Round Island Walk - Punggol to East Coast Lagoon

From the Sunrise Bridge at Punggol Waterway

Round Island Walk Leg 9. Punggol to Changi

We gathered together at Compass Point in Sengkang and had our lunch there as the choice of  food was poor at the Punggol MRT Station (the starting point of our walk). After lunch at the Compass Point food court we took the train to Punggol.

On alighting from the train we began our walk by walking along Punggol Walk toward the Punggol Waterways. At the Waterway just after crossing the semi-circular bridge, we walked down the slope to the waterway and headed to the west end of the waterway. Here we turned right to follow the Punggol Park Connector along the Punggol River. On this Thursday afternoon, the park connector was quiet. We saw few people except for an angler whiling away his time.

Eventually we reached Punggol Point. There were a number of anglers here. We had a short stay at the lookout before continuing our walk to the Serangoon River on the Punggol Promenade. The trees along here were newly planted and provided little shade. After passing the West and East Serangoon Dam we came to the east end of the Punggol Waterway. A bit further on and we come to the red coloured pedestrian bridge to Lorong Halus Wetland where water is treated using plants and ponds. Here we have our first stop of the day.

Fishing at Punggol Point

After the break we continued on Pasir Ris Farmway 3 and Pasir Ris Drive 1. As we came abreast of the Pasir Ris Station 3 members left us to attend to some personal matters. The rest of us plodded on until we sighted the coffee shop at Pasir Ris Drive 6 for our second break. During this time, it rained.

After that we continued on Pasir Ris Drive 1 until we hit Loyang Ave. At Loyang Valley we had to stop again for the heavy rain and finally decided to take the bus all the way to Changi Village.


Round Island Walk Leg 10. Changi to East Coast Lagoon

We met up at Changi Village hawker centre which was recently renovated. The layout has been improved for better ventilation and there were more food stalls. After lunch we crossed the bridge over the Changi Creek to begin our walk. Most of the hoardings at the beach were removed so the park is now more open and accessible. At the Changi Beach Park, the trail has recently been tarred and changed from the old sand trail. Sure missed the feel of the older trails.

Coastal Park Connector

We left the park just after the second PCN Pitstop kiosk which rents out bicycles and sells drinks for the thirsty park users and bikers coming from the Coastal Park Connector. At these kiosks one could rent a bike and return it at another kiosk. This means we do not have to cycle back on the same route if we are pressed for time.

Just after the Changi Ferry Terminal is Aviation Park Road on the left. We wanted to go to the Changi Exhibition Centre to attend Imdex a maritime defence show. A check with the security post revealed that this is for professionals only and not the one where the public are allowed in. So we gave it a miss and proceeded with our walk along the Coastal Park Connector which parallel the Changi Airport runway. As we proceeded along here we could see many planes taking off every few minutes. Most of these are budget or regional airlines such as Tiger, Air Asia, Silkair, Jetstar, etc.

East Coast Park

Along the way we snapped pictures of landmarks such as the control tower so our non-walkers could follow our progress as they planned to join us at the Lagoon to celebrate the completion of our round island walk started 21 February. This was however interrupted by trips to Johor Bahru for lunch and to Sapa North Vietnam to trek the highland rice terraces.

As we reached the end of the runway walk and turned toward the canal, we met up with another of our walker P. He had come from the Lagoon to join us as he could not start earlier. Together we marched on with a brief stop at the NSRCC Sea Sports Centre. This is where our youths learn and hone their skills in sailing and surfing.

East Coast Lagoon Food Court

The rest of the walk along the East Coast Park was uneventful and excitedly we rushed toward the lagoon where our friends were waiting with their food goodies. Finally at close to 16.30hr we arrived. The celebration was subdued with the absence of 2 key rabble rousers but we happily congratulated each other with beer, satay,  and tarts and ang ku kueh all the way from Johor. Later on we found out that the satay belonged to the next table so we had to pay for it! CH brought his Samsung tablet and a set of mini speakers and some of us were merrily singing along including “My Way”, those who still have their voice.

