Ternate Island Journey Information & Finest Issues To Do (Maluku)
Ternate is a small, cone-shaped volcanic island within the North Maluku province of Indonesia. It isn’t prone to grow to be the following large trip island within the nation, but it surely has some attention-grabbing sights and historical past.
A very long time in the past, the island of Ternate was some of the essential kingdoms within the pre-colonial ‘Spice Islands’ of the Moluccas, and European powers fought over management of the spice commerce right here. Even immediately, this little island remains to be the principle gateway to the North Maluku province.
If you happen to ever occur to be passing via Ternate on the best way to some place else in Indonesia, right here’s a journey information for among the finest issues to see and do on the island!
How To Get To Ternate Island
There’s an airport in Ternate (TTE) with direct flights from Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, Manado, or Ambon. If you happen to’re coming from Bali, then you definitely’ll must transit in certainly one of these locations first.
You possibly can store for flights on Skyscanner, but it surely’s price noting that flights in Maluku are usually a bit dear by Indonesian requirements since this space is simply served by a number of airways.
Alternatively, you possibly can take a ship from Halmahera to Ternate, which is what we did after mountaineering Mount Dukono. The speedboat trip from Sofifi harbor solely takes about 45 minutes and tickets are moderately priced.
Ngade Lake is without doubt one of the most well-known views on Ternate
How To Get Round The Island
It’s very simple to get round on Ternate due to how small it’s.
There’s paved highway that wraps across the island, and it solely takes about 1.5 hours to drive round the entire island in a circle. Some facet roads could be a bit steep, just like the highway to Ngade Lake, however the principle highway is tame and flat.
You possibly can lease a scooter out of your resort, or rent a personal driver with a automotive. Ternate additionally has the Seize app, which is handy for brief distance journeys.
Drone pic of one other lake in Ternate, the Danau Tolire.
Finest Issues To Do & See In Ternate
• Tolukko Fort
The Tolukko Fort was constructed by the Portuguese in 1512 to regulate the spice commerce within the Maluku islands.
All through the years, it was managed by the Portuguese, the native Ternate Sultanate, the Dutch, the British, and the Spanish.
You possibly can go to the fort for a small payment and climb to the rooftop for views of Mount Gamalama. It’s a photogenic and attention-grabbing place to see.
Fort Tolukko
• Kalamata Fort
That is one other colonial fort that was constructed by the Portuguese in 1540, and subsequently traded arms between the opposite colonial powers, and the native sultanate.
It’s positioned on the south facet of Ternate, so it has good views of the Tidore and Maitara islands throughout the ocean, particularly if you happen to go to the roof of the fort.
• Kastela Seaside Sundown
This seaside is without doubt one of the finest sundown spots on the island, with a gaggle of photogenic timber that appears form of just like the dancing timber in Sumba island.
We solely watched the sundown right here one time, however the colours have been unimaginable!
Watch out if you happen to wade out to the timber for a better picture. The water is shallow sufficient, however I virtually stepped on a sea snake.
Loopy colours at Kastela Seaside
• Ngade Lake
This lake has some of the superb views of Ternate, with the volcanic peak of Tidore island within the distance. An analogous image was featured on Indonesia’s 1,000 Rupiah money notes.
Sadly the surroundings was virtually ruined by an unpleasant, foolish bicycle zipline that was put in on the viewpoint, however fortunately it’s nonetheless doable to take photos with out it blocking the view.
They cost a payment for drone use, which we didn’t see till it was too late. There’s additionally a small payment to make use of the swing.
Ngade Lake with the neighboring Tidore island within the distance
• Tolire Lake
It is a shiny inexperienced volcanic lake on the base of Mount Gamalama. The lake was shaped by a violent eruption of Gamalama in 1775 that killed 141 folks and buried one of many close by villages.
Based on native legends, Tolire is supposedly house to a white crocodile that guards the lake. We didn’t see any crocodiles once we have been there, however the locals instructed us about how folks have been attacked by them whereas fishing within the lake.
Tribun Information shared a video of a crocodile that was noticed within the lake in 2022, though nobody is aware of the way it bought there, contemplating the steep edges of the lake.
We did see a number of lizards on the viewpoint, together with the primary iguana we’ve seen in Indonesia.
Tolire Lake
Drone pic of the lake
• Tolire Seaside
It is a cool seaside with black sand from the volcano, and views of Hiri island. It’s only a quick distance from Lake Tolire.
We noticed an enormous purple crab scuttling throughout the seaside.
Tolire Seaside
Crab on the black sand
• Batu Angus
It is a small park the place you possibly can see a area of jagged black volcanic rocks that have been deposited by Mount Gamalama.
