How to Unlock Fossil Island in OSRS: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Unlock Fossil Island in OSRS: A Step-by-Step Guide


Fossil Island in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a treasure trove of unique content, offering players a chance to train skills, hunt fossils, and explore a prehistoric landscape. Unlocking this members-only area requires completing specific quests and meeting certain requirements, but the rewards—like access to birdhouse runs, herbiboar hunting, and the Volcanic Mine—make it well worth the effort. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through how to unlock Fossil Island in OSRS, breaking down every step to ensure you can set foot on this ancient island as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Before diving into the “how,” let’s explore the “why.” Fossil Island, located northeast of Morytania, is a hub for diverse activities that cater to both casual players and dedicated grinders. Whether you’re an Ironman looking for efficient training methods or a main account seeking unique Slayer tasks, this island has something for everyone.

Key Benefits of Fossil Island

  • Birdhouse Runs: A low-effort, high-reward Hunter training method that yields valuable nests and seeds.
  • Herbiboar Hunting: Excellent Hunter XP and herb drops for players with 80+ Hunter.
  • Ammonite Crabs: A popular AFK combat training spot with higher HP than sand crabs.
  • Volcanic Mine: A rewarding Mining minigame for those with 50+ Mining and 150 Kudos.
  • Unique Slayer Monsters: Face off against Fossil Island Wyverns and Ancient Zygomites.

With these perks in mind, unlocking Fossil Island becomes a priority for many players looking to diversify their gameplay. Let’s get started on the journey to access it.

Prerequisites for Unlocking Fossil Island

How to get to Fossil Island in OSRS Full Guide to Fossil Island

To unlock Fossil Island, you’ll need to complete the Bone Voyage quest, but that’s not the full story. This quest has its own prerequisites, including a completed quest and a specific amount of Kudos from the Varrock Museum. Here’s what you need to prepare.

Quest Requirements

The Bone Voyage quest is your ticket to Fossil Island, but it requires you to first complete The Dig Site quest. Here’s a breakdown:

  • The Dig Site Quest:
    • Requirements: 10 Agility, 10 Herblore, 25 Thieving.
    • Items Needed: 2 ropes, leather gloves, boots, trowel, specimen jar, pestle and mortar, vial, uncut opal (optional), and some coins.
    • Rewards: 2 Quest Points, 15,300 Mining XP, 2,000 Herblore XP, and access to the Dig Site area.
  • Bone Voyage Quest:
    • Prerequisites: Completion of The Dig Site and 100 Kudos.
    • Recommended Items: Digsite pendant (or teleport method to Varrock), hammer, 2 oak planks, 5 nails, iron bar (for post-quest construction).

Earning 100 Kudos

Kudos are a form of currency earned by contributing to the Varrock Museum. You’ll need at least 100 Kudos to start Bone Voyage. Here’s how to rack them up:

  • Cleaning Finds (Post-Dig Site): After completing The Dig Site, clean unidentified artifacts at the museum’s cleaning station. Each cleaned find gives 5 Kudos, and you can earn up to 50 this way.
  • Completing Quests: Speak to Historian Minas on the museum’s first floor after finishing these quests:

    Completing all five nets you 25 Kudos.

  • Natural History Quiz: Answer questions about the exhibits on the museum’s ground floor for 28 Kudos. This is quick and requires no additional quests.

Combine these methods—cleaning finds (50), quiz (28), and a few quests (e.g., The Grand Tree and Merlin’s Crystal for 10)—to hit 100 Kudos efficiently.

Step-by-Step Guide to Completing Bone Voyage

With The Dig Site done and 100 Kudos in hand, you’re ready to tackle Bone Voyage. This intermediate quest is relatively short and straightforward. Follow these steps to unlock Fossil Island.

Starting the Quest

  1. Head to the Varrock Museum and speak to Curator Haig Halen on the ground floor.
  2. Ask about any interesting news. He’ll mention a newly discovered island north of Morytania and ask for your help to prepare a barge for the voyage.
  3. Agree to assist, and he’ll direct you to the Dig Site barge north of the museum.

