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Every Single Fun Thing to Do, Eat, & See at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
- Things to Know
- How to Get to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
- What to Do and See in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
- Explore the charming Dairy Farm Nature Park
- Climb up Bukit Timah Hill
- Take Instagram-worthy photos at the Singapore Quarry
- Ride up and down the slopes of the Bukit Timah Mountain Bike Trail
- Spend a day lounging around Temasek Club
- Walk around the boardwalks and trails of Rifle Range Nature Park
- Take some more Instagram-worthy pictures at Hindhede Nature Park
- Where to Eat and Drink in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
- Green on Earth Vegetarian Cafe
- Springleaf Prata Place
- The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
- FAQ
When my family wants to escape the city’s hustle and bustle, we head to Singapore’s nature reserves. Our favourite is Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, and there are many reasons why we think it’s the best.
The reserve is one of the largest on the island and features thousands of animal species, lush foliage, abandoned quarries, boardwalks, cycling trails, hiking trails, and so much more.
You can easily plan a whole day of activities here. And, to help you with the planning, here’s a guide to everything you need to know about it!
Things to Know
Address: Hindhede Dr (Google Maps)
Contact Details: +65 1800 471 7300
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
How to Get to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
By Train: You can reach Bukit Timah Nature Reserve by taking the MRT to Beauty World MRT Station. Take Exit A and walk to the entrance of the nature reserve.
By Bus: You can reach the nature reserve by taking bus numbers 67, 75, 170, 184, 852, and 916 and alight near Jalan Anak Bukit Road. The nature reserve is only a 5-minute walk from there.
By Car: You can reach the reserve by driving along Upper Bukit Timah Road then turn left into Hindhede Drive. The Visitor Centre is located there with a car park open from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm.
What to Do and See in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Explore the charming Dairy Farm Nature Park
From singaporeglobalnetwork
Address: 100 Dairy Farm Rd (Google Maps)
Contact Details: +65 1800 471 7300
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Nestled at the northernmost tip of the reserve is the Dairy Farm Nature Park, a sprawling green space that was once the location of a bustling dairy farm. It’s now flagged with nature trails, lush flora, and biking trails.
The park is home to various plants and animals, including rambutan and jackfruit trees, butterflies, birds, and long-tailed macaques. It also offers access to the abandoned Singapore Quarry and Dairy Farm Quarry.
Many locals drop by the educational centre to learn more about the park’s history and significance to Singapore’s biodiversity, but others also come by to trek the nature trails and cycle down the park’s gentle slopes.
Tips:
- There are limited toilets inside the Dairy Farm Nature Park, so I suggest you do your business before entering the park and exploring it.
- There’s a section within one of the nature trails that has steep slopes and uphill climbs. Be prepared to climb lots of stairs, too, so if you’re visiting with someone with mobility aids or difficulty walking, consider skipping the trails in this park!
Climb up Bukit Timah Hill
From nature_run_shoot
Time to Summit: Around 30 to 45 minutes
Address: 177 Hindhede Drive (Google Maps)
Bukit Timah Hill is Singapore’s highest natural peak, standing at a whopping 164 metres at the heart of the reserve. It’s not a towering height compared to other famous mountains in Asia, but it’s still a feat worth pursuing when you’re around!
Reaching the summit is fairly easy if you can beat the tropical heat and the uphill trek. I’d say, this trek is beginner-friendly, but do be prepared to encounter monkeys, insects, and lots of birds on the way.
Once you reach the summit, you’ll find a large rock indicating you’ve made it to the top. There’s even a lookout point facing the Hindhede Quarry, giving you a natural reward for making the climb!
Tips:
- Whatever you do, do not provoke any animals you’ll encounter along the hike towards Bukit Timah Summit. It won’t be fun for you, your companions, and the animals.
- The best time to hike the summit is in the early morning, around sunrise. It can get really hot and sunny in the afternoon, even with the tree canopies offering ample shade.
Take Instagram-worthy photos at the Singapore Quarry
From shuutravels
Address: 100 Dairy Farm Road (Google Maps)
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 am to 6:30 pm
The Singapore Quarry may be abandoned, but it’s still a majestic place worth visiting if you’re into nature. The whole place looks otherworldly, with lush foliage sticking out of rock formations and a pool of water in the middle.
