Even in an urban city like Singapore, there’s still plenty to do outdoors, from surfing man-made waves in Sentosa, to observing bird species in a lush nature reserve.
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Easily accessible on foot or by bicycle, the 50ha island is a haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers, with its unique bird hides and boardwalk system.
Try spotting one of 80 species of birds on the island, including the resident male Baya Weavers weaving their large and intricate nests from flowering Acacia trees.
Cycling is allowed on the main path and the beach can be accessed from five locations off a boardwalk system.
Adrenaline junkies can experience flowboarding – a boardsport that combines techniques used in surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding and wakeboarding.
It is enjoyed on an artificial wave – on either the world famous Double FlowRider or the 10-foot FlowBarrel wave ride here. Complete the experience with drinks and foodie selections from a modern Californian-Asian menu at the Wave House Sentosa Restaurant + Bar.
Get a high by tackling ClimbMax’s exhilarating ropes adventure course that brings climbers to heights of between 5m and 15m.
Set among towering Eucalyptus trees on the hilltops of Sentosa, the course will take thrill seekers over wobbly bridges, swaying tightropes and moving cargo nets.
The reward? Breathtaking views of the island and surrounding waters.
Join in the “Evening Chorus at Kranji Marshes”, a 3km-long guided walk by NParks that will bring participants not only to a wider nature area – covering marsh, woodland and grass habitats – but also to a core conservation area usually out of bounds to the public.
The unique marsh habitat, where the soil is partially or completely submerged in water, plays host to a wide range of aquatic plants which attract insects, fish and water birds. Common bird species spotted here include the Purple Heron and Red-wattled Lapwing.
The Chek Jawa Wetlands at Pulau Ubin is one of Singapore’s richest ecosystems and you can discover it through a guided tour by NParks or explore the over 1km-long boardwalk on your own.
Get a general view of the area’s six ecosystems from a viewing jetty or the 200m-tall Jejawi Tower. Besides the novelty of riding in a bumboat to Pulau Ubin, visitors will also be transported in time as the island is home to Singapore’s last villages, a living reminder of a simple and bygone era.
Get your thrills at Singapore’s biggest paintball arena, where over 300 players can duke it out at any one time.
The facility also uses Empire Paintballs, which are said to cause less pain upon impact as they are brittle and break easily. Ready, get set, shoot!
Zip through the forest and overcome challenging obstacles at this facilitylocated in the eastern part of the island.
There are a total of 58 obstacles – trapezes, logs, swings and others – and five zip lines to conquer with a specialised kids’ course for junior thrill seekers between the ages of five and 10.
Using the National Heritage Board’s handy heritage trail guides, it’s easy to learn about little-known facts and tidbits about Singapore.
Walk around the well-worn passages within one of Singapore’s oldest housing estates, the quirky and now hip Tiong Bahru, or visit Toa Payoh’s well-loved dragon playground – the heartland town also plays host to the country’s first MRT station. Download the Singapore Heritage Trails app for miles of historical discovery.
Go ohm in the great outdoors at various locations, from an urban city centre to a UNESCO World Heritage-inscribed garden.
Outta Hatha Yogaruns regular “pop-up” sessions at the Marina Bay waterfront and Yoga Divas hold theirs at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
While UFit runs a variety of outdoor fitness classes, one of their most popular is the Bootcamp-style F.I.T (Functional Interval Training) classes.
Participants are taken through a variety of dynamic exercises that aim to train stamina, strength and cardiovascular fitness. The motivation – and competition – from training in a group fuels everyone to give it their all in sessions located at, among others, Sentosa Cove, East Coast Park and Hort Park.
Text: Esther Au-Yong/SilverKris