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Singapore
Parks and Zoos
Admission fees are stated as: Adults / Children (12 years and younger) |
| Animal
and Bird Parks |
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Jurong Bird Park
Daily 8.00 am - 6.00 pm. Admision S$16.00 / S$8.00
West Singapore. Address: 2 Jurong Hill / Tel. 6265-0022
Description: With over 9,000
birds representing over 600 species, the Jurong Bird Park is the
largest aviary in Southeast Asia. A great day out for young and
old alike, Jurong Bird Park definitely merits a visit. The beautifully
landscaped 20-hectare park has the world's tallest man-made waterfall
in the Waterfall Aviary an immense enclosure that invites you to
walk-in and see some 1,500 birds flying free in a tropical rainforest
setting. There are several scheduled events and bird shows during
the day including a penguin walk, shows of trained eagles, falcons
and hawks as well as interesting educational exhibits.
Tip: Singapore Airlines offers
complimentary admission to Jurong Bird Park through its Singapore
Stopover Promotion. Check SIA at Changi Airport for info.
Public Transport: From
Boon Lay MRT take SBS bus 194 or 251
Jurong Reptile Park
Daily 6.00 am - 9.00 pm. S$7.00/S$3.50
West Singapore. Address: 241 Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim / Tel. 6261-8866
Description: Adjacent to Jurong
Bird Park, Jurong Reptile Park and is Southeast Asia's largest
reptile park featuring over 50 reptilian species in natural settings.
Once you're feeling better about snakes you can get your photo
taken with one. If you like snakes, this is the place to visit.
Public Transport: From
Boon Lay MRT take the SBS bus 194 or 251
Singapore Crocodilarium
Daily 9.00 am - 5.00 pm. S$2.00/S$1.00
East Singapore. Address: 730 East Coast Parkway / Tel. 6447-3722
Description: If you have already been to Jurong
Reptile Park, but still want to see more reptiles The Singapore
Crocodilarium is where to head to next which claims that you can
see over 1,000 crocodiles up close and personal. The most interesting
time may be on Tuesday around 11.00 am (feeding time). There is
also a "daredevil" performance and reptilian souvenir
shop with wallets, shoes, belts, etc. (don't ask...).
Public Transport: From Paya
Lebar MRT take a taxi.
Singapore Zoo
Daily 8.30 am - 6.00 pm. S$15.00/S$7.50 (Zoo only)
North Singapore. Address: 80 Mandai Lake Road / Tel. 6269
3411
Description: The Singapore Zoological Gardens
an 'open' zoo concept - using moats and rock walls as natural barriers
instead of cages. The award-winning Singapore Zoo is considered
to be one of the best in the world and attracts over 1 million
visitors a year. Spread over 28 hectares (60 acres), it is home
to over 3,000 mammals, birds and reptiles, including some rare
and endangered species.
There's a special enclosure for rare animals on loan from around
the world as well as the world's largest group of captive orang
utans. This is really a family place and for kids there are many
educational exhibits. Another interesting concept offered by the
zoo is to have breakfast (9.00 am) with an orang utan (for a fee
of course).
Public Transport: From
Ang Mo Kio MRT take the SBS bus 138.
Singapore Zoo Night Safari
Daily 7.30 pm - midnight. S$20.00/S$10.00
(Zoo plus tram ride)
North Singapore. Address: 80 Mandai Lake Road / Tel. 6269
3411
Description: A 40 hectare extension of Singapore
Zoo, the Night Safari is world's first and only night zoo. An interesting
concept to be sure, the idea is to see nocturnal animals up and
about as they would be at night in the wild. You can see most of
the Night Safari by walking but there are parts you'll need to
use a tram (for an additional fee). If you don't have time to see
both the zoo and the Night Safari, we suggest the Night Safari
- it's quieter, cooler and definitely a conversation starter. If
you take public transport make sure you leave the zoo early enough
to catch the bus to the MRT to get back to your hotel.
Public Transport: From
Ang Mo Kio MRT take the SBS bus 138.
Underwater World
Address: Sentosa Island
See Sentosa Island area page. Click
here.
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| Gardens,
Parks and Nature Reserves |
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Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Daily 8.30 am - 6.00 pm. Free admission.
North Central Singapore. Address: 177 Hindhede Drive/ Tel.
6864 5736
Description: Located on Singapore's highest hill
Bukit Timah Reserve was established in 1883 and is one of only two
rainforests in the world within the boundaries of a city. This 80-hectare
reserve claims to feature more species of plants than the entire
North American continent (we'll take their word for it...). Present
are quite a few unique creatures (long-tailed macaques, flying lemurs,
pangolin, mouse deer and a variety of interesting birds). Visitors
can take one of 4 marked trails (trail maps are available from the
Reserve's Visitor Centre).
Tip: Very popular with locals on weekends, weekdays
are much more quiet.
Public Transport: From
Newton MRT take the TIBS bus 171
Chinese and Japanese Gardens
Daily 9.00 am - 6.00 pm Free
admission.
West Singapore. Address: I Chinese Garden Rd. / Tel. 6261 3632
Description: More for the garden aficionado, these
two gardens provide a quick glimpse of the contrasting styles of
their respective namesakes. The Chinese Garden features pagodas,
traditional Chinese arches and bridges in all their traditional
red and yellow splendor together with huge weeping willow trees
while just across the 65 metre Bridge of Double Beauty you'll find
the Japanese Garden a serene landscape of koi ponds, traditional
Japanese summer home and Zen rock gardens.
Public Transport: Exit
at Chinese Garden MRT
East Coast Park
Free admission.
