WHAT TO SEE IN GARDENS BY THE BAY, SINGAPORE
Gardens by the Bay was the first place which we visited while in Singapore en route to Australia. As we were still jet-lagged it seemed like a good idea to walk leisurely around this 101 hectares futuristic park.
GARDENS BY THE BAY
Situated on reclaimed land in the Central Region of Singapore just next to Marina Bay, the gardens consist of Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and lastly Bay Central Garden. British architects Wilkinson Eyre and landscape architects Grant Associates have completed this enormous tropical garden in Singapore which was opened in 2012. The nearest station is Bayfront MRT.
THE GARDENS BY THE BAY ATTRACTIONS
Most of the attractions are in the Bay South Garden.
1. Supertrees Grove
Without a doubt, you will be amazed by the 18 Supertrees dominating the Gardens by the Bay. These amazing structures measuring up to 50 metres in height have thousands of plant species growing up their vein-like cladding. They’re connected by bridges 20 metres up and there’s a bar called Indochine at the top of the tallest one.
Furthermore, the iconic supertrees are packed with environmental technologies that mimic the ecological function of real trees. For instance, they are equipped with photovoltaic cells that harness solar energy to produce power that lights up the trees, which resembles how real trees photosynthesize.
Not only you can visit the Supertrees during the day but also during the night when they come alive with a spectacular light and sound show called Garden Rhapsody. The show starts at 7:45 pm and 8:45 pm daily and the good thing is, it’s free!
2. OCBC Skyway
We were really looking forward to walking the Skyway. Look up in awe at the dramatic vertical plant display, or enjoy a bird’s eye view from the 22-metre high OCBC Skyway. Even though, I am not good with heights I still enjoyed the gorgeous views of Marina Bay Sands, Marina Bay and the Singapore River.
The walkway is accessible via lift and costs S$8 per adult and S$5 per child. Check their website as it is closed once a month for maintenance to avoid disappointment.
Later that day our son twisted his ankle and couldn’t walk. First day of our holidays, how typical! So, unfortunately, we didn’t visit the following:
3. Flower Dome
The Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest Dome are the two conservatories in the garden. These biodomes are unique as they are energy efficient and sustainable buildings where the goal is to minimize the environmental footprint.
Impressive 38 metres (125 ft) high Flower Dome maintains a temperature between 23 °C and 25 °C, slightly lower at night. It replicates a mild, dry climate and features plants found in the Mediterranean and subtropical regions such as parts of Australia, South America and South Africa.
Wander amongst thousand-year-old olive trees and unusual Baobabs of the cool-dry Mediterranean and subtropical regions as you take in sights of the changing floral display.
4. The Cloud Forest Dome
Higher but slightly smaller than the Flower Dome, the Cloud Forest replicates the cool moist conditions found in tropical mountain regions between 1 000 – 3 000 metres above sea level, found in South-East Asia, Middle and South America.
Covered in lush vegetations, the 42 meters manmade Cloud Mountain is accessible by a lift. You can descend the mountain via a circular path to a 35 metres waterfall. It is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall which will provide you with refreshing cool air.
Entry to both conservatories is S$28 for an adult and S$15 for a child (2019).
5. Far East Organisation Children’s Garden
Finally, this amazing Water Play is a centrepiece of the Garden. Children can run around Hydro Vaults, Water Splines and orchid – shaped splash buckets. There are also two treehouses and an Adventure Trail with balancing, clambering, climbing and swinging elements. Free entry.
Final Words
To sum it up, you can easily spend a day at the Gardens by the Bay. Both Marina Bays Sands and Singapore Flyer can be easily viewed from the gardens. If we ever in Singapore again, we will definitely go back and see the Garden Rhapsody light show in the night.
Have you been to Gardens by the Bay in Singapore? What did you think of it? Please share your experiences in the comments below.
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