The first phase of the Round Island Route opened on 22 January 2022, ten years after it was first announced back in 2012.
This new recreational connector, dubbed Coastal Adventure, runs all the way from Rower’s Bay in the north to Changi in the east and down to Berlayer Creek in the south, using various park connectors to link up various spots around Singapore.
Eventually, when the western half of the Round Island Route is completed, there will be a 150 km loop around Singapore.
In the meanwhile, here are some of the highlights of the various nodes along the eastern half of the Round Island Route – Coastal Adventure – tracing our way from Rower’s Bay clockwise around the island.
Sights & Landmarks along the Eastern Round Island Route – Coastal Adventure
Rower’s Bay
Overlooking Lower Seletar Reservoir and beside the Yishun Dam, Rower’s Bay was officially launched in March 2019. One of the highlights here is a boardwalk with a wetland area just beside it. If you wish to make a detour from the main park connector, head to the southern end of Rower’s Bay to look for the tombstone of Jane Buyers.
Heritage Trees
Along Seletar Aerospace Drive, just beside The Oval, is the Heritage Trees node. Here, there is a little shelter and just behind it can find heritage trees like one of the largest broad-leafed mahogany trees in Singapore.
Jalan Kayu
Head down Piccadilly on the Seletar West Park Connector and you will arrive at the former guardhouse of the Royal Air Force Seletar Base. This is also where the Jalan Kayu node of the Round Island Route can be found. Facilities here include restrooms and a water dispenser. There are plans for a F&B outlet too.
Sengkang Riverside Park
The next stop on the Round Island Round is Sengkang Riverside Park. A highlight here is the Sengkang cycling bridge that can be found in between Anchorvale Street and the Tampines Expressway.
Connecting the two banks of Sungei Punggol, it is the largest bridge across a canal and has a span of 290 m and is 5.5 m in width. On the Anchorvale Crescent side, a landmark for finding it is the Skook4Kidz Campus. While at Sengkang Riverside Park, you can make a side trip to view the Sengkang Floating Wetland.
Punggol Point
From Sengkang Riverside Park, follow Sungei Punggol northwards, across Jewel Bridge into Punggol. The park connector will lead past Northshore and Northshore Plaza to reach Punggol Point Park. Here, you can pay a visit to Coney Island Park to enjoy its natural beauty as well.
Lorong Halus Wetland
The Lorong Halus Park Connector links Punggol with Pasir Ris. From Punggol, it can be reached by crossing the Lorong Halus Red Bridge which spans Sungei Serangoon. Lorong Halus was once a landfill but is not a wetland area. Take a walk through it to learn more about its role in helping to keep the water runoff clean. Another spot you can pay a visit to along the Lorong Halus Park Connector is the Mainland Tropical Fish Farm, close to Pasir Ris Drive 3. There is also a new pathway from the corner of Pasir Ris Drive 3 which provides a connection to Pasir Ris Park.
Pasir Ris Park
Pasir Ris Park needs little introduction. It is also home to Singapore’s water bike rental facility and numerous spots that can be visited like a butterfly area and mangrove boardwalks. A slight detour away is Pasir Ris Town Park and its fishing ponds.
Changi Beach Park
Connected to Pasir Ris Park by the Pasir Ris Park Connector and Loyang Park Connector is Changi Beach Park. Changi Village is a good place to stop for a meal. Don’t forget to take a picture with Inscription of the Island too.
Changi Bay Point
Leaving behind Changi Beach Park, enjoy the scenic views of the water along the Changi Bay Park Connector. Changi Bay Point has a series of boardwalks and a lookout point. You can stop by here for a drink from the vending machine or by topping up your bottle before embarking on the savage Coastal Park Connector towards East Coast Park. One side trip along the Changi Coastal Park Connector is Jurassic Mile and its dinosaurs.
East Coast Park
The granddaddy of cycling parks in Singapore, East Coast Park will lead you along the coastline. Highlights along East Coast Park include Cyclist Park, Raintree Cove, Marine Cove, Road Safety Park and the playground at Coastal Playgrove. There is also the Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant and its green roof for a scenic stopover.
Gardens by the Bay
Crossing over the Marina Barrage from Bay East Garden, you will arrive at Gardens by the Bay. Stop at Satay by the Bay for a bite, enjoy the popular Kingfisher Wetlands or seek out the less well known Big Fish Aquarium.
Singapore River
From Gardens by the Bay, head under Bayfront Avenue and the Helix Bridge to reach the Marina Bay reservoir.
We recommend going clockwise around the Marina Bay reservoir so that you can take the obligatory picture at the Horizon Bench. Stop at Merlion Park for a picture too before going under Esplanade Drive to join up with the Singapore River.
Alexandra Canal Linear Park
Follow the Singapore River upstream and join up with the Alexandra Park Connector at Zion Road. Along the Alexandra Canal Linear Park, pay a visit to the Alice in Wonderland playground at Dawson Vista or head up to the sky garden at Skyville at Dawson.
Berlayer Creek
For those who wish to venture further, from Alexandra Canal Linear Park, a series of park connectors and roads connect to Berlayer Creek. These include the Alexandra Queensway Park Connector, Queensway and Alexandra Road. This path also crosses over the Rail Corridor. Berlayer Creek and the Labrador Park MRT are at the edge of Labrador Nature Reserve.