Pasir Ris to Buangkok

The route was along the coastline from Pasir Ris Park to Serangoon East Dam, then through Lorong Halus Wetland along the eastern bank of Sungei Serangoon to Buangkok MRT Station .

Sungei Api Api

The original plan was to reach Tampines Road by following the Sungei Serangoon all the way but because of the hot weather and the muddy trails caused by the recent rains, we left the trail at Buangkok East Drive to proceed to Buangkok.

A solitary fisherman sitting by the Pasir Ris Beach

Pasir Ris Park
From White Sands Shopping Centre we walked through the bus interchange to the Pasir Ris Park. When we reached the beach we turned left to follow the coast. At the end of the park we stepped onto the beach. We selected a day when the tide was at the lowest so as to allow us ample beach access. The first stretch was easy going as it was beach sand but we soon arrived at a stretch where there were stones lining the coast. We proceeded with caution and soon arrived at a stream that blocked our way. We met some hobby fishermen relaxing in the shade while waiting for the tide to turn.

Lorong Halus Wetlands Park

As we were scrambling on the granite stones, we noticed a patrol boat racing toward us beyond a line of floats put up to hamper unauthorised landing on the beach. It was speeding quickly parallel to the floats but suddenly slowed down. It probably realised that we were a bunch of hikers armed with walking sticks and cameras. On another occasion at Marina East, we were approached by a patrol car but they were not interested in us and were expecting to see some foreigners landing at the wave breaker near the helipad. This was just after our famous Mas Selamat was "selamat datang" in Johor so the coastal patrols were edgy.

Horseshoe Bridge from Lorong Halus Wetlands Park

We followed the stream and found a bridge that allowed us to cross. We then walked along the embankment of granite stones lining the beach outside an army camp to Pasir Ris Farmway 6. We tried to continue our progress along the granite stones but found them a bit challenging. A contractor approached us telling us that it was dangerous to proceed along the stones. We accepted his advice. We walked along Farmway 6 until we reach the access road to the dam and followed it all the way to the dam. Along the way, we saw a few fishermen park their cars along Farmway 6 before proceeding to the dam to fish. The dam led to Coney Island (Pulau Serangoon) where a fisherman was killed by lightning a few weeks ago.

Lorong Halus Wetlands Park
After a short rest while observing the fishermen, we proceeded to the Lorong Halus Wetlands Park & Visitor Centre. There was a pedestrian bridge linking it to the Punggol Waterway and Punggol Park Connector. We then headed for the trail on the eastern side of Sungei Serangoon. The gate was locked but we took a short detour to get outside to the trail. From here to Tampines Expressway, there were patches of wet and muddy ground due to the recent monsoon rain. This trail is better accessed during the dry season.

We braved on and when we arrived under the Tampines Expressway, we spent a bit of time freshening up i.e. wash our shoes and changed our socks. What a difference a pair of fresh dry socks could do.

Tampines Expressway

With our morale boosted we made short work of the trail to Buangkok East Drive. The trail here was much better than the earlier part. At Buangkok East Drive we decided to call it a day and proceeded to Kopitiam near Buangkok MRT Station for a rest.

Route

Map data ©2020 Google, URA

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It was a gloomy and cloudy day with constant light rain throughout our walk. We were in high spirits as our group had swollen to 9 that day as all could make it for the walk and with the addition of a new member PC. It was strange that the 'initiation' (though uncalled for) of a new member seemed to involve wearing long pants on his first walk while the rest wore shorts.

Jewel Bridge

Route
We immediately commenced our walk after alighting from the bus at the Punggol Interchange. We started the walk with one arm stretched out with our brollies unfolded to receive the blessings from the sky. The aim was to recce the Punggol Waterway from the Punggol Reservoir in the west to the Serangoon Reservoir in the east, then turn left at the Horseshoe Bridge to the north and walk on along the Punggol Promenade to Punggol Point covering about 10km.

