8 Places To Discover Singapore’s Natural Tranquil Beauty
Visit Singapore and experience its tranquil natural wonders away from bright lights and city crowds.
The moment someone mentions Singapore, visions of Merlion, manmade Super Trees and stretches of glistening avant-garde structures conjures up in the mind. It is true that Singapore is a state-of-the-art contemporary country, but the destination offers much more beyond its newfangled attractions. Besides the usual Singapore sightseeing attractions and iconic landmarks, you will find that Singapore has a gorgeous collection of verdant open spaces embedded within the country and its surroundings. These places are totally in contrast to Singapore’s bustling modernity and present a refreshing visage of tranquility.
Need a break from the usual sights of Singapore on your next Singapore holiday? Head out to one of these places to reconnect with nature.
Pulau Ubin Island
Located away from the northeast side of Singapore, Pulau Ubin Island was once a quarry land for its settlers. Over many years, the quarries transformed into charming azure lakes and these landscapes got shrouded by nature’s stunning elements. Pulau Ubin has managed to elude Singapore’s craze of advanced modernity. The nearby traditional villages still reflect the old world charm of Singapore’s bygone eras. The narrow routes on this island are ideal for cycling tours to explore the sights in your own time. Head out to the shoreline where the tides recede to reveal washed away secluded beaches.
Chek Jawa Wetlands
Chek Jawa Wetlands is located within the Pulau Ubin Island but Chek Jawa needs a standalone mention of its own. The reason to distinguish Chek Jawa from Pulau Ubin is that it has an extraordinary mix of contrasting ecosystem making it a different nature destination on its own. One of Singapore’s richest biodiverse regions, Chek Jawa offers its visitors a juxtaposition of coastal forests, mangrove shrubs, seagrass lagoons and rocky beaches. This area is also rich in wildlife and you might just spot wild boars if you are lucky. Chek Jawa is located at the southeastern corner of Pulau Ubin Island and is 40 minutes away on foot from Ubin Jetty. It is easier to rent a van or ride a bike to reach Chek Jawa wetlands.
Bukit Timah Reserve
A picturesque expanse of lush greenery that engulfed an ancient Malay settlement is presently one of Singapore’s richest ecological reserves that hold more than 40% of Singapore’s flora and fauna. Bukit Timah Reserve is a natural wonder for all wildlife lovers. You will be left spellbound at the rich assortment of animal and insect life, exotic foliage, and bird life. Home to the highest hill in Singapore, – Bukit Timah Hill, a hiking tour through the nature trails will let you explore rustic remnants of early settlements and the untouched beauty of its wilderness. Being just 12 kilometers away from Singapore city center, Bukit Timah is one of the hot spots for a short tranquil nature escape. Bukit Timah is one among the ASEAN Heritage Parks of Singapore.
Lazarus Island
Hop on a ferry ride to St. John’s Island, and then walk across a pedestrian bridge to reach Lazarus Island – one of Singapore’s best-kept nature secret. While Singapore mainland’s beaches such as Siloso beach and East Coast beach are famous for leisure experience, its overcrowdedness has stolen its charm of being an idyllic beach experience. At Lazarus Island, you can enjoy barefoot strolls, splash in clear blue waters and watch mesmerizing sunsets amid heavenly ambiance. This idyllic island is perfect for romantic getaways or serene beach escapes.
MacRitchie Reservoir
The largest and oldest reservoir of Singapore – MacRitchie Reservoir is located away from the towering city skyscrapers, right on the edge of Singapore main island. One of the popular nature reserves in Singapore, MacRitchie Reservoir lets you steep in nature’s verdant beauty as well as offers a great landscape for outdoor adventures. While nature lovers can enjoy walking trips and trekking experiences to view the wilderness of the reservoir, sports enthusiasts can gear up for some adventure experiences such as kayaking, treetop walking, and cycling. The Broadwalk and MacRitchie Treetop Walk are two ‘not-to-miss’ Singapore tourist attractions of this Reservoir.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
A 202-hectare expanse teeming with native exotic wilderness and wetlands – Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve was the first nature reserve to be honoured as Singapore’s first ASEAN Heritage Park. This rich ecosystem takes you into the untamed zones of Singapore. You can spot mud lobsters, otters, herons, crabs and monitor lizards while taking a walk on the boardwalk aligning the Wetland Centre. This nature reserve is a birdwatcher’s dream come true. During September to March, hundreds of migratory birds such as Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, and Pacific Golden Plover take a break from their migratory journey and rest at Sungei Buloh Wetland reserves.
Coney Island
A Casuarina-covered island located offshore northeast of Singapore mainland, Coney Island offers a tranquil space to revel in pure wilderness. Though just 50 hectares in size, the island is packed with clustered coastal forests, mangroves, sandy beaches and rare species of birds and foliage. You can reach Coney island via bridges that connect the island to mainland Singapore. Punggol point park bridge which is mere 500 meters away from Coney Island’s West Entrances is the nearest access point to the island. Visitors can enjoy leisure nature strolls on tranquil beaches and boardwalks, spot exotic birds such as spotted Wood Owl, Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, Red Junglefowl to name a few or take cycling trips through the island. The pave promenades at the western and eastern edges of the islands are great spots to enjoy beautiful views of the sea and city shorelines.
Southern Ridges
One of the most picture-postcard-perfect places to visit in Singapore, Southern Ridges offers an amazing palette of nature’s gorgeous beauty. This picturesque nature trail is one of the popular things to do in Singapore. It starts from Harbour Front Mass Rapid Transit station and meanders through Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, Hort Park, Kent Ridge Park and Labrador Nature Reserve. This nature experience combines Singapore’s open green spaces with stellar panoramas of Singapore city, harbour, and the surrounding islands. The highlights of this trail are the Henderson Waves – the highest pedestrian bridge famous for its wave-like structure and Forest Walk and Canopy Walk which offers a bird’s eye view of lush secondary forests. Certain bridges on the trail are illuminated at night with colourful LED lightings further enhancing the experience as dusk falls. It takes about 5 hours to complete this 10-kilometer nature trail.
Though Singapore is a tiny city-state country, it is brimming with nature parks and reserves which serve as a perfect getaway to detox from the overwhelming hectic lifestyle and urban chaos. Visit Singapore to witness the greatest example of human beings existing amicably with nature. Planning a visit to Singapore is easy. A bit of proper research on acquiring visas, finding suitable travel insurance and shortlisting what to see in Singapore, which season to visit, where to stay and you are sorted out. You can acquire your Singapore visa online. Regarding all your travel requirements such as visa, tourist places, and accommodation options, it is best to get in touch with a Singapore travel expert who would guide you and provide with best deals and options that ideally suits your preference of Singapore holiday.
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About The Author: Priya is an avid travel writer who specializes in adventurous travel writing. Her blogs and articles give deep insight about various tourist places and act as a perfect travel guide for someone who is traveling to a place for the first time. Priya has exemplary research, writing, and editing skills which make her easily match the reader’s intellect and interest. She has blogged extensively about her travel experience while traveling to several places like Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Europe, Dubai, USA, Canada, etc.
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