Singapore Botanical Gardens

This garden is located in the middle of town. This small forest is right next to Gleneagles hospital. Singapore Botanic Gardens has a fairly complete collection of plants. Plants is almost gone or going extinct direservasi here. For admission to the Singapore Botanic Garden is free of charge. This garden has an area of ​​approximately 64 acres, in this top tourist attractions you can enjoy the scenery and lush green trees. There is also a swan lake (Swan Lake), located not far from the entrance. The scenery was hard to find in the city of Singapore. The National Orchid Garden is the main attraction within the Botanic Gardens. Located on the mid-western side of the Garden, the hilly three-hectare site has a collection of more than 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids of orchids.

Symphony Lake

Located here is the National Orchid Garden, lauded as the world’s largest orchid display featuring over 60,000 plants and orchids. Also found at the Bukit Timah core is the Jacob Ballas Children’s garden—Asia’s first children’s garden—the perfect spot for all children to play, discover and learn about the intricacies of plant life.

Look out for the Tembusu—one of the island’s most distinctive trees. This native is reportedly more than 150 years old and was selected with ten other trees as a National Heritage Tree in August 2002. And during the flowering seasons in May - June and October - November, its creamy white flowers open at sunset; giving off strong fragrances that befit its scientific name, ‘Fagraea Fragrans’. In fact, a photograph of the finest Tembusu in the nature park can be found on the back of the ‘Portrait’ series S$5 note.

Besides enjoying the flora and fauna on show, you can also wine and dine in award-winning eateries like Au Jardin and Halia. The Library Shop and Garden Shop are also excellent places to pick up souvenirs, books and plants for your loved ones.

Come by early in the mornings on weekends to see families picnicking or visit during the evenings for a great jogging workout or a leisurely stroll.

Kind of the Orchid

Favourite places and activities within the Singapore Botanic Gardens for families with young children:

Fish feeding at the Green Pavilion
For a quick activity with the kids, head down to the Green Pavilion near the Tanglin Gate. At the Pavilion, you can buy fish food from a dispensing machine before proceeding to feed the hungry fish at the nearby ponds.

Terrapin feeding at Swan Lake

Venturing further into the Gardens from the Tanglin Gate, you will find Swan Lake, a large, shallow pond filled with feisty fish and hungry terrapins. Some of these reptilians have grown to be quite large. Watch the amphibians and fish alike gravitate to the edge of the pool in eager anticipation of a feast as people approach.

Swan-spotting
What would Swan Lake be without swans? Beautiful white swans swim gracefully around the lake and if you head toward the wooden bridge at the far end, you may be able to get a closer view at them as that is where their feeding tray is located. 

Swan-spotting

Saraca Stream
Just inside the Singapore Botanic Garden’s Tanglin Gate, you will find this little brook bouncing happily downhill. It offers a nice shaded spot to spend some time enjoying the gentle rhythmic sound of water.

Saraca Stream

The Bandstand

Built in 1930, this octagonal structure used to host performances by military bands. Now, the only music you will hear are the birds chirping away and it is serene rest stop for those who make it to the top of the knoll where it is situated. Little pathways amongst the hedges surrounding the bandstand provide a nice spot for little ones to dash in and out, burning off some energy in the process.

The Bandstand

Sundial Garden
Stepping into the Sundial Garden almost feels like stepping back in time to the Victorian Age. Marble statues adorn the four corners of the garden. A bronze sundial on a white pedestal stands as the centerpiece of the garden. It is a great place to introduce kids to how the ancients used to keep time.

Sundial Garden

Hanging Roots Passage

This interesting little walkway just reminds us of old attap huts and what it must have been like to have nature be an integral part of one’s surroundings.

Hanging Roots Passage

Swiss Granite Ball

A massive granite ball rolls around effortlessly on top of a bubbling fountain. With rocky stepping stones around it, it seems to encourage young children to come right up to it, touch it and see if they can control the direction of the ball.

Swiss Granite Ball

Roots of the Kapok Tree
Does anyone remember when mattresses used to be filled with kapok – the white cotton-like material? These came from the fruit of the kapok tree, just like one behind the Botany Centre. But the real reason we like this kapok tree is because kids love balancing on its broad roots and make their away across as if on a tightrope.

Roots of the Kapok Tree

Palm Valley and the Shaw Symphony Stage

What a wonderful expanse of space this is. Lined with palms, the gentle slope of the Palm Valley seems made for laying out a picnic mat and taking a break to enjoy the beauty of nature. Of course, on the Sunday evenings when bands take to the Shaw Symphony Stage, this is exactly what happens. Throngs of people coming out to the Palm Valley to enjoy the cool of the evening with music enlivening the air.

Palm Valley

Ginger Falls
Man-made and kitsch it may be, but this waterfall and its cave at the Ginger Gardens is still an amusing place for kids to walk through while trying to avoid getting a soaking.

Ginger Falls

Evolution Garden
Part prehistoric movie set, part history lesson, the Singapore Botanic Garden’s Evolution Garden traces the development of plants from ferns to flowers. Walk through this Garden with the kids to step back in time and take in nature from a different perspective.

Water Birds at Ecolake

Over at the Bukit Timah Core’s Ecolake, you will be delighted to find black swans, ducks and other water fowl. Head down to the water’s edge and have fun trying to figure out what they are up to.

Black swans

Fruit Tree Collection

Visit the fruit tree orchard at the Bukit Timah Core. Plants on display here include the everyday varieties such as the bananas to less well-known ones such as the Eggfruit.  

 

Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
A must-visit for kids, this garden is dedicated to children and features a waterplay area, a maze, treehouse and swinging suspension bridge. Adults must be accompanied by children and good luck getting them to leave this fun garden!

Jacob Ballas Children's Garden