Nature trails to take on with your BFF
There are two types of people in this world: those who wear activewear everywhere all. the. time, and those who own activewear…but never have the opportunity to wear it because, well, first-world problems.
No matter which group you belong to, swap your typical girls’ day out at the movies or cafe hopping with a visit to these nature trails that will make sweating it out in Singapore’s hot and humid climate #worthit.
1. Windsor Nature Park (near Upper Thomson Road)
Most of us have been to Thomson for our midnight supper rendezvous, but besides Meng’s Kitchen and Salted Caramel, you’ll also find a newly-opened nature park right along Upper Thomson Road.
Our favourite trail at Windsor Nature Park was the Squirrel Trail – and yes, we did spot some adorable bushy-tailed squirrels along the way! If you’re as determined to burn some calories, take on the 2.2km-long Drongo Trail, or the 7km hike to the popular MacRitchie Treetop Walk. Don’t forget to snap a picture with the iconic bridge, ‘cuz as the saying goes, pics or it didn’t happen.
Once you’re done soaking up the sights and sounds of nature, take a 10-minute bus ride to Upper Thomson for some well-deserved ice cream!
Address: 30 Venus Road, 573858
Nearest MRT: Marymount
2. Labrador Park (near Telok Blangah)
For a semi walking-on-water experience, head to Labrador Nature Park’s Bukit Chermin Boardwalk, a 300m walk which extends out into the sea. Cue Moana’s I’ve been starin’ at the edge of the water…
Apart from an awesome view of Keppel Bay, we also came across some interesting monochromatic colony barracks!
Being an old British colonial base, you’ll find leftover war relics around the park – our favourite was definitely the insta-famous Berlayer Beacon. Take this chance to pose for a cute wefie and add a dash of pastel pink on your feed!
Getting here doesn’t take a hike either. The entrance is located right next to Labrador Park MRT, and a forested trail will lead you from the entrance of the park straight to Bukit Chermin Boardwalk.
Address: Labrador Villa Road, Singapore 119187
Nearest MRT: Labrador Park
3. Mount Faber Park
Mount Faber, previously known as Telok Blangah Hill, is one of the oldest parks in Singapore. Don’t be surprised to find people with cameras pointed to the sky as Mount Faber is a prominent bird-watching location, with up to 43 species of birds to spot.
To get to the summit of this hill, we took the Marang Trail from Harbourfront MRT’s Exit D that snakes all the way up to Faber Peak. When we finally made it to the top, we were greeted with this breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the city below – definitely a victorious moment to look back on in years to come.
After conquering Marang Trail, we were relieved to find a less-treacherous concrete pavement to continue our trek up.
Beside the cable car terminal, we found these colourful steps that led up to the Bell of Happiness. Legend has it that ringing this bell would grant you everlasting peace and happiness with your loved ones – so if you’d like to officiate your sisterhood, sound this bell with your BFF!
Address: Mount Faber Road
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront
4. Fort Canning Park
Headstones melded into bricked walls leading up to the Fort Canning Arts Center
Most of us know of Fort Canning Park as ROM grounds or a hub for outdoor events like Ballet Under the Stars, but it’s more than just that. This spot is chock-full of our nation’s rich history, like The Battle Box.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
With an expansive field, this park is a great spot for a picnic too, so pack some snacks and wind down after exploring the area. There’s even some hauntingly beautiful gothic gates that’d make the perfect photo-op for a wedding pic – girls take note!
If you’ve come across this mysterious stairwell online and wondered where in the far-flung corners of Singapore this could be, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that this photogenic spiral staircase is located right next to Dhoby Ghaut MRT!
Just take Exit B from the station and take the route from Park Mall to Fort Canning Road. Cross the street and you’ll find yourself standing at the top of the spiral staircase.
Address: River Valley Rd, Singapore 179037
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut
5. Punggol Waterway Park – The “Venice of Punggol”
Punggol ain’t just another sleepy town in the North-East region of Singapore. Besides spanking new BTO flats and gorgeous lalang fields, you’ll also find this picturesque park just 15-minutes from Punggol MRT station.
With a huge winding river and multiple bridges linking the adjacent walkways, it’s no wonder this park is known as the “Venice of Punggol”.
