Back to Nature

A Guide to Coney Island D e s p i te t h e common misperception of Singapore as a concrete jungle, there are more green getaways within its small confines than you might imagine. Here, PEIHUA GOH explores Coney Island, a new nature retreat in the northeas

Say hello to Singapore’s newest nature destination: Coney Island at Punggol. Previously the site of a beach villa built by the Haw Par brothers back in the 1930s, it fell into disrepair after WWII until an Indian businessman named Ghulam Mahmood bought the island in 1950. He intended to turn it into a resort and name it after the amusement park in New York, but his plans never materialised.

Now back in the hands of the government and finally open to the public, the 100-hectare island is a largely undeveloped natural space with an old, rustic charm that’s reminiscent of the Singapore of yesteryear. To preserve its rural nature and to keep the park as environmentally sustainable as possible, there is no electricity or piped water – the only toilet on Coney Island is located at Punggol Settlement, and it uses solar power and rainwater. The park closes at 7pm as there is no lighting after dark.

Coney Island can be explored on foot, or you can rent a bicycle from the shop at Punggol Settlement. While the mountain bikes are more suitable for the gravel and dirt paths, we love how the vintagestyle ones with baskets make for a picture-perfect shot! Choose to cycle along the 2.4km main path stretching across the east and west entrances of the island, or follow the signs to visit the four beaches and the mangrove forest along the boardwalk. Notable sights along the way include the Lorong Halus Wetland and the photogenic Sunrise Bridge.

To entertain the little ones, look out for the all- natural mini obstacle course and playground made entirely of fallen casuarina trees. Adults and kids can also feed or ride the ponies at Punggol Stables, located at Punggol Settlement.

For wildlife enthusiasts, the island is home to at least 150 animal species, including migrant species and threatened species like the spotted wood owl and the rusty-breasted cuckoo. If you’re lucky, you may even chance upon the single Brahman bull that roams the island! Early risers visiting in the morning can also try to spot a group of otters along the dam located at the east entrance.

Finally, here’s a heads-up for history buffs: don’t forget to check out the now-derelict Haw Par Beach Villa located near Beach B. Although it has been fenced, you can still visit it by signing up for a guided tour with National Parks.

Bounce

Arriving this month from Australian is Bounce Inc (“Free-jumping Revolution”). Already operating in a dozen cities globally, this one is definitely for adults and kids alike. There’ll be hoops where you can slam dunk like a basketball pro, trampolines on the walls so that you can run against gravity, and a dodgeball court. A jaw-dropping 100 interconnected trampolines are housed within huge, colourful spaces, so it’s basically an awesome spring-loaded urban playground with circus-grade sponge for cushioning. Expect giant airbags, a free-run obstacle course and the ominous-sounding Leap of Faith, sure to get the adrenalin racing.

We don’t know exactly how big 14,000 square feet is, but it sounds massive – and an exciting place to be when the trampolines are full of happy, bouncing kids. Here, you can jump off a three-metre platform and free-fall onto an airbag made for training Olympic gold medallists and elites in freestyle sports – and it’s the only one of its kind on the island. The Main Court is a thrilling space where you can leap continuously from one of 30 interconnected trampolines to the next; you can also bounce off the trampoline walls mid-leap to make yourself look like a pro. Also look out for the slam-dunk lanes, which are great for working those core muscles and improving balancing skills. Cost: $15 to $19 per hour. For kids who get a little overwhelmed by hordes of sweaty bodies, Skyhigh is a cosy and compact alternative. It’s ideal for small gatherings or birthday parties for the little ones. Here, you can dive into a foam pit and fly from one trampoline to the other, and maybe even take a shot at dunking while you’re at it. If you’re up for a genuine challenge, there’s a padded wall that you can try running up vertically. (You should definitely give this a go – it’s harder than it looks!) Cost: $10 to $15 per hour.

5Zoom Park is an indoor trampoline park with dodgeball courts, a fourlane foam pit, a five-lane airbag, three basketball slam-dunk lanes and three long tumble tracks; and in the midst of all this jumping action is a lateral rock wall that’s a whopping 17 metres high. So, if you’re looking for a challenge, this wall is for you! Zoom Park has three large party rooms and is a great place for birthday parties, school events and even corporate activities. For teens and young adults, the park hosts an alcohol-free and smoke-free party every Friday and Saturday night, with laser lights, disco balls and music. For beginners, there are lessons for learning the basics, aimed both at parents and children. Cost: from $14 per hour.