As we return from our travels, we are truly reminded of home the moment we leave Changi Airport. From the beautifully manicured plants, to the neatly lined trees along the streets all the way to our destination, Singapore really does live up to her reputation as a Garden City. But beyond the picture-perfect, postcard-esque Gardens by the Bay and the Singapore Botanical Gardens, do you know that this tiny island also has a wild side?

In this very modern, ever-changing urban city, many of us easily overlook the existence of these beautiful natural areas. They are home to a diverse mix of insects and animals that some of us might not have even heard of. Not to forget, they also come with breathtaking views.

Here are five different places for a day away from urban Singapore, without having to leave on a jet plane.

#1 THE SOUTHERN RIDGES

If you detest long distances and/or getting your shoes soiled with mud, then this trail is for you! The Southern Ridges is a 10km long trail connecting a series of hill parks in the southern tip of Singapore. Do not be put off by the distance though, as this trail can also be accessed from various entry points, allowing you to customise your journey to suit your preference and convenience.

To get the most out of your journey with the least amount of walking, start from HortPark, where a 2.3km trail brings you across Alexandra Arch, over the forest in Forest Walk, before arriving at Henderson Waves, where you can find one of the best aerial views of the south of Singapore.

Highlights: Fantastic aerial views of the city throughout and on the Henderson Waves Bridge

Difficulty: 2/5

Wildlife Factor: 2/5

#2 SUNGEI BULOH NATURE RESERVE

Nestled among the farms in Neo Tiew is Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve. What was once commercial prawn farms have since transformed into a nature haven and a hotspot for migratory birds.

The opening of the new extension earlier this year has made the park more accessible than it was before, and has activities for the whole family! Keep an eye out for estuarine crocodiles near the old prawn pods and white-bellied sea eagles off Eagle Point. You can also indulge your tired feet in some mud ‘spa’ walking among mudflats at low tide at the new extension.

Highlights: Great diversity of wildlife that includes Crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Migratory birds and the occasional Otter sighting. The shelter pods in the new extension are also aesthetically pleasing and also double up as a bird hide.

Difficulty: 2.5/5

Wildlife Factor: 4/5

#3 TREE TOP WALK AND MACRITCHIE RESERVOIR PARK

Hidden away amidst the jungle is a suspension bridge that rises above the forest canopy, giving you a bird’s eye view of the forest below. The TreeTop walk is one of the highlights of the many walking trails available in Macritchie Reservoir Park. However, getting there can be a challenge! The easier option will be to enter the park from Venus Drive and follow the signs. Even so, it is a 7km return trek, so do remember to wear proper shoes and bring along a bottle of water!

Macritchie Resevoir Park offers much more than just the TreeTop Walk. For a relaxing day away from the hustle and bustle of the city, take a stroll the along edge of the reservoir, or whirl your time away watching a troupe of long tail macaques (aka monkeys) interact (do secure your bags!). For the more adventurous, go for the full 11 km loop around the reservoir!

Highlights: Breathtaking views above the forest canopy at the TreeTop Walk or watch as the sun set across the reservoir. Long tailed macaques are almost guaranteed and on a lucky day, you may spot a monitor lizard climbing up a tree!

Wildlife Factor: 3/5

Difficulty: 4/5 – to the TreeTop Walk or the Macritchie Loop (Lornie Trail). 1/5 – for the boardwalks along the reservoir for an easy stroll.

#4 PUNGGOL PROMENADE

At one of Singapore’s youngest housing estate is a new promenade that comprises an eclectic mix of parks and park connectors. Circling the estate, the 17km loop offers a variety of activities to keep the family busy.

Cross over Sungei Serangoon and visit the Lorong Halus Wetland, a former landfill which has since been transformed into a wetland popular with birdwatchers and nature lovers alike. Alternatively, take a relaxing stroll along the banks of Sungei Serangoon at Punggol Riverside walk and wrap up your day with a cup of coffee or a pint of beer at @Punggol.

Offering a diverse mix of amenities for both the young and old, the promenade is fast becoming a hit with residents around the area. Be it for a day filled with activities or just a simple dinner, there is something for everyone at Punggol Promenade.

Highlights: Activities are abundant at the promenade, from cycling and jogging, to birdwatching and prawn fishing. If you are lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the family of otters that resides in the Serangoon Reservoir.

