6 Nature Trails in Singapore to Explore with Kids

Being in nature not only makes us feel better, it also benefits our physical well-being. Children, especially, learn to stay active and solve problems through unstructured play in outdoor settings in their crucial stages of development.

Although Singapore is built-up and urbanised, it’s not hard to find and explore green spaces designed for both the young and young at heart. Here are six nature spots offering fun outdoor activities that cater to both kids and adults.

1. Singapore Botanic Gardens

1 Cluny Road
Open daily from 5am to midnight

Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to one of the oldest primary rainforests remaining on the island. More than 80 percent of the 314 species of flora found here are either rare or endangered, making it an excellent place for children to learn about the importance of conservation and the rich biodiversity in Singapore.

Singapore Botanic Gardens is a huge park, with many different themed gardens and nature trails for kids to explore and learn. Start with the Eco Garden trail that circles the Eco Lake. Here, kids can discover plants of economic importance through human history like bamboos, fruit trees and spices.

Located near the Eco Lake are the Ethnobotany Garden, which comprises four zones, and Centre of Ethnobotany, a small museum where one can learn about rubber, nutmeg, sugarcane and other natural commodities that were common in the olden days of Singapore. End the trail at the beautiful Eco Lake and spot the family of Black Swans that call the lake home.

Make the Jacobs Ballas Children’s Garden your last stop to reward your kids with some fun on the sand pit, suspension bridge, tree house and slide. End the day with a meal at the Little Spot Café which has an extensive kids menu with plenty of choices of mains and desserts for the kiddos.

Things to note
As the Singapore Botanic Gardens is big, be sure to plan which part of the park you wish to explore. The exploration may take up to half a day so do bring sufficient water, insect repellent, sunscreen and umbrellas, as shelters are few and far between.

2. Dairy Farm Nature Park

100 Dairy Farm Road

The 63-hectare Dairy Farm Nature Park got its name from Singapore’s (and the world’s) first tropical dairy farm which was established in the 1930s to meet the need for high-quality pasteurised milk for children of expatriates in Singapore. The dairy farm ceased operations in the 1970s.

Opened in 2009, the park has hiking and mountain biking trails, and a nature trail where you can learn about the flora and fauna of the park through the eyes of English naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. It’s also home to the Wallace Education Centre, which houses Wallace Environmental Learning Lab, Singapore’s first field study centre for schools and an interpretative centre; and a former quarry known as Singapore Quarry, which has been transformed into a wetland habitat with a viewing platform for you to appreciate Singapore’s freshwater flora and fauna. The platform is also the best spot for birdwatching with the kids.

The trail to Singapore Quarry starts from Car Park A and will take about 30 minutes, which is great for exposing kids new to hiking. The pathway leading to Dairy Farm Quarry is rockier and uneven so be mindful of your steps, especially if you are bringing young children. Even so, the rocky landscapes make both sites Insta-worthy.

The third nature trail leads you to the Bukit Timah summit. Kids may enjoy conquering Singapore’s highest point, and as they do so, they will pass by the Wallace Trail, a 2.2km footpath and the Wallace Education Centre, which showcases the vast biodiversity in the region.

Things to note
Unfortunately, the three nature walks are not interlinked. You’ll have to walk back to the starting point at Dairy Farm Road Carpark A before proceeding to another route. There are no restaurants within the park, so pack some snacks and water. Do not feed the monkeys in the park, and avoid bringing plastic bags as the monkeys may mistake them for food and try to snatch the bags.

3. Changi Point Coastal Walk

7A Gosport Road

Changi isn’t just about holiday chalets and nasi lemak; it’s also a great destination for a walk by the coast. Unlike the boardwalks at MacRitchie Reservoir Park and Chek Jawa Wetlands on Pulau Ubin where you can uncover an array of flora and fauna, the boardwalk in Changi lets you learn about its history via a scenic route.

Besides enjoying splendid coastline views, you’ll also get to see two recreational clubs built during the colonial era and even experience what it’s like to be on a kelong (fish farms floating on the sea).

The 2.2km coastal walk is divided into six distinct sections. Nearest to Changi Ferry Terminal is the Creek Walk. Here, you can catch a glimpse of the bumboats travelling to and from Pulau Ubin. The 600m-long Beach Walk lets you walk alongside lalang (coarse weedy grass) growing by the beach while soaking up captivating sea views.

The beach area is a great place to learn more about Singapore’s rich marine biodiversity. After the beach, there is the Sailing Point Walk, named after the Changi Sailing Club which was started by a group of British soldiers stationed here just before World War II.

After climbing up a flight of stairs at Cliff Walk, you’ll arrive at Kelong Walk. As the name suggests, this part of the nature walk is built on stilts and stretched out above the water like kelongs. The proximity to the open waters makes Kelong Walk a popular fishing venue so you might catch a glimpse of what anglers have caught for the day. Halfway through the Kelong Walk, see if you can spot the Changi Beach Club, also opened by British soldiers before they left Singapore.

The boardwalk officially ends at Sunset Walk which provides an unobstructed view of the waters. If you’re there in the evening, do stay and catch the sunset and see the lights of the Punggol Housing Estate in the distance.

Things to note
Changi Point Coastal Walk is kid-friendly but not stroller-friendly. There are two ways to exit the boardwalk – one is going back to the starting point at Changi Ferry Terminal while the other is exiting at Gosport Road which is linked to Netheravon Road where you can catch a bus out of Changi.

4. Southern Ridges

Henderson Road

This is a 10km-long nature trail that intersects Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Park, Hort Park, Kent Ridge Park and Labrador Nature Reserve. In this open space above the forest, you and your kids will experience the feeling of being submerged in greenery without worrying about walking on uneven paths.

