Round Island Walk - Kranji to Punggol

Woodlands Town Park

Round Island Walk Leg 6. Kranji to Sembawang

For this leg there were 5 of us as 2 were out of town. We gathered at Kranji Station. After finding out that there was no food here, we walked toward  Woodlands Town for lunch. We travelled along Woodlands Ave 3 to Woodlands Centre Road via Woodlands Town Park to Woodlands Town and had lunch at the hawker centre. After that we crossed the overhead bridge to the Marsiling Park Connector walking past Blocks 33 to 37 to Admiralty Road West that would lead us to the Woodlands Waterfront jetty.

The weather was hazy, hot and humid and it made us lethargic. We cut short our visit to the Woodlands Waterfront Park and went toward Admiralty Park. We entered Admiralty Park from the north entrance. Sungei Cina runs through the park from the Johor Straits. A short distance in the forest, we were blocked from crossing  the bridge over Sungei Cina as it was under repair. We had to walk around it via Riverside Road West Entrance. Here we had a choice of walking through the forest or cross the bridge to the exposed trail. We took the exposed trail east of Sungei Cina and eventually walked past the Sakura Restaurant and arrived at the Republic Polytechnic.

Republic Polytechnic

We found the students’ canteen next to the Reflecting Pool and took a break there as the hot humid air was energy sapping. They charge different rates for students and non-students.

After that we moved along Woodlands Ave 9 to Sungei Sembawang where we turned right, crossed the bridge and walked along the Sembawang Park Connector until we reached the overhead MRT Line. We turned left toward the Sembawang Station. There was light rain just as we approached the station. We ended this leg of our walk here.

Round Island Walk Leg 7. Sembawang to Khatib

From Sembawang Station we walked to Canberra Road and Wellington Circle. Opposite Block 506A on Montreal Drive was a staircase leading to Canada Road. Here are the black and white houses left behind by the British Government now managed by Singapore Land Authority. Usually these are leased out to expatriates who love the open space and greenery reminiscent of their houses in their home countries. We saw some Caucasians gathering for school or some social function. This estate has its own auxiliary police to maintain security. The staircase that we took has a door to keep out intruders at night.

Play Structure at Sembawang Park

At the end of Canada Road, we crossed East Admiralty Road to King's Ave to Malta Crescent where we cut across the lawn and aimed directly for the coast through Sembawang Park. Part of the park was being renovated - the area near the Beaulieu House and some of the shelters. Along the coast and at the jetty were some anglers. At Kampong Wak Hassan, we still could not go directly to the former Bottletree Village as it was still blocked despite more than 3 years of construction. We had to walk down Sembawang Road to Andrews Ave to Jalan Mempurong to reach it. The site of the former Bottletree Village was deserted awaiting further development. At the beach next to the mouth of Sungei Simpang Kiri we saw a group of Indians offering prayers and leaving a bundle floating in the sea.

We walked along the Simpang Kiri Park Connector to Yishun Ave 2. At Block 1001 food court we stopped for refreshment. Then we continued on through YIshun Neighbourhood Park, Northpoint Shopping Centre, Yishun Town Garden and finally to Khatib Station where we terminated our walk.

Admiralty Park to Sembawang

The route would include Admiralty Park, Woodlands Waterfront and a trip to the SAF Yacht Club.

We started from Woodlands MRT Station walking in a northerly direction to Republic Polytechnic. The entrance to the Admiralty Park is next to the polytechnic.

Bridge Over Sungei Cina Admiralty Park

 Admiralty Park
The Admiralty Park lies in a NNW orientation bordered on the west by Riverside Road and Admiralty Road West. The lower third of the park consists of open parks with young saplings and shelters from rain and lightning. On the eastern side is a slope going uphill to the polytechnic sports complex. At the end of this region near the West Entrance is a carpark cum restaurant.

Johor Bahru skyline from Woodlands Waterfront

The upper two-third region consists of two trails on both sides of a river called Sungei Cina that leads to the Straits of Johore. One trail leads through a forested area. The other trail is more open and borders the stream. Both trails join near the North Entrance where we left the park. The atmosphere here is natural as the newly opened park made use of much of the existing vegetation such as the mangrove swamp and river. While walking through the more open trail one can appreciate the grandeur of the tall trees in the forest.

Jetty at Woodlands Waterfront

Woodlands Waterfront
We crossed Admiralty Road West and moved in the direction of Woodlands Waterfront. We could see Johor Bahru and the causeway with its stream of lorries awaiting custom clearance. The waters here are stagnant as there is no flow through on both sides of the causeway. There is a jetty for anglers to cast their rods and other visitors to enjoy the waterfront scenery.

Woodlands Waterfront also has a 1.5km long waterfront promenade, a park, and a large playground. We spent some time at the jetty and the park. After that we proceeded eastward along Admiralty Road West.

SAF Yacht Club

SAF Yacht Club
Admiralty Road West is bordered by many factories along the road. At the Sembawang Camp we turned left toward the SAF Yacht Club.

LNG tanker at Sembawang Shipyard

The club has an interesting history. It started in Telok Ayer Basin moved to Pulau Belakang Mati (now Sentosa), relocated to Seletar Air Base, and after a brief stay on the premises of Changi Sailing Club, the club moved to its present home in Sembawang Camp. It now owns a fleet of 270 crafts.

See Also: 
Woodcutter Trail
The Pipeline Trail
Woodlands Town to Bukit Panjang via Ulu Sembawang Park Connector

GPS Track

Map data ©2018 Google, Urban Redevelopment Authority