Sungei Serangoon Park Connector

Otters enjoying a meal at Serangoon River

Punggol-Sengkang

This is a lucky area bound by the Punggol River on the west, the Serangoon River on the east and the Johor Straits to the north. This results in about 25km of waterways along which walking and cycling tracks were built. Coney Island was just opened in October 2015 adding 2.4km on the main trail.

In addition to three MRT stations at Punggol, Sengkang and Buangkok on the North-East Line, the area has two LRT lines one serving Punggol and the other Sengkang.

Serangoon River

Serangoon Park Connector

We started with a meetup at the Hougang St 21 Food Centre for an early lunch. This place has two popular fish ball noodles stalls both equally crowded with a queue even at 11am. The chicken rice, bak chor mee, laksa, wanton mee, hainanese curry rice, rojak are also popular. It is situated beside the Heartland Mall at the Kovan MRT Station.

After lunch we walked along Tampines Road until we reached the Serangoon River next to Hougang Ave 7. It forms part of the reservoir created by the East and West Dams at both ends of Coney Island.

F&B outlets at Tebing Lane

We walked along the river bank on the Sungei Serangoon Park Connector. Initially the banks were protected with concrete but further along the trail just before Buangkok Drive, the banks were covered with vegetation giving a more rustic look. Across the river was the former Lorong Halus Dumping Ground for our refuse. It used to propagate a stink as we drive past the area along Tampines Road. The land was left to regenerate for decades and now will be developed for high-tech industries. The banks across the river was forested. We had walked the trail on the opposite bank years ago. Last time we walked the trail it was muddy and we were concerned that the water was contaminated with leachate from the landfill. We need to choose a day when the trail is dry before going that way again.

At Buangkok Drive which runs parallel to Sungei Pinang, the park connector turns to the left and 400m away is Punggol Park.

Sungei Serangoon Park Connector

Instead of continuing along the Serangoon Park Connector, we crossed under the Buangkok East Drive on to another park connector called Sungei Serangoon Park Connector. This is a pleasant track with Sengkang flats on the left and the Serangoon River on the right. The park connector continued below the Tampines Expressway into Punggol. Here the park connector is named Punggol Promenade all the way to Punggol Point. 

Just before the Pedestrian Bridge at Lorong Halus at Tebing Lane we passed F&B outlets consisting of restaurants and fast-food. Uncle Leong Seafood is located here. Just before the pedestrian bridge to the Lorong Halus Wetland Reserve we spotted a family of otters frolicking in the reservoir. One of them was munching on a sizeable fish. We rested at the Lorong Halus Wetland Reserve where there are toilet facilities and a water cooler for us to replenish our water supply.

Punggol Waterway

Punggol Waterway

After the Pedestrian Bridge, we reached the Punggol Waterway. Here we turned west and walked along the waterway. Both sides are being developed with thousands of flats being built so the skyline has changed drastically since the waterway was opened just a few years back. Several specially designed pedestrian bridges cross the waterway providing excitement and photo opportunities. We passed the Sunset Bridge at the entrance to the waterway. Just before Punggol Road is the Wave Bridge. After walking below the Punggol Road, we came to the Kelong Bridge near where we exit the waterway and walked along Punggol Road. We ended our walk at Punggol MRT Station.

Related Posts
Punggol Park Connector - from Buangkok to Punggol
Punggol Point
Punggol Waterway Punggol Promenade 

Route Map

Map data ©2018 Google

Sembawang

This route will take us from Yishun to the hot spring at Gambas Avenue to Sembawang Park.

Sembawang (or Seletar) Hot Spring
Before the walk we had an early lunch  at Northpoint Shopping Centre. The Kopitiam Food Court at the basement was packded with the May Day crowd. We then walked along Yishun Ave 5 and Sembawang Road to the Gambas Avenue road junction. About 200m from the junction along Gambas Avenue is a track leading to the hot spring. The hot spring lies within a military camp but has been fenced off to allow public access.