Wildlife Factor: 2/5

Difficulty: 1.5/5. Dirt road stretches along the 2.4km Nature Walk and is not advisable for wheelchairs or strollers.

#5 PULAU UBIN

The ten minutes bumboat ride from Changi Village jetty is almost like travelling through time. Step off the bumboat at Pulau Ubin and it is as though you have been transported back in time to 1960s Singapore, with the zinc-roofed shophouses and laid-back lifestyle. Here, bicycles are the transport of choice and you can rent the bicycles at the shops near the jetty for a small fee.

Plan your trip to coincide with low tides as it is the best time to visit Chek Jawa, one of Ubin’s best kept secret. Here, catch some ring-side action as male fiddler crabs battle it out to snare their mates or watch the family of wild boars wander about in the mangrove forests.

Pulau Ubin has a lot more to offer than just Chek Jawa. Take a walk along the sensory trail and learn about the food that we commonly buy, or take a short hike up Bukit Puaka and be rewarded with a bird’s eye view of Ubin quarry. End the day with a sumptuous seafood meal from the few tze char restaurants on the island.

Highlights: Great food near the jetty, from the Lontong from the Malay stall just beside the jetty to fried calamari at Two Sisters Restaurant. Cycle back in time as the round island route brings you around the prawn pods and granite quarry of yesteryears. Not to forget the diversity of intertidal organism at Chek Jawa!

Wildlife Factor: 4/5

Difficulty: 3.5/5

About the writer:
A nature lover, biologist and an avid photographer, Jeremy enjoys exploring the various trails and natural areas around Singapore, photographing interesting critters and documenting unique behaviours along his treks. Never one to shy away from an adventure, Jeremy is always keen to explore new natural areas in Singapore and to discover what hidden gems our nature areas have to offer.

If you are wondering whether it is worth the long journey to Punggol for the food there, this guide will be your answer. Punggol has two major food areas – @Punggol and The Punggol Settlement.

People flock to @Punggol for the wholesome food at popular cafe Whisk & Paddle, or to have a pint of beer at Frienzie. The Punggol Settlement is always packed during dinner hours, where car park lots will steadily fill up by 7pm. Even though the location is not ideal, the food here is definitely worth travelling for.

This is your definitive guide to all the good food you can find in the Punggol neighbourhood.

#1 AH DONG TEH HOUSE

Ah Dong Teh House is essentially a Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng-style restaurant with Singapore flavours. If you are not looking to splurge on a meal, head on down here for generous portions of Luncheon Meat Noodle or a huge piece of Fried Chicken for less than S$10.

10 Tebing Lane
#01-03/04
Mon to Fri: 11am – 2am
Sat & Sun: 9am – 2am
Nearest Station: Riveria (Punggol LRT)

#2 BACON & BOOZE

With a restaurant name as straightforward as Bacon & Booze, you must have high expectations of the bacon dishes and range of liquor here. Fortunately, the restaurant does exactly what it’s supposed to do – offer a good range of beers and delicious bacon-centric dishes.

900 Punggol Road End
Mon to Fri: 3pm – 1am
Sat & Sun: 9am – 1am
Nearest Station: Damai (Punggol LRT)

#3 FRIENZIE BAR & BISTRO

Catch live soccer matches and catch up with your buddies over some booze here at Frienzie Bistro & Bar. @Punggol comes alive from evening onwards, with an added perk of cooling breeze so Frienzie is the perfect spot for you and your dining (or drinking) compatriots to hang out all night long.

10 Tebing Lane
#01-02
Mon to Thu, Sun: 3pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 3pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Riveria (Punggol LRT)

#4 FUR KICKS

A bar overlooking the most beautiful sunset is what most people look for to unwind after a long day of work. Für Kicks serves Paulaner on tap together with hearty mains and bar bites such as Chicken Roulade and Crispy Fish Skin.

3 Punggol Point Road
#02-03, The Punggol Settlement
Mon to Thu, Sun: 5pm – 12am
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Damai (Punggol LRT)

#4 GEORGES BY THE BAY

As the only Balinese-themed bar in The Punggol Settlement, Georges by The Bay offers an array of grilled meats and crowd-favourite bar bites such as the addictive Golden Buffalo Wings.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

3 Punggol Point Road
#02-12, The Punggol Settlement
Mon to Fri: 4pm – 1am
Sat: 4pm – 2am
Sun: 4pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Damai (Punggol LRT)

#6 HORIZON BISTRONOMY

Executive chef Chris Fong – trained under 3 Michelin-starred chef, Bruno Mernard – opens a humble French-style restaurant serving intricately prepared and beautifully plated dishes at a fraction of the market price. Have a taste of his perfected dishes like King of the Sea and Duck Confit for below S$30 each.

