Fossil Island is a fun place to explore in OSRS with many secrets. It has a lot of amazing minigames and skill training methods that do not exist elsewhere in the game. Unfortunately, you can't get to it immediately. One prerequisite to getting to Fossil Island is to beat the Bone Voyage quest. While the quest itself is easy, you might still want to check out this guide to finish the entire journey with ease.
What Is OSRS Bone Voyage?
In Bone Voyage, you embark on a quest to build a barge for the Varrock museum. As you progress through the quest, you'll unlock Fossil Island, a site that piques the archaeological curiosity of Curator Haig Halen at the museum.
Preparing For Bone Voyage
As the quest itself is relatively easy, the requirements and recommendations for it aren't steep at all. Here is what you’ll need to bring.
- 100 Kudos
- Completion of The Dig Site quest
- 2 Vodka
- Marentill Potion(unf)
As for the recommendations, it’s suggested that you have the following:
- Utilize Digsite teleport or Digsite pendant (3-4 teleports suggested) to quickly reach the Digsite.
- Reach the Lumber Yard with a short walk from the Digsite or use a Lumberyard teleport. Alternatively, use the Balloon Transport System (costs a willow log per flight; 2 teleports recommended).
- Use the Skills necklace or Xeric's talisman to reach Xeric's Lookout in the Woodcutting Guild.
- Use Varrock teleport to swiftly travel to Varrock.
- Reach Port Sarim promptly using an Amulet of glory or Explorer's ring.
- Make sure to uncheck all other options for efficient travel.
Note: Post-quest, consider carrying an iron bar, 2 oak planks, 5 nails, and a hammer if you plan to build the bank chest on Fossil Island (Note: This requires 21 Construction).
Where To Get Kudos?
If you contribute to the Varrock Museum, you'll earn Kudos, a form of recognition for your efforts. Upon accumulating enough Kudos, various rewards become available.
For members, a total of 230 kudos can be earned through museum activities. On the other hand, free-to-play players are limited to earning five kudos solely by handing in ancient relics. To access a list of activities, right-click the information booth on the 1st floor of the museum.
There are a few ways to get Kudos.
Ancient Relics
After completing the quest "Below Ice Mountain," you gain access to the Ruins of Camdozaal. Within this fallen city, while mining, you'll encounter Barronite deposits. These deposits can be cracked open using a hammer at the barronite crusher (requiring 14 Smithing). This action presents an opportunity to uncover ancient relics. Once obtained, these relics can be donated to Curator Haig Halen on the 1st floor of the museum.
The initial donation of a relic awards one kudos and 200 coins. Subsequent donations of the same relic provide 100 coins each. With a total of five relics available, you can earn 5 kudos and 1,000 coins by contributing in this manner.
Unclean Finds
The southern section of the 1st floor is dedicated to processing incoming samples from the Digsite. Upon completing The Dig Site quest, players have the opportunity to engage in cleaning uncleaned finds obtained from the Digsite. To participate, gather the necessary items from the tool rack on the south wall, including leather boots, gloves, a trowel, rock pick, and specimen brush, and have them in your inventory.
Players can freely take as many uncleaned finds from the specimen rock pile as they desire. These finds can be cleaned by using them on an empty specimen table. During the cleaning process, various items may be discovered, with most having no museum value and can be kept by the player. However, items like pottery, jewelry, old chipped vases, and arrowheads found in this activity can be deposited in the storage crate in exchange for useful items. This includes a rare antique lamp that grants 500 experience in a skill of at least level 10.
Artefacts obtained from this process can be shown to any archaeologist in the room. The archaeologist will then instruct the player to place the object in a display case, earning them a reward of 10 kudos per item. There are a total of five such items, accumulating to 50 kudos. Once an artefact is displayed, players will no longer find duplicates of that specific artefact during the cleaning process.
Natural History Quiz
Head to the first basement floor to find the natural history exhibit. Speak with Orlando Smith to initiate a natural history quiz centered around the creatures showcased in the exhibit. After listening to his lecture, you can respond to the questions displayed on each plaque in front of the exhibit cases. If needed, consult other natural historians for assistance in solving these questions.