Adventure Bridge

Punggol Waterway
At the bridge on Punggol Walk, the bridge with the leaning semicircle, we clambered down the slope toward the park connector below to begin our walk toward the western part of the Waterway. At the western end of the Waterway was the Jewel Bridge. From here one could see the Punggol Dam and the Punggol Marina is next to it. This bridge is also part of the Punggol Park Connector which runs along the Punggol Reservoir. Using the Jewel Bridge we crossed the Waterway to head back toward the eastern part of Punggol. After passing under the LRT line, there was a boardwalk (Watersports Promenade) that extended over the Waterway. This provided visitors a closer perspective of the Waterway. Opposite this was a small viewing platform that jutted out from the hillside. Its roof resembled a Minangkabau house with its front end jutting high into the sky. After this we came past the Kelong Bridge as its pillars reminded us of the kelong stakes driven into the sea.

Watersports Promenade

We started our walk at 11am hoping to find some F&B outlets along the track. But there was none. Luckily we remembered from an earlier walk that there was a coffee-shop on Punggol Road so when the track was about to cross Punggol Road (just after the Kelong Bridge) we headed for this place which was just about 600m away on the right at Block 301. By this time, we were ravenously hungry but some members were so absorbed in the walk that they forgot that we had not eaten. Finally we had a satisfying lunch while the sky was pouring outside. We resisted the temptation to have a beer despite a suggestion from P as we needed all our senses to enjoy our first visit to the Punggol Waterway and the Punggol Promenade.

Horseshoe Bridge

After lunch we returned to the Kelong Bridge next to Punggol Road and continued our walk along the Punggol Waterway. The tracks on both sides of the Waterway were finished save for some finishing touches. Several cyclists passed us so we were confident that the rest of the tracks were ready. Along the canal were rain shelters and rest stops and plants with the environment landscaped to give a natural look. The newly planted trees did not provide any shade. At the eastern end was the so-called Horseshoe Bridge because of its shape. This was tastefully designed to provide a gentle curve and also allow bikes to be pushed up. When you lookout from the bridge you could see from the left the Serangoon East Dam, in front the Lorong Halus Wetland Park and on the right the bridge leading to Lorong Halus Wetland Park from the Punggol Promenade.

Punggol Promenade

Punggol Promenade
After a short rest at the Horseshoe Bridge, we moved on to the dirt track made of red laterite. It is a better surface than the railway track (before the removal of the rails) but when it's wet your shoes and bike tyres will be dirty. Other than that the walk here was easy going with trees on the left and the Serangoon Reservoir on the right. There was also a dirt track that parallel the Punggol Promenade. We walked nearer the dam and then followed the coast opposite Coney (Pulau Serangoon) Island. The walk throughout was on level ground so nothing strenuous. From the Horseshoe Bridge to Punggol Point was about 3.5km to which we eventually reach by about 4pm a most enjoyable walk with the light drizzle and excellent camaraderie from the group. After boarding the bus for home we informed PC that he was now a full member of the group and could wear shorts on the next outing.

Arriving at Punggol Point

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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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Punggol Point

This walk was meant to discover to what extent the Punggol Park Connector (PCN) has been completed. We started from Punggol MRT Station, walked past Nibong station and headed for Punggol Marina from where we accessed the PCN.

Punggol Marina

The path from Punggol Marina until Punggol Point (PP) was completed.

Punggol Park Connector

Punggol Point Lookout

From PP eastward there was a stretch until Coney Island dam that was in the final stage of completion before opening to the public.

Punggol Park Connector-Coney Island in the background

Coney Island or Pulau Serangoon is joined to the mainland by a dam that forms the Serangoon Reservoir. It is currently closed to the public by a fence and being developed into a wildlife park. It used to be visited by boaters from Punggol who wanted some seclusion for their picnic and skiing.

Coney Island

Further stretch of park connector being constructed.


Park connector under construction

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