Taking time off on the weekend to connect with Mother Nature is essential for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Spending most of our weekday lives confined indoors, we often find ourselves disconnected from the natural world, and rarely only ever experiencing the outdoors during our commute.
Spending time in nature is a fantastic way to recharge and reset, being scientifically proven to aid in reducing stress and anxiety, promoting relaxation and a sense of peace. Moreover, connecting with nature provides an opportunity for physical activity, whether it's hiking, cycling, or simply walking, contributing to a more active lifestyle and improved physical health.
We’ve taken some time off to get out of the office and commune with nature. Here are our top picks for outdoor places that you should definitely visit on one of these weekends.
Japanese Garden
Located in Jurong East, I have fond memories of visiting the Japanese Garden years ago as a child. Considering that Singapore has a largely urban-heartland blend of city design (and also the fact that I stay nowhere near the west), visiting this place felt like an overseas experience within the country.
Sitting pretty on an artificial island in Jurong Lake and connected to the Chinese Garden via the ‘Bridge of Double Beauty’, Japanese Garden is a visually exciting place, blending in Japanese Muromachi and Azuchi-Momoyama architecture with lush, sprawling greenery, creating a strong sense of zen and an immaculate vibe reminiscent of feudal Japan.
The gardens are characteristic for their Koi ponds, Toro stone lanterns and traditional arched bridges, as well as numerous monitor lizards that roam around freely. This place is a fantastic breath of fresh air and we recommend coming here early in the morning or at sunset to enjoy great weather and to take nice pictures!
Hindhede Quarry/Hindhede Nature Park
Everyone has heard of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, with its adventurous trails for hiking and biking, especially up Bukit Timah Hill. However, just next to it lies Hindhede Nature Park, a lesser known but equally as scenic and beautiful place to experience outdoor activities and nature.
Hindhede Nature Park has easy trails with well-defined footpaths, making it a fantastic location for novice hikers and families alike. The park is home to indigenous animals such as the Banded Woodpecker, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and Plantain Squirrel. Having a walk in the quarry would make for a fantastic educational experience for children!
Henderson Waves
The Southern Ridges are a cluster of parks, connecting Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, HortPark, Kent Ridge Park and Labrador Nature Reserve. These parks are full of walking trails, flora and fauna and Singapore’s history, making it a perfect place for all sorts of people to connect with nature this weekend. These parks span 10km, with many
One of the highlights of the area is Henderson Waves, a massive canopy bridge standing 36 metres above Henderson Road. It is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore and is frequently visited by people who enjoy different activities. Walkers and joggers love the bridge to enjoy the treetop view, and people often host exercise sessions and picnics there. The unique geometry and construction of the bridge along with its unique vantage point also provides countless photo opportunities for shutterbugs.
Those interested in doing more walking can opt to explore Berlayer Creek at the newly launched Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk, which provides a new hiking experience and different views from the rest of the park.
We hope that this selection of outdoor activities and places provides you with something different to do this weekend and places for you to reconnect with mother nature, breaking the monotony of our urban-centric daily lifestyles. For more content like this, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow our socials!
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