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Guide to Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park in Singapore That Will Make You Want to Visit ASAP
- Things to Know
- How to Get to Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
- What to Do in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
- Enjoy the view
- Relax at the water playground
- Delight in butterflies
- Chill out at the banks of the Kallang River
- Take photos at the landscape pond
- Spot interesting plants and animals
- Relax and heal at the park’sTherapeutic Garden
- Work out at the Gym Pod
- Where to Eat at Bishan Mo Kio Park
- McDonald’s
- Burp Kitchen & Bar (Bishan Park)
It’s been a while since I last visited Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, so I decided to drop by a few days ago to give you the most updated information for this article. Quite frankly, I was delighted I did, as there are a ton of new and old (but still good) things for you to try!
From the tried and tested nature walks to the more recent additions of the therapeutic garden and fitness gyms, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park is one tourist spot I can highly recommend as a local! Check out the best things to do when you visit this park.
Things to Know
Address: 1384 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, Open 24 hours
Cost:
- Free
How to Get to Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
By Bus: To get to Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, ride bus lines 132, 165, or 166 and get off at OPP Mayflower Sec Sch. It’s a 6-minute walk from there.
By Taxi: You can also take a taxi to the park by hailing a cab at any taxi stand or building driveway and asking the driver to drop you off at Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 which is just 5 minutes away on foot from the location.
Base fares for taxis usually cost around SGD 4, and the price per kilometre travelled is SGD 0.70.
What to Do in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
1. Enjoy the view
– From photo_ilgi
During my trip to the park, my family and I immediately headed to Recycle Hill. It’s an elevated spot where you can view the entire park and enjoy the scenery of its perimeter ranging from water playgrounds to lush greenery.
According to the signs posted on the location, the hill is made using the concrete slabs of the previous canal here.
One of the highlights of the hill, though, is the interesting steel sculpture on top of it which looks like whale ribs. It’s called “An Enclosure for A Swing.”
| Pro Tip: From the hill, you can spot a naturalised river called the Kallang River. This used to be the location of Bishan Park! |
2. Relax at the water playground
– From playinsingapore
After enjoying Recycle Hill’s awesome views of the park, our family then headed to the Cleansing Biotope. It’s a series of small waterways that pass through different wetland cells filled with plants that are known to have cleansing properties.
It’s a great spot to relax and observe the water flow from one plant filtering section to the next. We also followed the water flowing from the final stage of filtration and into the nearby water playground.
Our kids naturally wanted to check this area out next, and we’re glad we obliged! The young ones got to burn a bit of their energy as they climbed up and down the foam structures and jumped on puddles!
| Pro Tip: I’m happy to report that the park also has an inclusive playground for differently-abled kids. There are wheelchair-accessible swings and sensory equipment (like embossed diagrams and bells) so no one gets left behind! |
3. Delight in butterflies
– From pastelpetal_sg
After a change of clothing coming from the wet playground, we and the kids proceed to the nearby butterfly habitat. It’s a 500-square-metre area dedicated to these beautiful and colourful insects that I think are a joy to watch and observe!
What’s special about this specific garden is that there are no enclosed structures to cordon off or protect the butterflies. Instead, the park planted and maintained plant species that these insects find attractive, hence, their decision to stay within the area.
I particularly liked the bright orange butterfly that I spotted which park staff later identified as the Tawny Coster butterfly—an eye-catching species for sure!
| Pro Tip: Aside from asking the helpful park staff, read the information posted around the habitat to learn more about the butterflies you spot. |
4. Chill out at the banks of the Kallang River
– From wilsonlam94
The Kallang River, as previously mentioned, is the naturalised river we saw from Recycle Hill. Our family checked out this river after enjoying the Butterfly Habitat, and we relaxed near its grassy banks.
As we sat down on the edge of the water, I noticed that the river flowed smoothly around the meandering paths of the park. The banks also have smooth stones where kids can sit to admire the flora and fauna.
There were a ton of dragonflies in the area, and as I looked up, I think I may have spotted a grey heron (I’m not too certain though, as the bird was high up). Simply put, the river draws some wildlife and is an ideal spot if you’re a nature lover like me!
| Pro Tip: Interestingly, the river can get flooded during heavy rains. No worries though, an alarm system is already in place to notify guests that they need to clear the area to avoid getting soaked by the elevated water. |
5. Take photos at the landscape pond
– From _wellnesshui
Next, we went to the area in the park referred to as Landscape Pond. This location is massive, spanning over 2 hectares with wide open spaces, beautiful trees, plants, grass, and a pond right at the centre.