Sembawang Hot Spring

There were 2 tap-off points for people to collect the scalding-hot water. There were a few guys towelling themselves with the hot water after a bit of cooling. Some of them believe that the water is beneficial for skin ailments.

The water had at one time been bottled as Vichy water for sale to the public according to the information board.

We backtracked along Gambas Avenue to Yishun Avenue 7. 1Canberra and another condominium were being constructed along this road. Across the junction of Avenue 2 and 7 is the Yishun Neighbourhood Park which we had traversed before.

Simpang Kiri Park Connector
For this walk we were heading toward the Simpang Kiri Park Connector along the Simpang Kiri Canal that would lead to the Johor Strait. This Park Connector is 3km long. The vacant land on the left of the track was being prepared for development. Near the midpoint we heard 3 gunshots fired at some birds. We could not identify the type as they were too far away. The land from which the shots were fired was on a higher elevation so we assumed we were safe.

Sembawang Park

 At the end of the connector where it meets the shore several groups of holiday makers were seen mostly engaged in fishing or having a picnic. One of them had caught a whole pail of "flower crabs" since 11am. He commented that the best time to catch is 2 hours before high tide. At that moment the tide was receding and he was packing up to return home with his catch.

The Bottle Tree Village was no more and the space taken over by Water-Venture a water sports company.

Sembawang Park
We walked along Jalan Mempurong and Andrews Avenue to Sembawang Park along Sembawang Road. The park and the beach front was again crowded with people enjoying their May Day holiday. The park was recently renovated with a newly-constructed children play area and spruced-up facilities. Beaulieu House was open with a range of local dishes and drinks. Usually on prior visits there were hardly any people except a few hardy fishermen and the restaurant was closed in the afternoon then.

Sembawang Park lies adjacent to Sembawang Shipyard where we could see from the jetty at the park ships being repaired or converted.

GPS track

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Changi Point Coastal Walk to East Coast Park

Changi Point Coastal Walk

Changi Village
Our plan for this outing was to meet up at Changi Village, as some would go by bus while others would cycle there. Those who go by bus would walk the Changi Boardwalk and explore the area around Hendon Road and Halton Road. We would return to Changi Village to meet the rest of the group and have lunch at the Airfield Coffee-shop. After that we would rent bicycles, cycle to East Coast Park to return the bicycles. PCN Pitstop provides this service with their network of kiosks throughout the Eastern Coastal Park Connector Network.

Changi Point Coastal Walk

Changi Point Coastal Walk
The main party after arriving at the bus terminal proceeded with the Changi Point Coastal Walk. This is a 2.2km trail with a mixture of terrains such as beach, cliff, kelong and along the frontage of a sailing club. It starts at the Changi Point Ferry Terminal and ends at just beyond the Changi Swimming Club. When we reached the Changi Sailing Club, 3 cyclists caught up with us. They had cycled from McDonald's at the East Coast Park to join up with us.

Changi Sailing Club

After the usual greetings we continued on with walking the boardwalk until the end just after the Changi Swimming Club. The cyclists had to at times carry their bikes up and down the steps. The hikers exited at the Changi Swimming Cub to get to explore Halton Road and Hendon Road.

The former colonial buildings at Hendon Road were being renovated to house F&B outlets. The former Changi Hospital and the Orange Valley Nursing House are located at Halton Road. It is a quiet area most conducive for the inhabitants.

Kelong Walk

Meanwhile the cyclists proceeded to Changi Village by a different way.

Eventually we all met at the Airfield Coffee-shop. We had an enjoyable meal for all 11 of us. After lunch we went to the PCN Pitstop kiosk at Changi beach to rent bikes to cycle to Marine Parade.

Coastal Park Connector
The ride was uneventful. We cycled through Changi Beach Park, then along the Coastal Park Connector that runs parallel to the Changi Coast Road and the runway. We made several stops to rest. The stretch alongside the runway is 6km in length and we could feel the effect of the south-westerly wind blowing against us making our ride a bit more strenuous.

