The northern coastline of Singapore, stretching from Lim Chu Kang to the tip of Changi, is of rich significance to Singapore’s heritage. Creating not just a journey through our history, the Greater Rustic Coast is also a continuous belt of rustic green, and recreational spaces for all.
The area has three distinct attributes:
Owing to its strategic location, Singapore played a pivotal role in the British Empire’s stronghold in Asia. A range of military installations were constructed to stand guard along the coastline, which have shaped the identity of the area.
Built in the late-1910s by prominent landowner Joseph Cashin, Cashin House is also one of the sites where the Japanese Imperial Army first landed on 8 Feb 1942 during World War II. The house will have new amenities for visitors to enjoy.
Woodlands Waterfront Park and Jetty offers a view of the sea. It was originally the jetty of the Royal Malayan Navy, based along Admiralty Road West, and adjoined the Singapore Naval Base which spanned from Sembawang to the Causeway.
Sembawang Shipyard, part of the Sembawang Naval Base, was completed in 1938. Boasting the King George VI Graving Dock, one of the largest naval docks that could fit the biggest ships in the world, the shipyard was comparable to the best naval bases in the world.
A historical spot with a sombre past, roughly 400 Chinese civilians were massacred during WWII at Punggol Point. Today, with the opening of Punggol Point Park, and the injection of new homes in the near future, Punggol Point looks to a new beginning as a popular coastal recreational spot that more will soon enjoy.
Today a bustling community, Jalan Kayu was originally a road constructed in 1928, connecting Seletar Airbase to Seletar Hills Estate. It served many servicemen who stayed there as well as in nearby settlements. The Jalan Kayu Environment Improvement Project will soon provide an improved pedestrian experience, new landscaping, and outdoor refreshment areas for all to enjoy.
Formerly the British Royal Air Force (RAF) headquarters of the Far East Command, this key RAF station guarded vital trade and transport routes. It is also famously remembered as Singapore’s first civil airport. Today, visitors can enjoy an array of F&B options through the adaptive reuse of colonial bungalows at the Oval.
Changi Point was first developed by the British as a military base in 1927, with bungalows, military barracks and institutional buildings. Today, the area exudes a rustic charm, with many of the old buildings used as holiday chalets, training centres, restaurants, and residential homes. We will open up more stretches of the beach for all to enjoy, and enhance the area’s seaside charm through native coastal forest and beach front landscaping.
Engagement with local stakeholders and Temasek Polytechnic
The local stakeholders and Temasek Polytechnic (TP) students were engaged to generate new ideas for Changi Point, to introduce creative new uses into the heritage buildings, improve public accessibility, inject activities and recreational offerings, and to generate overall awareness of the area. TP students’ ideas and proposals for Changi Point will be showcased at Civil Service Club@Changi on 30 & 31 Mar 2019 (Sat & Sun).
In the early days, coastal kampung dwellers and the seafaring orang lauts lived and played along the Straits of Johor. Today, many recreational nodes, including chalets and seaside pavilions, dot the northern coastline. We invite you to discover these interesting facets yourself along the northern coastline, with the Round Island Route progressively completed from 2019 onwards.
One of Singapore’s natural beaches is found within the grounds of Sembawang Park. It offers a splendid view of the waterfront from Beaulieu House, which was formerly a coastal holiday home for a plantation owner turned residence for high ranking officers of the British Royal Navy, and is used as a restaurant today.
Hop onto a kayak from the PA Water Venture in Sembawang and paddle along the Straits of Johor to explore the mangrove forests here!
Built in 1983, the dam created Lower Seletar Reservoir, one of the largest water sources in Singapore. It also provides a magnificent vista of the reservoir, and is a famous spot for picnics and barbeques today.
Be transported back in time to the 1960s as you embark on a trip to Pulau Ubin, home to kampungs which offer a glimpse into past lifestyles. Pulau Ubin is also home to the Chek Jawa Wetlands, one of Singapore’s richest ecosystems.
Well-loved for its many play structures catered to kids of all ages, Pasir Ris Park is also a place of respite for visitors. The park offers opportunities to enjoy relaxing walks along multiple trails, or to explore the flora and fauna of a mangrove forest via a boardwalk.
Singapore Racecourse will see more recreational activities and community spaces introduced such that more people can have fun in this place!
The rustic charm of the existing wetlands at Hampstead Gardens will be enhanced into a park for recreation and the enjoyment of nature.
Downtown East is a popular recreational and lifestyle destination. It has just completed a 5-year redevelopment project. It now offers even more leisure experiences, including a nature-inspired D’Resort, the Wild Wild Wet water park that has seven new rides, and a myriad of retail, dining, and entertainment options. You can look forward to a great staycation with your families and friends!
Our northern coast, including the northern offshore islands, is home to many species of hard corals and reef fish which contribute to our rich coastal ecosystem. It also houses the largest patch of mangrove areas that can be found on mainland Singapore.
Wetlands and Mangroves of the North A perfect getaway from city life – experience the rich biodiversity the North has to offer at these locations:
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserves One of Singapore’s four nature reserves, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve lies along the East-Asian Australasia Flyway and is a site of international importance for migratory birds
Kranji Marshes, one of Singapore’s largest freshwater marshes is home to more than 170 species of birds and 54 species of butterflies. Head up the Raptor Tower for a bird’s eye view of the entire area!
Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat © National Parks Board
Ecologically linked to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat will open in mid-2022 as a nature park. Experience a close-up view of migratory shorebirds feeding on the mudflat within this 72.8 hectares of wetland biodiversity!
Officially opened in 2015, the 50-hectare Coney Island Park is a splendid rustic getaway. Environmental initiatives were adopted to retain its character during development, such as using casuarina timber from uprooted trees for park signage, benches and exhibits. Explore the southern perimeter of Coney Island via a new park connector!
A thriving wetland today, it helps to collect and treat water passing through what was once a garbage landfill site.
As the Round Island Route is progressively completed from 2019 onwards, we invite you on a journey along our rustic northern coastline to explore each of these characteristics.