East Singapore. Address: Off the East
Coast Parkway (ECP)
Description: Situated on reclaimed land, East Coast
Park is mostly a recreational area for Singaporeans. There are a
number of large seafood restaurants overlooking the water that are
quite popular at night. This is where the locals windsurf, canoe,
picnic, cycle, rollerblade and so on. Also, the Laguna Golf Course
is here.
Public Transport: Take
the SBS bus 16 to Marine Terrace. Make sure to use the underpass
to cross the ECP
Fort Canning Park
Daily 8.30 am - 5.30 pm Free admission.
Heritage District. Address: Behind Singapore
History Museum
Description: This beautiful park just at the end
of Orchard Road was built by the British between 1859 and 1861 on
what was then a sacred burial site of the Malay Sultans. The hill
is still sacred to local Malays, who frequently come to Sultan's
grave to pray for their various spiritual needs. Fort Canning was
used as an arms store, barracks and hospital. However it is perhaps
better known as the place where Sir Stamford Raffles built his own
bungalow, Singapore's first Government House. Now used primarily
for art and exhibits and stage performances however there are several
interesting places in and around the park including an archaeological
dig, the Battle Box and the National Library.
Public Transport: From
Dhoby Ghaut MRT walk towards Penang Road
Mandai Orchid
Gardens
Daily 9.00 am - 7.00 pm. S$1.50 / S$1.00 (children under 4 years)
North Singapore. Address: 200 Mandai Lake Road
/ Tel. 6269 1036
Description: Orchids are big business in Asia and
just down the street from the zoo is Mandai Orchard Garden, Singapore's
largest commercial orchid garden. If you are at the zoo and have
a spare hour or two it worth a visit just to see the variety. That
said, it is a florist and you can also have their "Orchid Gift
Box Service" deliver a orchids to a friend anywhere in the
world.
Public Transport: From
Ang Mo Kio MRT take SBS bus 138
Marina South City Park
Address: Marina South, off Prince Edward
Road via East Coast Parkway
Description: A giant land reclamation project that
didn't make it commercially is now primarily used to fly kites and
take in views of the ships waiting to get into the harbour. There's
also a children's playground but for the average tourist there's
no need to visit.
Public Transport: A short
walk from Marina Bay MRT (M1)
Mount Faber
Daily. 24 hours. Park is lit 7.00pm - 7.00am. Free admission
South Singapore. Address: Kampong Bahru
Road
Description: Just north of the World Trade Centre,
Mount Faber offers excellent views of the Singapore skyline, the
harbour and offshore islands. The best views are at night when the
city and habour lights are on - a nice way to end a day visiting
Sentosa Island.
Public Transport: Cable
car from World Trade Centre
Singapore Botanical Gardens
Daily Mon. - Fri. 5.00 am - midnight. Free admission / Tel. 6471
9933
Orchard Road District. Address: Cluny Road
Description: Singapore's penchant for nature goes
back a long way. This is where rubber plants were first grown in
Asia. The peaceful 52-hectare park is part and part manicured garden.
If you can't make it to Mandai Orchid Gardens you still have a chance
to view the world's largest orchid display (60,000 plus orchids)
at the National Orchid Garden (there is a small admission to the
Orchid Garden).
Public Transport: From
Orchard MRT take the SBS bus 7, 105, 123 or 174 west towards Napier
Road.
Sungei Buloh Nature Park
Daily 7.30 am - 7.00 pm. S$1.00
/ S$.50
North Singapore. Address: 301 Neo Tiew Crescent Rd. / Tel.
6794 1401
Description: Singapore's first designed wetland
nature reserve, The Sungei Buloh Nature Park has several hiking
trails and 10 observation points throughout its 87 hectare. From
October to about March, bird watchers can catch a glimpse of migratory
birds stopping over in the freshwater ponds, and mangroves. Allow
about 2 hours.
Public Transport: From
Woodlands MRT take the TIBS bus 925. NB. The 925 bus stops at the
park entrance only on Sundays and public holidays. Visitors coming
Monday - Saturday should get off at Kranji car park.
Snow City
Tue - Sun 10.30 am - 6.30 pm
(closed on Mon) S$12.00
Public and MOE aprroved school holidays: 9.00 am - 8.00 pm
21 Jurong Town Hall Road, Snow City Building / Tel. 6560
2306
Description: Set up by the Singapore Science Centre
and NTUC Income, Snow City introduces the concept of snow and cold
climates to equatorial Asia. Kept at frigid -5° C, Snow City
is designed to be educational and entertaining by giving children
the chance to ski, snowboard or snow-tube down a 3 storey high snow
covered slope or build a snowman (or even have a snowball fight)
all the while learning about life in colder climates.
Public Transport: From
the Jurong East MRT Interchange take bus No.335 to the Snow City
building (passing the Omni Theatre Building).
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Singapore is justly
proud of its zoos and gardens. Without doubt they are the best in
South East Asia and among the best in the world.
Terrific for all ages, the primary attraction for visitors from
Europe and North America is the natural tropical setting and abundance
of native flora.
That said, too often many visitors to Singapore overlook the zoos.
As such Singapore has been very proactive in marketing and promotion
- first coming up with the world's first (and still only) night
zoo. Dubbed the Night Safari the idea is that many animals found
in zoos are nocturnal creatures and therefore are most active at
night. As such, the best time to see these magnificent animals is
at night. With sparse, indirect lighting you can walk or take a
tram through the zoo from 7.30 - 11.00 pm An interesting idea, that
for the most part makes good on its promises. Makes you wonder why
no one ever thought of it before.
Also, for families on a budget the zoo and bird park have put together
combination packages that give you a decent discount for visiting
more than one attraction. Of course you have to purchase the package
in advance. Call any of attractions for details.
Please remember that the whilst all care has been taken in assembling
this information, operating hours and admission fees may change
without notice. Best to call ahead. |
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