Former Changi Hospital

Soon we cycled past the National Service Resort & Country Club and arrived at the East Coast Park. It was another 5km to the PCN Pitstop kiosk to return the bike. Then we crossed the East Coast Parkway by the overhead bridge to get to the nearest coffee-shop at Block 59 for refreshments.

Route

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Round Island Walk - East Coast Park to Marina Bay Sands

Round Island Walk 2013 or Walk Around Singapore in 10 days

This came about when one member shared a video of some seniors going around Taiwan on motorbikes. I commented that it would be easier to cycle in Singapore but since cycling has logistics issues he said why not walk around the island. So the idea was hatched to walk round the island in stages. When we come to the end of one leg we would continue where we left off on the next walk.

Camping at East Coast Park

We would try to keep as near to the coastline as possible by walking along the nearest trails, park connectors or roads. The exception is Tuas and Safti. Below is the route for the Round Island Walk 2013. It would consist of 10 legs each about 10-15 km in length so the total distance is about 130 km. We would start at the East Coast Lagoon. The last leg would end at the East Coast Lagoon Food Village where we would celebrate the completion of the whole route and claim bragging rights and bore our family members and friends to death about this 'epic' walk. We would also celebrate 5 years of walking all over Singapore together.

So for the next 9 weeks there will be little route planning required as all we have to do is follow the route shown below. We do have to deviate at times to ensure we pass the appropriate places to refuel our bodies and suitable termination of the relevant leg.

Leg 1 East Coast Park to Marina Bay Sands

We gathered at the Lagoon View bus stop and walked around the condominium to the underpass to gain access to the East Coast Park. We went by the Lagoon and followed the park connector all the way to the Fort Road exit. The weather was excellent but there were few people around this time of the morning. The early morning walkers/joggers have already finished their bit. Just after the Siglap Canal we met up with 2 other members.

Gardens by The Bay East

Near the junction of Tanjong Katong Road was the holding area for the fishermen's boats. A group of them were seated around shooting the breeze. They apparently had enough catch for the day and were not going to heed the consultant's advice to catch more fish.

From Fort Road we walked to the Jalan Batu Market and Food Centre at Block 4A behind the 2 petrol stations for lunch. The Tanjong Rhu Wanton Mee was most popular so we had to queue.

Kite Flying at the Marina Barrage

After lunch we walked along the Geylang Park Connector which became the Tanjong Rhu Promenade and under the Benjamin Sheares Bridge to Gardens by the Bay East. This garden has a 1.5km trail all the way to the Marina Barrage. We came across 2 photographers with the biggest lenses that I have seen mounted on tripods. They were walking with these to take pictures of some crows perched on top of the trees. We noticed that there were more birds in the adjacent secondary forests  than in the garden itself probably because of more varied vegetation.

We crossed the Marina Barrage and observed that construction was still going on for  the west side of the undersea road tunnel. On the rooftop some students were either flying kites or throwing frisbees watched by their teachers.

As we walked toward the Bay South Garden, we saw that the Satay Club was operating. So we took a break After that we hurriedly walked past the Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome to the Helix Bridge which was our termination point as the sky looked threatening.

Round Island Walk 2013 Route
Blue is the colour for the legs not travelled. After a leg has been completed it will be changed to red.

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East Coast Lagoon to Changi Point

This walk took us from the East Coast Park Lagoon to Changi Beach Club a distance of 18km. Along the way we went past the National Sailing Centre, the National Service Resort & Country Club, Changi International Airport, walked through the Changi Beach Park and traversed the Changi Point Boardwalk.

East Coast Park
We first gathered at the Lagoon View bus stop, then walked across the East Coast Parkway via the Laguna Flyover to the East Coast Park to begin our walk.

Bedok Jetty

The day was cloudy but no rain, perfect weather for walking or cycling. We walked past the Xtreme SkatePark and the Bedok Jetty. This is a favourite haunt of anglers who will come day or night depending on the tides to fish.

Just past the Bedok Jetty is the Sunset Beach Bar at the Bougainvillea Garden. It was closed as it was late in the morning. After that we arrived at Kitesurfing and next to it the Outward Bound Centre for the young.