Kelong Bridge
As we strolled through this tranquil oasis, we came across many quirky bridges that demanded to be crossed. The Kelong Bridge, for one, was designed to resemble the unique wooden stilts of an offshore fishing platform.
Address: Sentul Crescent, Singapore 821313
Nearest MRT: Punggol
6. Admiralty Park
Admiralty Park is so far from the city that your phone network might just switch to a Malaysian phone carrier at any time, but despite its ulu-ness, this accessible park is only a 15-minute walk from Woodlands MRT station or a 15-minute bus ride from Marsiling.
For all you nature-lovers out there, there are over 100 species of wildlife on this nature trail – having a chance to get up close with some of these critters will make trekking through the humidity worth it. We even unexpectedly bumped into some monitor lizards and long-tailed macaques!
As we approached the west end of this park, we stumbled upon this amphitheatre that instantly reminded us of an ancient Greek theater. It’s just behind Republic Polytechnic!
Address: Admiralty Road
Nearest MRT: Marsiling
7. Lower + Upper Peirce Reservoir
Many of us prata-lovers have paid pilgrimage to Casuarina Curry, but we usually overlook the lush forest behind the restaurant every time we venture there for a meal. So if you want to jio your girlfriends for a hike to Upper or Lower Pierce Reservoir, be sure to lure them in with the promise of a good meal after.
Bask in the blue and green hues of this serene spot; you can even have a mini celebratory picnic on this vast green lawn before making your way back into civilisation.
Just round the bend from the entrance of the park, you’ll also see this jetty that sticks out into the reservoir. Strut up and down this “runway” in your activewear for the ‘gram, and don’t forget to hashtag #fitspo!
For those who want an extra intensive workout, take the more challenging route to Upper Peirce Reservoir Park from the entrance of Old Upper Thomson Road where Casuarina Curry is.
Be warned: the hike up to Upper Peirce Reservoir from Lower Peirce is no child’s play. Even though a 4km hike doesn’t seem too daunting, do note that this road sports some steep hills that will definitely give you a good cardio and leg-day workout.
You may also encounter some monkeys during your hike, but here’s some advice from those who lived to tell the tale: don’t feed them as they will come after you for more food!
Address: 16 Old Upper Thomson Road Sembawang Hills Estate, Singapore 576214
Nearest MRT: Marymount
Check out more nature-related articles:
- Kranji Marshes guide
- Picnic spots in Singapore
- Guide to Coney Island
- MacRitchie Reservoir guide
- Things to do in Singapore
Staying fresh after your outdoor adventure
Trekking through Singapore’s friendly forests might be a fun girls day out activity – plus a well-needed digital detox – but with our notoriously humid weather, it’s no wonder we usually have second thoughts about anything outdoors-related.
And for girlies with longer tresses, just thinking about having smelly post-workout hair comes off as a big no-no. After all, wearing a cap or being out and about all day can result in our locks feeling greasy and smelling funky.
But don’t let that stop you from taking on the great outdoors – with Moist Diane’s new Extra Fresh scalp care shampoo range, you don’t have to worry about dealing with oily or smelly hair after a good workout.
Specially formulated with the hot Southeast-Asian climate in mind, this silicone-free shampoo targets oily scalps and dry ends – a common issue many of us girls in Singapore can relate to.
This premium Japanese shampoo also contains a natural blend of 48 scalp-relieving herbs – including Rosemary, Tea Tree, and Peppermint – that boast both antibacterial and refreshing properties to keep your locks feeling and smelling fresh even after 48 hours.
Their shampoo left a super refreshing and pleasantly minty sensation on the scalp
It’s not just all about the hair-washing process either. This set comes with an Extra Fresh Scalp Essence – a leave-in aftercare product that prevents scalp odour and dandruff with just a spritz.
Whether you’ve got an oily scalp or an embarrassing scalp odour, Moist Diane’s the BFF that’ll have your back – and head. So no need to sweat over the humid weather, just go forth and put your sports gear to good use!
Find out more about Moist Diane here
Also check out these places to hike in Singapore:
- Walking and hiking trails in Singapore
- Strava cycling routes that create fun drawings in Singapore
- IG-worthy nature trails in S’pore
- How to hike Clementi Forest
This post was brought to you by Moist Diane.