Stepping aboard a traditional fishing boat in the Riau Islands
The Riau Islands sit barely a stone's throw from Singapore and just a few hours' flight from Australia's eastern capitals, making them one of the closest tropical archipelagos for Sydneysiders and Melburnians craving salt spray and warm water. A traditional fishing boat trip here trades glossy resort beaches for working vessels skippered by families who have run these routes for generations. Travellers from Perth often find the time zone works in their favour too, with only two or three hours' difference depending on which island you land on.
Most visitors arrive thinking of Batam and Bintan as quick shopping or weekend stopovers, but the waters beyond those two hubs hide hundreds of smaller islands where wooden boats still head out before dawn. Taking a trip on one of these craft lets you join a working morning on the sea, eat what the crew eats, and watch the horizon the way locals have for centuries. It is a slow, practical way to travel that rewards patience over itinerary.
Choosing your craft and captain
Traditional vessels in the Riau Islands come in a few shapes, and choosing the right one sets the tone for the whole day. The jongkong is a long, narrow wooden canoe-like boat that slices cleanly through choppy conditions and is often paddled or poled in shallow reefs. The kolek is a slightly wider, sturdier boat with a single mast and often a small auxiliary diesel engine, ideal for families or small groups who want stability. Larger phinisi-style schooners occasionally appear for multi-day trips between islands.
| Boat type | Best for | Capacity | Comfort level | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jongkong | Solo or pair travellers, reef fishing | 1โ3 people | Low seating, open hull | Inshore line fishing, reef exploration |
| Kolek | Small groups, families | 4โ8 people | Bench seating, shade canopy | Half-day fishing, island hopping |
| Phinisi schooner | Multi-day expeditions | 10โ20 people | Bunks, galley, head | Overnight island transfers |
Most homestays and small hotels around Tanjung Pinang and Penyengat can arrange a captain for the day, and it pays to ask who they recommend rather than accepting the first offer at the jetty. Local skippers often know the daily bite times better than any guidebook and will adjust routes based on tide and weather. For Australian visitors used to booking through apps, this direct handshake arrangement can feel charmingly informal but is the standard here.
Getting there from Australia
Direct flights from Australia to the Riau Islands are limited, but connections are smooth. Jetstar runs services from Perth and Melbourne to Singapore, where a short ferry hop lands you in Batam in under an hour. From Sydney, Qantas and Scoot offer one-stop routings via Changi. Once you clear immigration at Hang Nadim Airport, the jump to the boat jetties at Sekupang or Tanjung Balai Karimun is a twenty-minute taxi ride away.
Travellers coming from Broome or Darwin will find the closest route via Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, while those from Cairns occasionally pick up budget fares through Denpasar. The Indonesian rupiah goes a long way against the Australian dollar, and most homestays accept cash in either currency, though small notes get better rates. Bring a printed copy of your boat booking as phone reception drops off quickly once you leave the main towns. If you have time before or after your trip, the highland coffee region in northern Sumatra offers a very different pace and is well worth a detour, with detailed route notes available through this coffee plantation guide.
A morning on the water
Boats usually push off between four and five in the morning, well before the tropical sun climbs high. The pre-dawn dark over Sekupang harbour is broken only by the lights of other vessels preparing their nets and the smell of coffee from the stalls near the jetty. Travellers who have only known fishing charters out of Cairns or Darwin often comment on how quiet the lead-in is, with engines coughing to life rather than roaring.
Once clear of the breakwater, the crew drops anchor at the first mark and begins setting lines by hand. Trolling for mackerel and tuna happens while drifting between reefs, with the captain calling out changes in current. Guests are welcome to help bait hooks, hold the line, or simply sit and watch the flying fish scatter. The rhythm is unhurried, and the only urgency comes when a pelagic school shows up on the sounder.
Food, breaks and island lunches
Most half-day trips include a stop on a quiet beach or a small island for lunch, often a spread of nasi lemak, grilled fish, sambal and fresh pineapple that the cook prepares on a single-burner stove amidships. The catch of the morning usually gets added to the grill, which is the kind of sea-to-plate moment that makes the trip memorable for visitors used to portion-controlled restaurant meals back home.
Bring your own reusable water bottle and reef-safe sunscreen, as most boats do not provide either. Alcohol is generally not included and can be frowned upon by conservative fishing families, so check before you bring a cold one. If you have dietary requirements, let the boat operator know in advance, because provisioning happens the day before departure from the local pasar. Australians travelling on halal-aware itineraries will find most crews cater easily to no-pork preparations.
Reading the sea and weather
Local captains read wind, tide and cloud shape with a fluency that no weather app can match. The southwest monsoon from roughly June to September brings stronger breezes and choppier water, while April and October sit on the cusp with calmest conditions. Mornings almost always start glassy, so even during the windier months a dawn departure can reward you with flat seas before the afternoon swell builds.
Carry a light rain jacket even in dry season because tropical squalls form quickly over the equator. If lightning flashes within ten seconds of thunder, the crew will usually head for the nearest lee shore rather than push on. Travellers from Melbourne will recognise the same logic used by fishing crews in Port Phillip Bay, just with warmer water and bigger fish.
Practical etiquette and packing tips
Slip-on shoes, a wide-brim hat and quick-dry clothing make life easier on deck, since traditional boats rarely have covered seating. A dry bag keeps passports and phones safe from spray, and a small towel is handy for rinsing off after swimming stops. Cash in small rupiah notes is appreciated for tips and island entry fees, though tipping is not mandatory.
Greet the captain and crew with a polite selamat pagi when boarding and terima kasih at the end of the day; the effort is warmly received. Ask before pointing cameras at people, especially in smaller villages where privacy is taken seriously. If you plan to extend your trip into Java, the Jawa Timur region offers a completely different landscape worth considering for the second leg.
Return to the jetty by mid-afternoon to catch the last ferries back to Singapore or onward flights, unless you have arranged an overnight stay on a homestay island. Most operators will store extra luggage securely at their office for a small fee, so you can travel light for the boat day itself.
A traditional fishing boat trip in the Riau Islands rewards travellers who treat the day as a working partnership rather than a tour package. Bring patience, follow the captain's lead, and you will likely leave with a few fish, a full stomach, and a far better sense of how these waters have fed families for generations.