East Coast Park beach

Soon we arrived at the National Sailing Centre and the National Service Resort & Country Club. This is a golf and country club for national servicemen from all services. You can join for terms of either 5 or 10 years. The 3 courses are usually very busy and golfers have to play fast without too much delay or the course marshal will come by to remind you.

Changi Coastal Track
Just outside the golf club is the NSRCC Sea Sports Centre where the young can take part in canoeing and sailing. We stopped by the Belly View Cafe here and had lunch. The prices here are reasonable $5-6$ for noodles and rice dishes. A can of beer costs $5.50. There is also a pub here at the sailing centre. This place should be great for an evening drink by the beach.

NSRCC Sea Sports Centre

After lunch we moved on to the Changi Coastal Track that runs generally parallel to the runway at Changi International Airport. One can watch the planes landing and taking off along this stretch of more than 6km track. We noticed that there were a high proportion of regional budget airlines operating during the late morning and afternoon such as Tiger, JetStar, Air Asia, Lion Air, Scoot and many more. This stretch of road is also very boring for hikers and cyclists but we had to slog through it somehow. There are shelters every 1km to provide rest and shelter from rain and lightning.

Changi Coastal Track

Changi Beach Park
Just past the Changi Ferry Terminal is the Changi Beach Park about 3km long and ends at Changi Point. Changi Beach Park is being upgraded with more shelters and tarred trails. I felt a loss for the dirt trails of the past. Many people come here to fish and relax on the beach as it is readily accessible by public bus.

Just past the Cargo Complex is the SAF Ferry Terminal. This is where NSmen depart for their training at Pulau Tekong. After crossing the bridge over the Changi Creek, we made a decision to continue our walk on the Changi Boardwalk. This stretch is from the Changi Point Ferry Terminal to the Changi Beach Club a distance of 2.2km.

A Catamaran at Changi Sailing Club

Surprisingly although it was sunny along the beach here, it rained suddenly in bright sunshine. After the stretch of beach, we got on the boardwalk and went past the chalets, the Changi Sailing Club and the Changi Beach Club before turning inland to Cranwell Road.

Our walk ended at the junction of Cranwell Road and Loyang Avenue where we took a bus home.

Related Articles
Round Island Walk - East Coast Park to Marina Bay Sands


Route

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Buangkok to Tampines via Tampines Road

This route took us from Buangkok MRT Station, along the northern part of Punggol Park to Buangkok East Drive to Tampines Road to Tampines MRT Station via the Tampines Bike Trail.

Approaching the top of the hill at the Tampines Bike Park

Buangkok East Drive
After an early lunch at the Kopitiam food court, we walked south along Sengkang Central toward the canal then turned east in the direction of Punggol Park. We followed the trails in the northern part of the park, then moved along the Buangkok Park Connector toward Buangkok Drive East. To do so we had to access Upper Serangoon Road first then walk along Buangkok East Drive. If we stayed on the park connector we would end up walking along the Serangoon Park Connector leading to Tampines Road.

Map Board of the Tampines Bike Trail

Tampines Road
We made a mistake when we stayed on the right side of Buangkok East Drive as it would have led us to the Kallang Paya Lebar Expressway heading toward the city. We discovered this early and backtracked to cross Buangkok East Drive at a safe position. Walking along Buangkok East Drive on the left pedestrian walkway would lead us eventually to Tampines Road. As we walked toward Tampines Road, we could see and hear the F-15s and C-130s taking off from the Paya Lebar Air Base.

Lake formed by rain water

At Tampines Road we skirted around the northern periphery of the Paya Lebar Air Base. We kept on walking and soon passed the two huge water towers on the left side of the road. And soon we arrived at the place with 11 Chinese temples. This was where we had a break at the Goodlife Restaurant that also served bak ku teh. I then discovered that all the pictures taken so far were no good caused by oil mist accumulated on the lens during a cooking demonstration. After a temporary clean job I managed to capture our moments for the remainder of the walk.