The most notable attraction along this trail is Henderson Waves, the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore, built 36m above ground. Along trail, you’ll pass by Alkaff Mansion, a picturesque colonial bungalow built in the 1910s that has been turned into a cafe and restaurant. At the end of Henderson Waves is the 1.3m-long Forest Walk, an elevated walkway made of metal that meanders through the top of the most massive secondary forest in Southern Singapore.

Thereafter, you’ll find yourself at Alexandra Arch, another iconic bridge in the area, and subsequently, Hort Park, a 9-hectare green space with English-themed gardens and gardening workshops that are held throughout the year.

There is a Nature Playgarden inside Hort Park that’s specially designed for pre-school kids to connect with nature. There are different sections in the playgarden which allow kids to build their own houses using the provided wooden tools. They can also play catch on the collection of logs near the fig trees.

At Hort Park, you may continue your nature trail towards the green and tranquil Kent Ridge Park. You can also proceed to Labrador Nature Reserve to see significant landmarks like the Red Beacon, a replica of an ancient marine navigation aid and Dragon’s Teeth Gate, a rock that stands at the mouth of Keppel Harbour, where it used to be a pirate hiding space.

For younger kids, you can shorten the route by starting at Hort Park. This 60- to 90-minute trail will bring you through Hort Park, Alexandra Arch and Forest Walk, before ending off at the peaceful Telok Blangah Hill Park.

Things to note
Southern Ridges has mostly levelled walkways that are friendly to walkers and strollers. However, as most of the nature trail is not covered, it’s best to bring along sunscreen and an umbrella. Experienced hikers can choose to walk on the longest path which starts from Mount Faber to Labrador Nature Reserve.

5. Punggol Waterway Park

10 Sentul Crescent

This park was built around Punggol Waterway, Singapore’s first man-made canal drifting through the entire town of Punggol. The 12-hectare park is divided into four zones. Nature Grove is where you can relax and admire the park’s stunning landscape, while the Recreation Zone has a play area for the little ones to release their energy plus a fitness corner for those who want to work out.

At the Heritage Zone, you can stroll down Old Punggol Road to learn more about the history of Punggol Kampung. Check out the flora and fauna commonly found in Singapore at The Green Gallery. Parents, enjoy a picnic with your kids on the grassy areas.

Besides the four themed zones, there are also many photo-worthy bridges in the park. Some of them may be good venues to teach the little ones a thing or two about photography.

The Adventure Bridge is a pretty stable suspension bridge for the younger ones to have fun on. On top of that, the Sunrise Bridge is said to be a fantastic spot to watch the sunrise and sunset. Other than nature walks, Punggol Waterway is also a great venue for cycling, bird watching, jogging or simply unwinding.

Things to note
Waterway Park is a nature trail in an urban setting. There are many amenities around the park, so there’s no lack of space to take a break or even have a picnic. Do note that monkeys are rampant in the area. Do not feed them and keep your valuables close to your body in a closed, secure bag.

6. Rail Corridor

• Central Segment: #1 Railway Station
• Northern Segment: Kranji MRT Station, 10 Kranji Road
• Southern Segment: Melati Blk 2 Bus Stop, ID10399

A 24km-long green stretch, the Rail Corridor was formerly a railway line which ran between Singapore and Malaysia before operations ceased in 2011. This nature trail is divided into three main sections – northern, central and southern rail corridors.

The northern section is away from the main road, but it’s best for seeing the wilderness of Singapore. The more popular central section is located near the old Bukit Timah Railway Station and historic steel bridges. The relatively less known southern section bypasses Clementi Forest, a stretch of primary forest believed to be the second largest wildlife habitat after Bukit Timah Hill.

The southern section is also connected to the old Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, which is currently under renovation till 2025. It will take about seven hours to hike the entire Railway Corridor. As such, it’s recommended for families with kids to stick to just one section (the central section, which is 4km long, is usually recommended). The other two section are 10km long.

Those who wish to explore the northern section may want to start from Kranji MRT station. You can look forward to the 3km-long track parallel to the Pang Sua River, which is pleasant and cooler. You’ll eventually arrive at The Rail Mall (the end of the central section).

If you’re exploring the central Kranji MRT station of the corridor, start from the scenic old Bukit Timah railway station. Although there’s no more train service between Malaysia and Singapore, the KTM railway platform, track and station sign still exist.

Over here, you can also check out two steel truss bridges (Hindhede Crossing and Upper Bukit Timah Truss Bridge). Both are heritage sites that should keep the kids entertained as they play around the old-school settings. As The Rail Mall connects the central and northern sections, you may choose to continue walking or exit the walk here.

For those who are going for the greener southern section, take a bus and alight at the Melati Blk 2 bus stop near Singapore General Hospital. About 100m from the bus terminal, there’s a small sign indicating the start of the Rail Corridor. From here on, there is a concrete pathway that brings you to the Tiong Bahru neighbourhood.

The first interesting landmark that you’ll see is a long and dark underpass. Once through the tunnel, you’ll come to the Wessex Estate and be greeted by the black and white colonial houses. The highlight of the southern section is Clementi Forest. Unlike other trails, hikers will enjoy wandering deep into the forest.

Finally, the southern section ends at the old Bukit Timah Station.

Things to note
As the central section of the Rail Corridor is a popular hiking and cycling spot, it can get crowded on weekends and public holidays. Parts of the Rail Corridor are literally on the remnants of the old railway track, so it may not be friendly to strollers. The entire Rail Corridor is unsheltered, so do bring an umbrella along with sufficient water, insect repellent and sunscreen.


*This article has been edited and adapted from Now Boarding by Changi Airport’s “6 nature trails in Singapore to explore with kids”