3 Punggol Point Road
#02-04, The Punggol Settlement
Daily: 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Staion: Damai (Punggol LRT)

#7 HOUSE OF SEAFOOD

The first floor of The Punggol Settlement is a string of specialized Chinese-style seafood restaurants that each have their signature dishes. House of Seafood should be no stranger, and the best-selling dishes here are the Black Pepper Crab and the Salted Egg Crab.

3 Punggol Point Road
#01-01/02, The Punggol Settlement
Daily: 5pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Damai (Punggol LRT)

#8 JING LONG SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Jing Long Seafood Restaurant’s Chilli Crab might just be one of the best ones around. Dip your freshly deep-fried mantou in the tantalising chilli crab sauce for full pleasure.

3 Punggol Point Road
#01-03/04/05, The Punggol Settlement
Daily: 11am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Damai (Punggol LRT)

#9 JUST THE PLACE

This bar is ‘Just the Place’ for you to enjoy classic European food with tempting alcohol promotions. The menu features dishes such as Roast Chicken and Pan-Fried Salmon that would go perfectly with a pint of your favourite beer.

3 Punggol Point Road
#02-07/08, The Punggol Settlement
Tue to Fri: 5pm – 12am
Sat & Sun: 10am – 12am
Nearest Station: Damai (Punggol LRT)

#10 LEONG JI SEAFOOD

As the new kid on the block, we are sure business at Leong Ji Seafood will be booming very soon as their main and first outlet at Hougang Green has garnered big success so far. Homely dishes are offered here and best consumed in a group ‘family-style’ so you can have a taste of all their mouth-watering menu items.

3 Punggol Point
#02-10, The Punggol Settlement
Mon to Fri: 2pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 4.30pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Damai (Punggol LRT)

#11 PONGGOL SEAFOOD

This restaurant was one of the first ever seafood restaurants in Punggol, with their original site just beside the Punggol Jetty. Go straight for their juicy crab dishes and not to forget, their bestselling and flavourful Chinese-style Mee Goreng.

3 Punggol Point Road
#01-08/09, The Punggol Settlement
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Damai (Punggol LRT)

#12 RILEK 1 KORNER

This quirkily-named restaurant is the only Halal-certified restaurant at The Punggol Settlement, Here, you can find homely Malay dishes with the use of a lot of spices!

3 Punggol Point Road
#02-02, The Punggol Settlement
Daily: 4pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Damai (Punggol LRT)

#13 TRUNK AT BAY

As the only Thai restaurant in the vicinity, Trunk at Bay serves unpretentious Thai fare, including freshly grilled seafood and refreshing Thai-style fruit salads.

3 Punggol Point Road
#02-06, The Punggol Settlement
Tue to Thu: 5.30pm – 10pm
Fri: 5.30pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Damai (Punggol LRT)

#14 WAYNE’S CHILL-OUT

The cafe’s name has proven to be literal as many have taken refuge from Singapore’s sweltering heat in Wayne’s Chill-out to have a delicious scoop of ice cream or an Iced Coffee. Waffles and brownies are also offered here and are best paired up the ice cream.

3 Punggol Point Road
#02-11, The Punggol Settlement
Mon, Wed to Fri: 2pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 11pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Damai (Punggol LRT)

#15 WHISK & PADDLE

Whisk & Paddle occupies a relatively large area at @Punggol with a section of retail items for sale. Menu wise, they serve breakfast dishes such as the classic Eggs Benedict to heartier and sharing mains such as the Ham & Pineapple Pizza.

10 Tebing Lane
#01-01
Tue to Fri: 3.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 9.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Riveria (Punggol LRT)

#16 WHITE RESTAURANT

Why ‘White Restaurant’? Their signature dish is the ever-popular Signature White Beehoon that had many customers returning back for more. Other Chinese-style dishes are also served here, such as Meat Rolls and Stir-Fried Vegetables.

3 Punggol Point Road
#01-10, The Punggol Settlement
Daily: 11.30am – 2pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
(Closed on Wednesdays)
Nearest Station: Damai (Punggol LRT)