Shelter at the Tampines Bike Park

Tampines Bike Trail
After the break we moved on to Tampines Ave 10 where Ikea, Giant and Courts were located. We crossed over to Tampines Link that would lead us to the Tampines Expressway. We were looking for the Utilities Building beside the expressway and to locate an access to the Tampines Bike Trail. This we did and we happily explored the bike park.

We reached the highest point of the park and were rewarded with a splendid view of the surrounding area. This park is used by mountain bikers to practise and hone their riding skills. It is generally exposed so there is danger during thunder storms so we had to watch out for the weather whenever we visit this area. When the weather is hot, it can be quite exhausting as well.

Related Article
Bedok Reservoir - Tampines Quarry 

Route

Map data ©2018 Google

Gardens by the Bay South and East

Marina Bay Sands Hotel

This route is the reverse of a walk we did earlier. See Gardens by the Bay East Marina Barrage. At that time, the Gardens Bay South was still under construction and we had to brave the Marina Station Road to go under the ECP to Lau Pa Sat. This time around there are three places where you can access the Gardens from the city area for those who walk. These are the Lions Bridge, the path under the ECP near the Helix Bridge and from the Bayfront MRT Station. So for this trip, we walked from Lau Pa Sat to Marina Bay Sands MBS to cross the Lions Bridge to the Gardens. After that we crossed the Barrage to Gardens by the Bay East to Tanjong Rhu. 

This also answers question raised by some cyclists whether they can cycle from East Coast Park to Gardens by the Bay South. Yes this can be done via Fort Road, Tanjong Rhu and the Marina Barrage.

Marina Bay Financial Centre
From Lau Pa Sat (after a satisfying meal), we moved along Marina Boulevard to the Marina Bay Financial Centre. We dropped in on the Marina Bay Link Mall to assess the place for future dining possibilities during visits to the Marina Bay area. This underground mall is linked by a passage to the Promenade so there was no need to cross the road. When we reached the Promenade we proceeded to MBS. There is a linkway all the way from Raffles Place MRT Station to this mall.

The Shoppes Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands
At MBS it was a bit difficult to locate the escalator to access the rooftop but the staff kindly told us to look for the escalator in a lobby next to the Chanel shop. There is also an elevator along Bayfront Drive to bring the visitor to the rooftop. We did find it hidden behind a wall. But finally we reached the 4th floor to cross the bridge over the Bayfront Avenue. This bridge leads through the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and overlooks the longest lobby in Singapore as this lobby connects three hotels.

Supertrees Gardens by the Bay South

Gardens by the Bay South
After crossing the hotel, the bridge extends over the ECP and ends at a circular viewing platform just after the escalator that will bring the visitor to the Gardens. Be careful here, as there is a 2-foot drop without warning. The view from here is indeed spectacular with the two glass-covered Domes and the 18 Supertrees.

Marina Barrage

We took the escalator to the Gardens at the ground level. We passed through the Malay, Chinese and Indian Gardens to the Canopy admiring the Supertrees  and Domes along the way. The Gardens has more than 5km of tracks and deserve more time by the individual to enjoy at this own leisure.

Marina Bay Sands and Garden Domes from Garden by the Bay East

Marina Barrage
We proceeded towards the Marina Barrage from the Canopy. Sighting the sloping eco-friendly grass-covered roof, we walked on it to reach the rooftop. This is a favourite spot for kite flyers. We walked across the Barrage past the boat hoist at the eastern end. This is used to move boats from the sea to the reservoir and back. The underwater highway is under construction with the eastern end completed and covered by the sea. The western part is still being constructed.

Gardens by the Bay East

Gardens by the Bay East
Here there is a road running parallel to the seafront all the way to Tanjong Rhu. With the plant life here, the skyline of the Marina Bay Sands and the two Garden Domes provide a picturesque backdrop to the bay area. We passed a bench where we noticed patches of blood which we surmised was where the wild dogs attacked a woman. After the Gardens, we followed the park connector along the Sungei Geylang to the hawker centre at Block 4A for a refreshing Tiger.