According to park staff, this used to be a commercial fishing area but was eventually repurposed by the park to turn it into a scenic location ideal for photoshoots.
| Pro Tip: I also saw a group of friends fishing at this location. Apparently, this is the only spot in the park where you can fish, so if you brought a fishing rod with you, then you can also try your luck and fish onsite! |
6. Spot interesting plants and animals
– From tonykhiang
The flora and fauna at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park aren’t just located near the Kallang River. In fact, most of them can be found around the park if you just keep your eyes peeled.
One of the most beautiful wildflowers I saw during our visit is the Townsville Stylo with its pointed and dark green leaves and bright orange flowers.
Aside from the butterflies in the habitat and the dragonflies near the lake, our family also saw some birds like herons, waterhens, and woodpeckers.
| Pro Tip: Keep an eye out as you walk through the park’s trails, especially at the trees lining the path on either side. That’s where we saw (and heard) most of the woodpeckers of the park with their white and brown colour and loud pecking! |
7. Relax and heal at the park’sTherapeutic Garden
– From missyhazey
One of the main reasons I bring my family to parks like Bishan-Ang Mo Kio is the relaxing atmosphere such sites offer. That’s even truer here with the park’s Therapeutic Garden!
It’s a garden divided into four zones that offer guests various experiences to ignite their senses. There’s the Biodiversity Zone with its flora and fauna like butterflies and birds) and the Colours and Textures Zone filled with colourful plants to engage your senses.
There’s also the Fragrance Zone which the kids really liked thanks to the amazing smells of the flowers here. However, my personal favourite was the Edibles and Medicinal Zone as the herbs and spices (like lemongrass) in the zone caught my fancy!
| Pro Tip: You can also try out the fitness area of the Therapeutic Garden. Most of these are designed for light workouts and exercises. In fact, I saw a couple of elderly individuals trying out the equipment. |
8. Work out at the Gym Pod
– From risamorris
If you want a more challenging workout, then go to the Gym Pod. It’s a small gym that fits around 3 people, but the equipment here is enough to make you sweat and get your heart pounding.
I was impressed with the exercise bike, treadmill, and various dumbbells ranging from 2 kilograms to 20 kilograms.
Each session inside the pod usually lasts around 30 minutes, but I saw an infographic on the wall recommending that you do at least 60 minutes.
| Pro Tip: Check out their pricing and benefits here. They also have subscription plans that may give you more value for your money if you’re a frequent gym-goer. |
Where to Eat at Bishan Mo Kio Park
1. McDonald’s
– From guitarsingaporerapture
Address: 1378 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1
Website: https://www.mcdonalds.com.sg/
Contact Number: +6567773777
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM
I personally am not a big fan of fast food, but when it comes to convenience, I think it’s hard to beat what McDonald’s has to offer. Of course, our kids love eating at the Golden Arches, and fortunately, there’s one near the park!
I ordered what I usually order when we got to the restaurant—a Big Mac with a side of fries—and enjoyed the juicy beef patty and salty American cheese melted and stuck to the bun. The others just had some chicken nuggets—convenient and tasty!
| Pro Tip: Check out their menu for McSaver Meals. These will save you a ton of money, as most of the food items are pretty cheap at around SGD 5. |
2. Burp Kitchen & Bar (Bishan Park)
Address: 510 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burpbishan
Contact Number: +6585114541
Operating hours:
- Monday, Saturday, and Sunday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 4:30 AM to 10:30 PM
- Tuesday to Friday, 11:00 AM to 10:30 PM
If you want to feast on something more substantial, then check out the other restaurant located in the park—Burp Kitchen & Bar. It’s a casual restaurant that has relaxed and modern interiors with minimalistic decor and a great view of the park!
Some of their menu items include chicken wings and pastas, but during our visit, I tried out their black bun chicken burger and some fries.
The family just shared this single meal, as we had a light snack before getting here, but we liked the crispy and juicy chicken patty and the crispy brown fries which had just the right amount of salt!
| Pro Tip: Check out their Facebook to learn more about their exclusive promos and freebies. |
