Pulau Ubin Things to Do

There's about 4 or 5 bike shops littered around the jetty around so choosing a bike shouldn't be a problem. Just remember to bring some kind of identification of yourself for the rental. And check ....
1)the suspension of course - Trust me, it is no fun wobbling your cellulite on those rocky trails.
2) the brakes..I nearly killed a wild boar once when my brakes failed me. Luckily for the pig, i swerved and ended in a ditch instead. Now, that's what I call bad luck with a road hog.

Cost
$5-$6 for half a day's usage.

As you look at the map, you'll find out that there's little private beaches to explore and nooks and crannies ideal for roughing it out a mountain bike. So what is the next thing you do? Search for a bike rental shop of course...

Click here here for a map of Pulau Ubin.

Chek Jawa, located on the easternmost tip of Pulau Ubin, is a unique coastal haven, comprising six major habitats. These are coastal forest, sandy beach, mangrove, lagoon, rubble-strewn, coral flat and a tiny island, all packed within a small area of about one square kilometre.

The shallow low-tide lagoon, consisting of fine sands, supports a rich marine flora. The seagrass bed is extensive and supports an astonishing diversity of marine fauna not commonly found elsewhere in Singapore. These include various species of Carpet Anemones, Sea Stars, Sand Dollars and Sea Cucumbers. Rare and multi-colored sponges abound on the degrading coral flat.

Chek Jawa is managed by National Park Board and they organised guided walk every month. You need to make a reservation for this guided walk as the guide will bring you round Chek Jawa for a 45 minutes walk.

Walking is the best way to enjoy the rustic and idyllic kampong charm of Ubin as most of the trails are well shaded by the dense canopy of trees. There are many routes to choose from as you set off from the main village near the jetty.

You can either choose to explore the eastern or western parts of the island, or both. Along the coastline, you can find newly-hatched fishes, prawns, crabs and other creatures in the mangrove swamps which make up most of the coastline. Further into the heart of the island, secondary forests thrive, interspersed by small rubber plantations and coconut groves. You can also trek up to Puaka Hill, at the highest point on Ubin, which overlooks a beautiful quarry pool.

A trip to Pulau Ubin is a throwback to Singapore in the 1960’s. The island is home to Singapore’s last villages or “kampongs” – there are still about a hundred villagers living here. In contrast to the modern and efficient public utilities on mainland Singapore, Ubin residents rely on wells for water and noisy diesel generators for electricity. Some villagers depend on traditional farming and fishing for subsistence, while others tend to their provision stores and eateries. At the main village, near the jetty, some houses have been converted to bicycle rental shops to support a quiet tourist trade.

After a tiring day at Pulau Ubin, a good way to relax is to try the local tasty food at the hawker centre at Changi Village next to the jetty. You can also go to the nearby Changi beach to just laze around in the tropical sun and sea.

If you are staying in Singapore for a while and want adventure, then the Outward Bound is for you. The headquarters and adventure camp is located on Pulau Ubin and offers you various adventure and survival programmes.

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The best way to explore the island is by bicycle which can be rented from SGD2 per day onwards from the numerous shops next to the jetty.