You also don’t have to worry much about hurting your feet and knees to get here. The quarry is an easy 10-minute walk from the nearby Rail Mall and features a relatively flat terrain path (no stairs, thankfully).
You can bring your children along for the hike to the quarry. There’s not much you can do aside from taking in the views and enjoying the quiet scenery, but if that’s all you came for, then take your sweet time!
Tips:
- The quarry is also a popular pitstop for many cyclists around the reserve, so expect some crowding in the early morning and late afternoon.
- While the nature reserve welcomes visitors all day, there is little to no lighting once the sun sets here, so be very careful not to stay out too late!
Ride up and down the slopes of the Bukit Timah Mountain Bike Trail
From audreyllimpereira
Address: Starts at 126F Rifle Range Road (Google Maps)
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
If you’re an avid cyclist and want to level up your skills, then head on over to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and test out the mountain bike trail there. The area has 23 trails in total, each featuring various distances and difficulties.
If you’re a beginner and want to test your mountain biking skills, you should take the easy trails like Centipede, Dairy Farm Pass, and the Rifle Range Trail. These trails feature relatively flat terrain with mild slopes and downhill rides.
For more advanced biking, the difficult trails like Bottomless, Cliffhanger, and P-Line feature a combination of super steep climbs, drops, and sharp corners. I don’t recommend trying these out if you don’t have proper gear!
Tips:
- The mountain bike trails take you all over the reserve, so I suggest starting out at the Rifle Range Trail first then making your way up to Dairy Farm Pass for beginners.
- Be careful not to bike the trails before, during, or after it rains. Various rocky parts of the trails, especially the drops, can get flooded, making biking extra difficult even on the beginner paths. The puddles can reach as high as your ankles, so bike carefully.
Spend a day lounging around Temasek Club
Address: 131 Rifle Range Rd (Google Maps)
Contact Details: +65 6801 4242
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 am to 11:00 pm
If you’re looking for a place to unwind and relax that doesn’t involve hiking or biking, then a few hours at Temasek Club might be your cup of tea. This country club is a bustling lifestyle hub, and I recommend paying it a visit!
The club prioritises its members, but non-member guests can also make use of the club’s facilities and activities for a fee. There’s a futsal court, a dance studio, a 1,000-square-metre fitness gym, a bowling alley, tennis courts, and a swimming pool.
Do note that the club may not grant entry to a non-member if they don’t call the club management in advance. You can make use of the facilities once you pay the entrance fee (it varies), or even better, once you sign up as a member!
Tips:
- There are free shuttle bus services available for guests going to and from the club. The pick-up and drop-off points are Temasek Club and Beauty World MRT, with shuttles coming in every 10 to 20 minutes. Just note that the service prioritises members!
- The club is a popular place to host events and parties. Some areas, especially the halls and ballrooms, may be fully booked. If you need to use them, contact the management in advance!
Walk around the boardwalks and trails of Rifle Range Nature Park
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Rifle Range Nature Park offers easy-to-moderate hiking trails and is entirely solar-powered. I like visiting this place when I feel like escaping the bustling city life (because it’s quieter than Dairy Farm).
The park’s highlight is the Glider’s Boardwalk, a 400-metre elevated path that includes the Visitor Pavilion, Quarry Wetland, rope bridges, and colugo poles. The Banyan and Gaharu Trails feature an abundance of Banyan trees.
The entire park loop, spanning 2.83 kilometres, can be completed in about 40 minutes.
Tips:
- Near the park, there’s a designated parking area for cyclists. Within the park, only 10 bike slots are available at the Senapang Entrance. To secure a spot and avoid crowds, it’s best to visit on weekday mornings or afternoons.
- Bring lots of insect repellent. Thank me later!
Take some more Instagram-worthy pictures at Hindhede Nature Park
Address: Hindhede Dr (Google Maps)
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
If you enjoyed the Singapore Quarry and Dairy Farm Nature Park, you’ll love Hindhede Nature Park. This forested area within the nature reserve offers trails, scenic rock formations, and play areas, perfect for a peaceful outdoor experience with your family.
