Kent Ridge Park Things to Do

4 more images

The Southern Ridges comprise a 9km chain of green, open spaces spanning the rolling hills of Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park before ending at West Coast Park. It is an area steeped in history and is home to some of nature's greatest gifts of flora and fauna. It is also one of the best spots in Singapore to catch panoramic views of the city, harbour and the Southern Islands.

If you like nature and history of Singapore, and is keen to exercise as well, this is a walk which you should not miss. My wife and I went on this walk at the section from Kent Ridge Park to Alexandra Arches bridge during December 2008, and enjoyed it. Please go to part 2 of this tip for more information and travelogue section for more photographs.

2 more images

My wife and I went to visit Kent Ridge Park again in Dec 2008 and took more photographs of the canopy walk, as well as tried out a portion of the new Southern Ridges walk. More photographs are at the travelogue section of this VT page, and information on the Southern Ridges walk are at my other tips on this "things to do" section.

3 more images

There is a new canopy walk which was opened in early 2005 at Kent Ridge Park, and this walk gives you very beautiful views of the surrounding areas, especially Normanton Park, Pasir Panjang etc. The canopy walk leads to the Bukit Chandu Musuem which displays the famous Battle of Bukit Panjang during World War 2.

Please go to part 2 of this tip for more photographs.

4 more images

Canopy walk-measuring 280-metres long, the bridge links Kent Ridge Park to the museum Reflections of Bukit Chandu, enhancing the park’s and museum’s accessibility to the public, especially the elderly and physically challenged. Walk along the bridge, you may be able to see sunbirds, doves, squirrels, lizards, and white-crested laughing thrushes. Apart from the signages that provide educational information on the various plants at the park, there is also a shelter for visitors to take a short break.

You can access the walkway either from Vigilante Drive followed by a 5 minutes walk from Carpark B or enter from the end of Pepys Road.

The park is lit from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am.

2 more images

As part of the Army's adoption of the park as The Army Green Park, two decommissioned M114 Artillery Guns and an AMX-13 Light Tank are displayed in the park to provide points of interest.

Design work on the AMX-13 light tank began in 1946 in France and production started from 1952. Its basic chasis was also used for a wide range of vehicles, which include Mechanised Infantry Combat Vehicles, self-propelled howitzer/gun and recovery vehicles.

The AMX-13 was brought into service with the SAF in 1969. After 20 years of service in the SAF, the AMX-13 was upgraded locally by Singapore Technologies Engineering. The new improved variant of the tank is the AMX-13 SM1 which is still in service till date.

4 more images

Atop Bukit Chandu (Opium Hill), this WWII interpretive centre is based in an old renovated villa. Its focus is the brave stand made by the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Malay Regiment defending the hill in the Battle of Pasir Panjang when the Japanese invaded in 1942. High-tech displays, using films from the period and audio effects to transport you to the scene of the battle, are all quite evocative.

It is opened from 9am to 5pm (Tuesday to Sunday) and closed on Mondays for regular estate and M&E maintenance, except Public Holidays that fall on Mondays.

Admission charges SGD2 per adult (walk-in), SGD1 per child or senior citizen. Family ticket at SGD5 (5 persons: maximum 2 adults) and SGD1.50 per person for group discount (more than 20 people).

The hill at Labrador Park used to be a British defensive position during World War 2 and you can still find some of the bunkers used during the war here. There are well pave roads which makes this a leisure walk while learning a bit of Singapore's history.

Open your eyes and be still, Singapore's forests will slowly come alive with bird life. Keen-eyed bird enthusiasts will know that these feathered friends can be spotted all over Singapore.

Bird sanctuaries can be found at Kent Ridge and Labrador Parks, where you will be able to spot many type of birds in the parks. Perhaps you will be able to find a bird or two if you have the patience and the time to spare.