Successfully answering at least three questions on a plaque concludes the quiz for that particular animal, earning you 2 kudos. With a total of fourteen display cases, you have the opportunity to earn 28 kudos from these questions. Upon completing the entire natural history quiz, speak with Orlando for an additional reward of 1,000 experience in both Slayer and Hunter. This substantial experience boost has the potential to elevate these skills from level 1 to 9.
Timeline Displays
On the 2nd floor of the museum, right next to the stairs, you can exchange information about various completed quests for kudos with Historian Minas. This exchange allows you to earn a maximum of 75 kudos. Furthermore, some quests also reward antique lamps, providing a total of 13,000 experience that can be distributed among chosen skills. Make sure to check in with Historian Minas to maximize your kudos and skill experience from completed quests.
Fossil Displays
While doing certain activities on this island, you may encounter unidentified fossils. These can be cleaned and identified on the island or in this museum. The cleaned fossils can then be added to the fossil displays on the second basement floor, the lowest floor of the museum.
Five fossils of the same type are required to complete a corresponding display. Completing a display awards 2 kudos and an antique lamp that rewards either 2,000, 3,500 or 5,000 experience in a chosen skill. There are a total of 36 displays in this exhibit, which amounts to a total of 72 kudos and 120,000 experience.
OSRS Bone Voyage Walkthrough
Approach Curator Haig Halen at the Varrock Museum and initiate a conversation. Inquire about any intriguing news, prompting him to share the discovery of a compelling island north of Morytania. According to him, the island holds potential archaeological significance, and the museum is gearing up for a voyage. Curator Haig Halen suggests seeking assistance from the barge foreman, who is in need of a capable and seasoned adventurer.
Express your willingness to help and proceed to the Digsite to lend your expertise to the preparations for the upcoming voyage.
The Finishing Touches
Make your way to the canal barge located north of the Digsite and engage in a conversation with the barge foreman stationed in front of the barge. While in the final stages of preparation, he expresses the need for minor adjustments to enhance the barge's sturdiness. Magic logs, due to peculiar side effects learned later, won't suffice. Instead, he requires redwood, a high-grade wood found exclusively in the distant Western lands.
Follow the barge foreman's instructions to visit the Sawmill operator at the Sawmill northwest from the barge. Upon reaching the Lumber Yard, the Sawmill operator will inform you of a favorable deal with the Woodcutting Guild in Great Kourend for obtaining redwood planks. He hands you a sawmill proposal, instructing you to deliver it to the Woodcutting Guild.
Journey to the Woodcutting Guild in Hosidius using your skills necklace or, for ironmen, the Tithe farm minigame teleport (must have entered farmer Gricollers' guild before, or speak to Veos in Port Sarim). Hand over the proposal to the Woodcutting Guild Sawmill operator. If you lack the requirements to enter the Woodcutting Guild, attempt to open the eastern gate to complete this step; Berry will sign on behalf of the guild's sawmill operator.
Return to the Varrock Sawmill operator and provide him with the sawmill agreement to proceed with obtaining the required redwood for the barge.
The Cursed Voyage
Once you're back with the barge foreman, he'll request you to board the barge. Approach the barge guard and communicate with him to gain permission to board. On the barge, engage in a conversation with the Lead Navigator. Confirm your willingness to assist, and when asked about previous attempts at the expedition, choose either to know what happened or skip the dialogue.
The Lead Navigator recounts the history of the cursed voyages:
- The first barge didn't float due to serious design flaws.
- The second barge faced 'feature creep,' leading to buoyancy issues.
- The third barge used sealant that attracted sea monsters.
- The fourth barge with special sealant attracted icebergs.
- The fifth barge crashed into the sixth.
- The seventh barge was lost.
- The eighth barge is believed to exist 12 seconds out of phase.
- The ninth version, built with magic logs, gained rudimentary sentience and ran aground near Crandor due to depression.
Due to this series of misfortunes, the Lead Navigator believes the voyage is cursed and insists on ensuring the safety of the crew before sailing. He asks you to consult experienced sailors in the Rusty Anchor Inn in Port Sarim.