The park isn’t as big as the other nature parks within the reserve, but it’s one of the more family-friendly and accessible parks inside. You can easily access it from Hindhede Drive which shoots off from the Rail Corridor or MRT stations.
There’s the Waringing Hut Playground for your kids, a boardwalk leading to an observation deck of the Hindhede Quarry, and a hiking trail leading you to Bukit Timah Hill. If you’re a newbie, I recommend starting your trek to the peak from here!
Tips:
- The park can be easy to miss if you don’t catch a sign that directs you to it. It sits to the left of the Visitor Centre!
- The Waringin Hut Playground is designed for kids below 12 years old. There are shelters where adult companions can keep watch, though!
Where to Eat and Drink in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Green on Earth Vegetarian Cafe
Address: 386 Upper Bukit Timah Rd (Google Maps)
Contact Details: +65 6769 2230
Pricing: $ to $$
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Good to know: Best for vegetarian drinks and bites
Green on Earth Vegetarian Cafe, as the name suggests, specialises in healthy and vegetarian versions of popular Singaporean and Chinese food such as dumplings, grilled fish, pickled veggies, and mushroom buns.
They have an array of mains like Si Chuan boiled fish and stir-fried spicy vegetable platters. Although they focus on vegetarian dishes, they also have a designated section for meat lovers (albeit, just a small list of chicken and pork offerings).
If you’re only looking for small bites, they offer steamed beancurd, buns, fried mushrooms, tofu, and fried abalone. Note that many of their dishes are spicy, but you can easily ask to lessen the spice level if you can’t take the heat!
Tips:
- They have a mala section, which is where you pick your ingredients in a bowl and have them cook it the way you want it. Customers are charged by the weight of their bowls. Prices start at $3.30 per 100 grams and take-outs are not allowed, so only choose what you can consume!
- Seating is very limited. I recommend dropping by after 12:00 noon for fewer crowds.
Springleaf Prata Place
Contact Details: +65 6219 2540
Pricing: $ to $$
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 am to 11:30 pm
Good to know: Best for halal food and Indian prata
Springleaf Prata has many locations across Singapore, and if you’re looking for a halal-friendly restaurant that serves Indian food, there’s a branch right inside the Rail Mall.
They serve popular Indian fare like chicken curry, pepper prawns, lamb biryani, mutton curry, cheese prata (flat bread), and more. They also have a pizza section if you’re craving more than just Indian, but these pizzas are inspired by Indian cuisine.
They also have a mocktail menu if you want to refresh yourself after a long hike, as well as cold drinks like juice, chocolate milk, tea, coffee, and milkshakes to wash down all the spicy Indian food you just ate!
Tips:
- There’s free parking around the restaurant if you arrive early enough to get a spot. I suggest coming by in the morning before lunch (around 10:30 am) or a little after lunch (around 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm) to snag a free spot.
- If you arrive and it’s crowded, I recommend waiting a bit if you really want to dine here. Customer turnover is fairly quick since it operates like a fast food chain. You’re likely to get a seat within 15 minutes of waiting!
The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Address: 422 Upper Bukit Timah Rd (Google Maps)
Contact Details: Open 24/7
Pricing: $ to $$
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:00 am to 11:30 pm
Good to know: Best for coffee, tea, and quiet spaces
The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is one of my favourite international cafe chains ever. It’s always a reliable spot to get some work done if you need a quiet and comfy space to focus, and I love that their food and drink offerings don’t disappoint either.
The branch at the Rail Mall is usually very quiet, and people who do come by for drinks normally order them to go, so you won’t need to worry much about losing a spot among their tables. Plus, there are a lot of sockets too!
My recommendation is their White Chocolate Dream drink, which tastes like melted chocolate with a bit of milk. They also have regular coffee if you’re not into any of their sweet creations (although I highly recommend trying them out at least once!).
Tips:
- They operate 24/7, and while their coffee quality is consistent (in my opinion), I recommend ordering their food during regular hours (9:00 am to 5:00 pm). This is because they tend to microwave their dishes for the late shifts, and if you’re not into that, stick to coffee and tea if you drop by in the wee hours of the morning.
