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What Is Ginger Island in Stardew Valley?
There are only so many places you can wander around in Stardew Valley; from mountains to dungeons and mining sites, and even the sewers. Like how some pathways and roads would require completing a particular mission in order to be able to pass through, some locations in the game also have a pre-requisite quest.
Among the unlockable places in Stardew Valley is the Ginger Island in Stardew Valley. Although geographically speaking, Ginger Island is a separate map from which the Pelican Town is situated. In fact, it is one of the islands of the Fern Islands and actually the only island from the archipelago that the player could set foot on.
Ginger Island Guide
Unlocking the Ginger Island
First things first. Before you get to explore Ginger Island in Stardew Valley, what you should know first is how to be able to get to the island.
Playing Stardew Valley, you might have already heard of the Community Center and the bundles that are up for completion. Once you have progressed to a certain point, or might as well say you collected all of them, an event will be triggered.
Willy, the town’s fisherman would email you a letter, telling you that there is something that he really wants to show you. Accepting his request, he would guide you to the back room of his fish shop, finding yourself with him looking at a run-down boat. As you might have predicted, Willy would ask you a favor of helping him in fixing the boat.
Fixing the boat demands these materials: 5 Lightning Rods, 5 Iridium Bars, and 200 Hardwoods. After you gather the requirements for repairing the boat, deliver it to Willy and he will be the one to fix it himself.
This newly-repaired boat would then be your mode of transport as you desire to visit Ginger Island. Just take note that to actually ride the boat and have a trip to Ginger Island, you still need to buy a ticket for 1000 gold. Following the purchase, Willy would then invite you to board his boat and embark on a journey toward the island.
The Archipelagic Ginger Island
As you board Willy’s boat for the first time, a cutscene showing the other smaller islands that comprise the Fern Archipelago will play. Observing each island, you might come to notice how your destination, Ginger Island in Stardew Valley, is the largest among the others, and here seems to be the reason why.
Ginger Island, despite being one of the islands in Fern Islands, consists of smaller islands, named according to the region to which they belong. In other words, Ginger Island is divided into 4 regions: Island South, Island East, Island North, and Island West.
Island South
The southern island of Ginger Island is the first island where you would be stepping your foot since this is where the boat will land every time you visit Ginger Island. Also, on this part of the island, you can place either a Warp Totem: Island or an Island Obelisk which you can use later on to transport yourself to Ginger Island in case Willy’s Shop is closed.
On rainy days, a Mermaid appears on the shore of the island sitting on a large rock. You can receive 5 Golden Walnuts–Ginger Island’s currency–if you place Flute Bocks and tune them to play the Mermaid’s song.
Beach Resort
One of the bizarre amenities in Ginger Island, located on this side of the is the Beach Resort. However, you must rebuild it for 20 Golden Walnuts.
Once you have successfully built it, you can purchase refreshments from the store. Available there are Piña Colada, Beer, Pale Ale, Mead, Cranberry Candy, Mango Wine, and a recipe on how to make a Tropical Curry.
Pirate Cove
Upon building the Beach Resort, a pathway would be cleared on the southeastern part, revealing a passage that leads to a hidden pirate’s cove. If you wear either a Pirate Hat or Eye Patch inside the cove, you are given a Mead once a day.
Since it is a hidden shelter or place of rendezvous for pirates, you might want to avoid their visiting hours which are 8 p.m. If you happen to be still inside as they visit, you are automatically kicked out, regardless of what activity you are doing. But, you can still reenter the cove and in fact, you can play Darts to win some Golden Walnuts, however, only after the first three wins.
Island East
As you arrive at the shore of the southern island, you might have noticed the three paths which, for your information, lead to other regions of the island. Among the three paths, the only open one is that that leads to the eastern area.
The eastern region of Ginger Island is the ideal spot for foraging. In this area is where you would also meet Leo, a Ginger Island resident who lives with a talking parrot. This parrot drops hints regarding how many Golden Walnuts are in there for you to find.
Gem Shrine
Another bizarre spectacle on Ginger Island in Stardew Valley is the area where a shrine and several pedestals are located. You might be wondering what are these pedestals for.
Every time it rains on the island, a bird appearing in colors of the following gems visits aquamarine, topaz, amethyst, emerald, or ruby. If you try to get near the bird, as expected, they would fly away, leaving behind a gem matching the bird’s color.
The gems are to be placed on the respective pedestals by the shrine. By filling the necessary gems on all pedestals, the shrine activates and you will receive 5 Golden Walnuts.
Island North
By frequently interacting with Leo’s hut, the turtle that blocks the northern exit will go away, therefore, being able to access the area. This part of Ginger Island is where most of the buildings and intriguing sites are located.
Island North caters space for a trading stall run by a bluebird merchant, the Island Trader. The stall opens for trading once you give the parrot 10 Golden Walnuts.
There is also the Island Field Office in the north-central part of this region. It is a tent designed to shelter Professor Snail who is in need of rescuing from the Mushroom Cave at the Dig Site.
Conversely, the Dig Site is an area where rocks, bones, nodes, clay nodes, and mahogany tree seeds could be found. Having said that, you can infer that this play is somehow similar to the Quarry. As mentioned earlier, professor Snail is trapped inside this place. To help him, you can place a bomb in order to obliterate the boulder hindering the professor from being freed.
At the farthest north of the island is also the way that leads to the Volcano Dungeon which houses a swarm of monsters. If you are up for a thrilling adventure, you should definitely not miss going there.
Island West
Just like the path leading to the northern region of the island, the path leading west is also blocked by a sleeping turtle. To wake it up, you should give 10 Golden Walnuts to a nearby parrot.
As the saying goes, “Save the best for last”. The western side of the island was left last for a reason since it has the most variety of buildings, places, and sites to explore. One of these is the farm where, of course, you could grow crops. What makes farming in Ginger Island in Stardew Valley special is that the current season does not affect the crops planted there.
There are also the Gourmand Frog, Birdie’s Shack, and Green Whack-a-Mole. You can also sight the shipwreck where you can also collect Golden Walnuts upon accessing the area.
Inside a Tiger Slime Grove is a Colored Crystals Puzzle which you can try to either pass time, have fun, or collect Golden Walnuts.
After you collected a hundred Golden Walnuts, you are granted access to enter Qi’s Walnut Room where you can find a Perfection Tracker, Special Order Board, and a Vending machine which you can get in exchange for Qi gems.
Last, but not least, since it is an island, there would be, unsurprisingly, a beach. Aside from enjoying the sight and sinking your feet into the sand, you can collect Sea Urchins and Corals which are spawned on the southwest side of the beach.