See Also:
East Coast Park to Gardens Bay East
Gardens by the Bay East Marina Barrage
Kallang Basin and Marina Reservoir Walk

GPS Track
 

Map data ©2020 Google URA

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

Woodlands Town to Bukit Panjang via Ulu Sembawang Park Connector

The Route
This route came about to satisfy two criteria viz. to walk along park connectors with their well paved tracks and secondly along forests for their shade, greenery and away from traffic. We achieved this by starting from Woodlands (Causeway Point) after a hearty lunch and proceeding southward along the Woodlands Park Connector (Ave 2) to the Ulu Sembawang Park Connector (PCN) to the Mandai PCN. Then we travelled along Track 15 (Central Catchment PCN) in Mandai to the Gangsa Bike Trail to Bukit Panjang. See the GPS track below.

Open field at Woodlands Park Connector

Woodlands Park Connector
Walking along the Park Connector from Woodlands to Ulu Sembawang was uneventful except for the hot weather as we started walking at about 12 noon. After walking southward along Ave 2, we passed the Singapore Sports School where our elite athletes train and have their education. The path eastward from the school was blissful and reminded us of the Von Trapp children singing in the Austrian Alps as the track bordered a huge expanse of wide open field on high ground making us feeling liberated. On a previous trip one of our fellow walkers found a lost kite and ran with it and I sang "the hills are filled with the sound of music, etc." Unfortunately he suffered a minor injury as a result but is okay now. Before embarking on this stretch, one got to be careful of thunderstorms as it is exposed.

Ulu Sembawang Park Connector

Near the junction of Ave 12 and the SLE we headed southward along the Ulu Sembawang PCN. This track took us through the forests of Mandai used by Mindef for training their troops. On the west was the Mandai forest with the forbidding "Protected Area" sign and on the east were the farms. The track was just opened several months ago - kudos to the Nparks for building it and allowing us access through the Mandai forest. At the end was Mandai Road and the Seletar Reservoir. We turned west towards the Singapore Zoo direction. We could see the outline of durian trees as we walked, but no fruits as it was out of season.

Central Catchment Park Connector
At the Mandai Lake Road which led to the Zoo, we followed a track called the Central Catchment PCN. This narrow track is within the forest of Mandai and is left unpaved as close to its natural condition. There were occasional fallen trees due to heavy rain and wind but we were able to continue our trek. This trail roughly parallel Track 15  leading to the Mandai Rifle Range. On certain days we could hear the sound of gunfire. As we proceeded along, we could spot the silhouette of durian trees. This was dutifully recorded as a POI on our GPS track for a visit when the fruit is in season. The Central Reserve PCN had been realigned to join up with the Gangsa Bike Trail to which we emerged when we came to the end of the park connector.

Gangsa Bike Trail

Gangsa Bike Trail
We did a side trip to the PUB pumping station to clock up the mileage we wanted to achieve. The bike trail was easy going although we were accompanied by mosquitos but thanks to our buddies for whom they had more affection, the rest of us were spared the ordeal. Towards the end of our trek we arrived at the abandoned garden beside the BKE under which we walked toward Bukit Panjang Kim San Leng coffee-shop for a short rest before heading home.

See Also:
Admiralty Park to Sembawang
The Pipeline Trail
Woodcutter Trail

GPS Track

Map data ©2020 Google, Urban Redevelopment Authority

Kallang Park Connector

Fishing at Lower Peirce Reservoir Park

Bishan Park
For this walk, we chose to start from the direction of Bishan Park and end at Kallang. Before starting on the park connector, we paid a visit to the Lower Peirce Reservoir Park which was nearby. In this park there is a small area set aside for fishing. The Lower Peirce Reservoir is the start of the Kallang River. The river used to be a concrete lined canal all the way to the Kallang Basin. However the canal in Bishan Park is being converted into a riverine type environment with plants growing along the banks giving the river a softer more natural look. Part of this was completed as seen in the accompanying photos. McDonald's has an outlet in the park near one of the futuristic looking bridge with its gentle curves. The outlet is clean, modern and fairly large but surprisingly with a small toilet facility. This will cause congestion during weekends with many families from Bishan and Ang Mo Kio visiting with their families and baby strollers. Bishan Park stretches almost 3km from west to east with landscaped lakes, river banks and a driving range nearby. It is bordered to the north by Ang Mo Kio and on the south by Bishan.