It’s a reminder of how the volcano’s fixed exercise over the centuries has continued to form Ternate island.
Gamalama has erupted dozens of occasions in recorded historical past, generally violently.
• Gamalama Volcano
On the heart of Ternate island sits Mount Gamalama, an energetic volcano.
You possibly can hike to the highest, but it surely takes a number of hours ranging from Moya. That is an energetic, smoking volcano, so climbing it isn’t with out some danger.
When you have a drone and don’t really feel snug climbing to the highest of the volcano, then you possibly can cease partway and nonetheless take some nice photos of the height.
Mount Gamalama and Lake Tolire. Discover the smoke coming from the volcano.
• Sulamadaha Bay
It is a good bay with turquoise water the place you possibly can go snorkeling, though the very best fish and coral is additional out from shore.
It’s a hidden bay, so the one manner you possibly can attain it’s to park on the black sand seaside and stroll via the jungle for about 300 meters till you discover the bay.
There’s additionally a second bay to the east, which is used as a harbor for going to Hiri island.
• Jikomalamo Seaside
That is one other fashionable spot for swimming and snorkeling. There’s no actual seaside to talk of, but it surely has good views of Hiri island.
There are many warungs for purchasing snacks or drinks.
View of Hiri island from Jikomalamo
Extra Issues To See Close to Ternate
• Tidore Island
Tidore is the neighboring island of Ternate, and in pre-colonial occasions, the 2 have been fierce rivals.
Like Ternate, Tidore was additionally a key participant within the spice commerce, and this attracted the eye of Spanish colonizers, who constructed the Taula Fort there to defend in opposition to the Portuguese.
The island of Tidore is roughly the identical dimension as Ternate, though it’s formed a bit totally different. You possibly can simply go between the 2 with a 15 minute boat trip.
The principle factor to do on Tidore is to hike to the highest of Mount Kie Matubu for views of the entire space. It’s a reasonable hike so plan on spending no less than half a day on it.
• Hiri Island
If you happen to make a brief journey over to Hiri island, there’s an enormous rock arch to see on the northwest seaside, referred to as Batu Balubang Gurabala.
The arch is fairly near the shore, so you possibly can stroll out to it on the rocks when the tide is low. It’s an excellent picture spot.
Map Of Sights In Ternate Island
Right here’s a map of among the finest issues to see and do in Ternate and the encircling islands.
The place To Keep In Ternate
- Villa Ma’Rasai – One of many nicest resorts in Ternate, with balcony views of the ocean and the volcano on neighboring Tidore island. They’ve a pool, restaurant, and included breakfast. If we return to Ternate, this may be our first alternative for a spot to remain!
- Emerald Resort – Midrange lodging on the town, with a restaurant and free breakfast.
- Kurnia Homestay – Finances pleasant place with free breakfast, and the proprietor is pleasant and useful. That is the place we stayed on our first go to to Ternate, and it’s possibility if you happen to’re on a decent finances.
Room on the © Emerald Resort
Balcony view at © Villa Ma’Rasai
Different Suggestions For Ternate
- ATM: There are many working ATMs scattered throughout the island, however they often give 50k notes.
- Credit score Playing cards: Most resorts and eating places right here don’t settle for playing cards, so that you’ll need to have money readily available.
- Cell Service: We had good 4G information right here with Telkomsel, however dependable WiFi remains to be uncommon.
- Electrical energy: Ternate has 24/7 electrical energy, so that you don’t have to fret about outages.
- Faith: Ternate is Muslim, however we didn’t discover any extreme noise from the mosques throughout our keep.
- Malaria: Based on this Lancet research from 2018, there’s been a significant discount of Malaria in Ternate and the encircling areas, which is nice. I’d nonetheless watch out and use mosquito spray when touring right here. We didn’t take Malaria tablets.
- The place To Eat: Some resorts and guesthouses can present meals, in any other case there are many low-cost locations to eat on the town, they usually even have a KFC and Pizza Hut if you happen to’re craving western eating places throughout your keep in Ternate. We even ordered a meal from Solaria one night and had it delivered to our guesthouse with GrabFood, which was tremendous handy.
Views of Tidore island from Ngade Lake
How Lengthy To Keep
You possibly can see the entire most important sights of Ternate in a single day, because it’s a small island and every little thing is well accessible by driving.
Nevertheless, if you wish to keep longer, then you possibly can do day journeys over to close by islands like Hiri, Maitara, and Tidore.
Sundown at Kastela Seaside
Extra Journey Guides For Indonesia
Thanks for trying! I hope you loved this journey information for Ternate island in Maluku.
Don’t overlook to take a look at my different weblog posts for Indonesia earlier than you go!
