside villas.

  • If you have babies in cots, the children’s annexe may feel too cramped as it’s designed for bunk beds.

We provide:

  • Cots, baby baths, potties, nappy changing mats
  • Homemade baby purees (on request)
  • Children’s meals and bottle sterilisers (at the restaurant)
  • Babysitting (on prior request, cash payment to babysitter, subject to availability and COVID-19 limitations)

Batu Batu is family-friendly, and children often roam freely. While the pool is popular with families, the island’s eight beaches and secluded spots offer plenty of quiet areas for couples and adult-only groups. For a more peaceful experience, we recommend staying in an Ocean Villa, avoiding peak meal times, and visiting during quieter periods outside school holidays.

Babysitting Services

Yes, we offer babysitting services carried out by our staff who work during the day and babysit in the evenings.

  • Babysitters are available from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at RM 35 per hour.
  • If you require babysitting after 9:00 pm, the rate is RM 45 per hour, with services ending no later than 1:00 am.
  • Babysitters will not stay overnight in the villa.
  • Babysitting services are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend letting us know in advance, ideally before your arrival on the island.
  • Babysitting start time will be based on the later of the Booking Start Time or the time the babysitter arrives at your villa. If the babysitter arrives and you are not ready, the hours will still be counted from their arrival time.
  • Payment should be made directly to the babysitter in cash immediately after the service is provided.
  • If you don’t have Malaysian Ringgit, Guest Services can calculate the amount in foreign currency for you to pay the babysitter.

Yes, if you’d like the babysitter to sit on the balcony, please inform the Front Desk in advance. The babysitter will bring mosquito coils or wear repellent. Please ensure an outdoor light is left on for their comfort. The villas have blackout curtains, so the light won’t disturb your sleeping children.

Please reconfirm with Guest Services on the day of the service to determine which staff member has been assigned for babysitting that evening.

Activities

Batu Batu Dive offers a variety of activities, including:

  • Snorkelling and kayak rentals
  • Scuba diving trips and courses
  • Snorkel boat trips to nearby islands
  • Jungle walks

The dive centre is closed outside the diving season. For more details, email dive@batubatu.com.my.

You can also enjoy snorkelling or hiking around the island to explore its rich flora and fauna. Check our island visit map and view our dive menu for more info.

For indoor fun, borrow a DVD or board game from the Front Desk.

Yes, snorkels, masks, and fins (for adults and children) are available for free at the Dive & Activities Centre, subject to availability. Check the dive menu for details.

Yes, diving is available with the Batu Batu Dive team from mid-March to October, depending on sea conditions. We also offer PADI courses. For more information, email dive@batubatu.com.my or refer to the dive menu.

All profits from equipment rentals, scuba diving, and boat trips support Tengah Island Conservation (TIC) projects. Learn more at www.tengahislandconservation.org.

Facilities

Yes, free WiFi is available in the resort’s public areas. Due to our remote island location, the connection may not always be perfect. WiFi is not provided in individual villas to ensure a more stable connection in shared spaces.

Yes, the island has a good mobile signal for Celcom, Maxis, and Digi. Celcom and Maxis are generally more reliable, but some areas of the island may experience signal issues.

Yes, we have a spa with two massage therapists on staff. For more details or to book, please visit our spa page or email info@batubatu.com.my.

Monsoon Weather Advisory

The north-east monsoon typically runs from December to the end of February. The weather can vary from sunny days to rough seas and rain. Scuba diving is not available during this time, and there’s a slight chance of port closures. If your boat is cancelled due to weather, we’ll refund your deposit. However, if the boat is able to travel and you choose to cancel, refunds will not be provided.

Monsoon weather can vary greatly and is difficult to predict. You may experience:

  • Rainy days with calm seas
  • Rainy days with choppy seas
  • Blue skies with choppy seas
  • Blue skies, sunshine, and calm seas

Yes, Batu Batu remains open throughout the monsoon season. Boats will continue to run as long as the Mersing harbour is open, which is managed by the Port Authority (Jabatan Laut). Please be aware that that boat schedules may be delayed or cancelled due to weather.

In the past 10 years, the port has typically closed for 7-10 days during the 3-month monsoon period due to Category 2 weather warnings or higher issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department. However, some years, like the 2018-2019 monsoon, have seen no closures at all.

We closely monitor wind and sea conditions using sailing apps and will do our best to notify you in advance of any delays or cancellations. However, please note that the Port Authority may make sudden and unexpected decisions based on changing weather conditions, and we may not always be able to provide advance notice.

If boats are expected to be cancelled, you have the following options:

  • Arrive earlier or later: Consider coming to the island a day or several days earlier or later when the weather is forecasted to improve.
  • Postpone your booking: Reschedule your stay to other dates entirely.
  • Cancel your booking: If you cancel your booking, we will refund your deposit in full.

If the port remains open and boats are operating, we will not be able to refund your deposit if you decide to cancel less than 14 days prior to your travel date.

If you have any concerns or questions about travelling during the monsoon season, feel free to contact us. Our team is happy to assist you in planning your trip and ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience.

We recommend that the following guests avoid travelling to Batu Batu during the monsoon:

  • Pregnant women
  • Very young infants
  • Guests prone to seasickness or afraid of the sea

We can’t wait to welcome you to Batu Batu.

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Pulau Tengah, nestled within Johor’s protected Sultan Iskandar Marine Park in Malaysia, is a true hidden gem. This secluded island, which Batu Batu calls home, is a picture-perfect cliché of crystal-clear waters, lush greenery, white sandy beaches, and vibrant coral reefs.

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Reservations on weekdays from 9am to 11pm: +60 17 755 5888

Front Office every day from 7am to 11pm: +60 17 755 0672

Mersing Representative for any enquiries as you travel to Mersing +60 17 755 4381

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