Bishan Park

Kallang Park Connector
The Kallang Park Connector runs along the Kallang River connecting Bishan Park to the Kallang Park. The distance is about 10km from Upper Thomson Road to Kallang Station. The walk is easy and basically on level ground. It is well marked and maps strategically placed. Easy to find your way along the route but tricky near Kallang as there are several canals joining up. The river within Bishan Park is well landscaped and attractive. One can spend some time here admiring the scenery and the bridges once the park is fully redeveloped and open.

St Andrew's Bridge

Across from the eastern edge of Bishan Park is the Bishan depot of the SMRT where recently there was a break-in and a train got a free paint job on its side panels. The traditional top-down approach was evident. As we walked along the park connector we could see some photographers checking out the fences. We did not know that they were reporters from the local media until the next day when an article analyzed how the break-in was supposed to have occurred.

We crossed Braddel Road using the overhead bridge. At the Central Expressway, the Kallang Park Connector went under it. It is well lit and lined with shrubs and flowering plants along the way. It allows both cyclists and hikers to use it.

Kolam Ayer Waterfront

After Potong Pasir Avenue, we walked under a sheltered bridge that spanned the Kallang River connecting St. Andrew's Jr College to St. Andrew's Junior School. This is the only school with its own private bridge across a river.

We crossed the PIE via an overhead bridge to Moonstone Lane. At the Kolam Ayer Waterfront, there is a floating platform along which visitors can walk for a better sense of the Kallang River. There are also devices to illustrate different types of water pumping equipment used in the past such as the Archimedes screw. The newly completed 'The River Vista@Kallang' is situated right in the middle of this richly landscaped area. The bridges across the river here were designed to complement the environment with their aesthetic and modern curves.

Related Articles
Bishan Park - Kallang Park Connector
Gardens by the Bay East | Marina Barrage
Kallang Basin and Marina Reservoir Walk


The Route

Map data ©2020 Google URA

 

Punggol Park Connector - from Buangkok to Punggol

The Route

Map data ©2020 Google

This walk was supposed to take us from the junction of Yio Chu Kang Road and Buangkok Green to Punggol Point along the Punggol Park Connector by the Punggol Reservoir. It was curtailed due to a thunderstorm when we were near the Punggol Marina

The first point of interest was Kampong Buangkok the only surviving kampong in Singapore. It was occasionally flood-prone during the rainy season. All the houses were neatly kept with colourful paintwork and traditional furniture and fittings. Some footpaths were paved with stone slabs to ease walking around the compound especially when raining. Plants were grown around the houses giving them a cool and cosy feel. The residents were friendly and welcomed us.

A kampong house by the road

Video


About less than 200m outside the kampong we came across a drain flowing into the reservoir. Upon following the drain upstream we came to Lorong Buangkok. The old kampong trail was left abandoned with trees growing well here.

Abandoned Lorong Buangkok

Mid-way along the park connector was the Sengkang Riverside Park and the Floating Wetland (besides the Sengkang Sports Complex). Fruit trees of various types (such as starfruits, bananas, pineapple plants, lychee, mango, pomelo) were planted in the park. Flowering plants were planted on the wetland and have already attracted various types of butterflies and birds - a sign of a good ecological balance.

Sengkang Floating Wetland

The new park connector was almost complete between Buangkok and Punggol except for a small stretch to be finished in a few months just before the Punggol Marina at the western end of the Punggol Waterway.

Punggol Park Connector Under Construction

Our walk terminated at Nibong LRT station where we took shelter from the thunderstorm

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