Gathering Materials

  1. Travel to the barge (use a Digsite pendant or Varrock teleport and run east) and speak to the Barge Foreman.
  2. He’ll explain that the barge needs sturdier wood—specifically redwood—to stay afloat. Head to the Woodcutting Guild in Hosidius (requires 60 Woodcutting or 75% Hosidius favor).
  3. Talk to the Sawmill Operator at the guild. He’ll agree to provide redwood planks if you deliver a letter to the guild’s overseer.
  4. Take the letter to the overseer inside the guild, then return to the Sawmill Operator for the redwood planks.

Preparing the Crew

  1. Return to the barge with the redwood planks and hand them to the Barge Foreman.
  2. Speak to the Lead Navigator. He’ll refuse to sail, citing a curse, and ask for a potion of sealegs and a bone charm for protection.
  3. Visit the Odd Old Man at the museum’s northern entrance. Give him a bone in vinegar (from cleaning finds) to receive a bone charm.
  4. Head to the Apothecary in southwest Varrock with a vial of water and limpwurt root to get the potion of sealegs.

Sailing to Fossil Island

  1. Return to the barge and give the potion to the Lead Navigator and the bone charm to the Junior Navigator.
  2. The potion knocks out the crew (except the Junior Navigator), leaving you to steer the barge. Use the interface to adjust the rudder:
    • If the top arrow tilts left, click the right arrow.
    • If it tilts right, click the left arrow.
    • Keep sails fully deployed for faster travel.
  3. Fill the progress bar without veering too far off course. If you fail, speak to the Junior Navigator to retry.
  4. Once successful, you’ll arrive at Fossil Island. Speak to the Junior Navigator to disembark and complete the quest!

Traveling to Fossil Island After Unlocking

Congratulations—you’ve unlocked Fossil Island! Now, let’s cover the best ways to get back there whenever you want.

Fastest Method: Digsite Pendant

  • How to Get It: Clean finds at the museum until you find a pendant, then enchant it with Level-3 Enchant (49 Magic, 5 fire runes, 1 cosmic rune).
  • Usage: Teleports you to the Dig Site barge. Speak to the Barge Guard to sail to Fossil Island.
  • Upgrade: Use the pendant on the strange machine in the House on the Hill (northeast of Museum Camp) to unlock a direct teleport to Fossil Island.

Alternative Methods

Method Requirements Steps
Gnome Glider The Grand Tree quest Glide to Lemanto Andra, run east to the Dig Site, then take the barge.
Spirit Tree + Glider Tree Gnome Village and The Grand Tree Use a spirit tree to the Tree Gnome Stronghold, glide to the Dig Site, then take the barge.
Varrock Teleport 3 air runes, 1 fire rune, 1 law rune Teleport to Varrock, run east to the Dig Site, then take the barge.

Unlocking the Mycelium Transportation System

Once on Fossil Island, activate the Magic Mushtrees for fast travel across the island:

  • Visit each mushtree location (e.g., Mushroom Forest, Tar Swamp) and attempt to use them to unlock them.
  • Use the mushtree in the House on the Hill (accessible via the upgraded Digsite pendant) to teleport between unlocked spots.

Tips for a Smooth Unlock Process

To make your journey to Fossil Island as painless as possible, keep these tips in mind:

Preparation Checklist

  • Stock Up: Bring extra runes for teleports and materials for post-quest construction (e.g., bank chest: 21 Construction, 2 oak planks, iron bar, 5 nails).
  • Quest Order: Tackle The Dig Site early, as it’s a gateway to many activities beyond Fossil Island.
  • Kudos Efficiency: Do the Natural History Quiz first—it’s fast and gives 28 Kudos with no prerequisites.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Forgetting Kudos: Check your total at the museum’s information booth before starting Bone Voyage.
  • Navigation Struggles: Practice steering the barge in Bone Voyage—keep it simple by leaving sails fully up.
  • Travel Prep: Craft or buy a Digsite pendant beforehand to save time post-quest.

With Fossil Island unlocked, you’re ready to explore its wonders. From gathering fossils for the Varrock Museum to training skills in unique ways, this island offers endless opportunities. Start your adventure today and see why it’s a must-visit location in OSRS!