Teleport to the Rusty Anchor Inn in Port Sarim using an Amulet of Glory (Draynor), Rimmington house teleport, or the Rat Pits Minigame teleport. Speak with Jack Seagull at the inn, inquiring about cursed voyages. He suggests acquiring a lucky bone charm from the Odd Old Man in Silvarea. However, Ahab intervenes, claiming a 'potion of sealegs' is the key to a safe voyage. Decide to consult the navigators on their preference.
Return to the Lead Navigator; he prefers the potion of sealegs, while the Junior Navigator opts for the bone charm.
Visit the Odd Old Man near the Silvarea mine, north of the Digsite, and request a lucky charm, explaining the cursed voyage. Return with the obtained bone charm.
Speak to the Apothecary in Varrock southwest of Varrock Square. Discuss the need for a "potion of sealegs," and he'll require a marrentill potion (unf) and two bottles of vodka. After gathering the ingredients, talk to the Apothecary again to receive the potion of sealegs.
The “Cursed Voyage”
Return to the barge and provide the Junior Navigator with the bone charm while giving the Lead Navigator the potion of sealegs.
Upon administering the potion, everyone, except the Junior Navigator, passes out. As the Junior Navigator has no experience navigating open waters, you'll need to take control of steering the barge. Utilize the left, right, or straight controls on the interface to manage the rudder. The progress bar indicates the distance remaining to reach the island; deviating too far off course will diminish your progress. If it takes too long or if the boat gets lost, the crew will wake up, and you can restart by talking to the Junior Navigator.
Tips for efficient navigation:
- When the top arrow tilts left, click the right arrow a few times to adjust the rudder.
- When the top arrow tilts right, click the left arrow a few times to correct the rudder.
- When the top arrow is mostly straight ahead, click the arrows to center the rudder.
Adjusting the height of the sails affects the boat's sway. Keeping the sails as large as possible when moving straight ensures faster travel. You can successfully navigate to Fossil Island by maintaining fully deployed sails throughout.
Once the progress bar is filled, you'll successfully arrive at Fossil Island.
Finishing this will also give you a Quest Point and a Fossil Island notebook.
What Is Fossil Island?
Why go through all of this trouble to get to Fossil Island in the first place?
Fossil Island, an exclusive members-only area, is situated northeast of Morytania, presenting a distinctive environment where players can engage in various skill training activities. This ancient, uncharted island is currently under exploration by the Varrock Museum.
The main island is encompassed by seven smaller islands, but access to these is currently restricted, with the exception of Lithkren, located to the northwest. Players visit Lithkren during the quest Dragon Slayer II.
As you arrive, you find yourself just west of the Museum Camp, initially not very useful but improvable through your Construction skills and materials. To build everything, you'll need 10 oak planks, 2 iron bars, 25 nails, 1 tinderbox, 2 logs, 3 soft clay, 1 bucket, 2 ropes, and 5 planks, with a required Construction level of at least 29.
Inside the Museum Camp, discover Fossil Storage for storing fossils found on the island. Additional storage crates are scattered around, including one in the Varrock Museum basement.
The island features a few key locations:
- Museum Camp: Enhance the camp's utilities through Construction skills.
- Mushroom Forest: Found in the northwest, providing various skill training activities, including hunting Ancient Zygomites, tracking herbiboars, planting trees, and calcifying fossils.
- Tar Swamp: Located in the southwest, featuring a large swamp where you can find Sulliuscep mushrooms, traverse the hostile environment, and encounter the Deranged archaeologist.
- Volcano: Situated in the southeast, housing the Fossil Island Volcano and the Volcanic Mine.
- Underwater: Accessible through a rowboat in the northeast Mushroom Forest, allowing you to explore underwater areas, collect pufferfish to refill oxygen, and access a bank chest on a small island.
- House on the Hill: Positioned in the northeast, the ancient dragonkin structure offers various machines, including one that enchants a digsite pendant for teleportation. The house's basement contains stone chests with notes for the Fossil Island notebook and an ancient diary.
- You can learn how to do birdhouse runs from our guide here,” bird house guide”.
- If you are struggling with a written guide here is a easy video to follow along!
Set Out For Fossil Island!
Bone Voyage is very easy to do and the rewards for finishing it is well-worth the trouble. The only hard part is getting the Kudos needed for the quest but other than that, everything should be smooth sailing.
