Singapore | Gardens by the Bay

 

Your Singapore trip is not complete without visiting Gardens by the Bay. Well, at least, for me it is. And we did not regret making it a highlight on the second day of our trip. In fact, our estimated time of spending half day there was not enough!

Gardens by the Bay is an independent organization responsible for developing and managing several garden destinations in Asia. Having their in-house team of experts in landscape designs, engineers, garden and turf managers, orchid breeders, and the like whose extensive knowledge helped groomed the now sought-after tourist site in Singapore.

The ultimate plan was as follows: Flower Dome Conservatory, Cloud Forest Conservatory, SuperTree Grove and OCBC Skyway (on the top of the SuperTree Grove).

Flower Dome Conservatory greets you with their cool-dry system, transporting you from the summer heat of Singapore to a world of perpetual spring. Its spectacular innovation amazes me on the dedication to grow and collect hundreds of species of flowers, plants, trees, and the like, including exotic ones, from Mediterranean to semi-arid regions. Such examples of wondrous trees are the thousand-year-old olive trees and the African Baobabs. It is, in fact, the largest glass greenhouse in the world as listed in the 2015 Guinness World Records. The different sections of the Flower Dome Conservatory, from the entrance to exit, includes: Australian Garden, South African Garden, South American Garden, Californian Garden, Olive Grove, Mediterranean Garden, Flower Field, Succulent Garden, and The Baobabs. It opens from 9 am to 9 pm daily and has an indoor temperature that ranges from 23-25 degree Celsius.

The second attraction we visited was the Cloud Forest Conservatory where it transports you ta mysterious world veiled in mist and greets you with the towering 35-meter waterfall. Also showcased during the Cloud/Treetop Walk is the man-made mountain-views including diverse lushvegetation and hidden floral gems may it be orchids, pitcher plants, or ferns usually found in some tropical highlans up to 2000 meters above sea level. The Cloud Forest Conservatory has The Falls, Waterfall View, Secret Garden, Treetop Walk, Crystal Mountain, Cloud Walk, Lost World, The Cavern, Cloud Forest Gallery and Theatre. It opens from 9 am to 9 pm daily, has an indoor temperature that ranges from 23-25 degree Celsius, and with mist timing schedules: 10 am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 8pm.

When tired and hungry from the tours, they also have dining and shops around the vicinity especially abundant near the SuperTree Grove. We did so right after the second attraction because we need to refuel before the SuperTree Grove lightshow which usually starts at around 745 t 845 pm.

Finally, the much-awaited SuperTree Grove, tagged as one of the five top landmarks in Singapore boast some 25 to 50-meter tall, iconic tree-like vertical gardens which are designed with large canopies providing shade in the day and come alive at night during the show of light and sound. Of the 18 Supertrees in Gardens by the Bay, 12 of them can be found here at Supertree Grove including a beautiful glimpse of the Marina Bay area. You can also opt to chill at their SuperTree bistro which gives a panoramic view of Singapore as well. Free for all admission and opens daily from 5am to 2am.

If you wish to further explore the SuperTrees from an awe-inspiring perspective like what we did, you can do so through their OCBC Skyway. We strolled along the 22-meter high and 128-meter aerial walkway connecting the SuperTrees having a closer look of the gigantic attraction and at the same time, boasts the view of the rest of Singapore. The timing was just right because we were on the top during one of the closing lighshow segment. See I said it was great since the queue to the walkway is actually long and you wouldn’t be able to plan the timing otherwise. Opens daily at 9am to 9pm.

Other attractions that we have missed due to time constraints are as follows: Bay East Garden, Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes, Heritage Gardens, World of Plants, The Canyon, Sun Pavilion, Art Sculptures, and Far East Organization Children’s Garden.

There's something about Singapore’s vision to enjoy, cherish and be closer to mother nature through their gardens. At the same time, aiming for sustainable development and conservation which now are leisure destinations for locals and tourists alike. Amazingly, much effort of the plan and design of the attractions are made in such a way that it cycles water and energy throughout the bay South Gardens.

Gardens by the Bay is strategically located at the heart of Singapore’s CBD. It’s exact location is at 18 Marina Gardens Drive Singapore 018953. For further inquiries, contact them at (65) 6420 6848 or feedback@gardensbythebay.com.sg.

How to get there?

TRAIN & BUS

VIA THE CIRCLE LINE OR DOWNTOWN LINE
Alight at Bayfront MRT Station (CE1/DT16)
Take Exit B and follow the underground linkway
Exit and cross the Dragonfly Bridge or Meadow Bridge into Gardens by the Bay

VIA THE EAST-WEST LINE
Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT Station (EW15)
Take Exit C and head towards bus stop no. 03223 located at International Plaza, Anson Road
Hop onto bus no. 400 and alight at bus stop no. 03371 along Marina Gardens Drive

WALKING

FROM THE HELIX BRIDGE TOWARDS THE ART SCIENCE MUSEUM
Follow the footpath which leads under the East Coast Parkway (ECP), which will bring you directly into Bay South Garden along the waterfront.

FROM MARINA BAY SANDS
Walk across the overhead bridge (Lions Bridge) located at Marina Bay Sands Hotel (open daily from 8.00am to 11.00pm), or take the underground linkway via Bayfront MRT Station
(Exit B).

DRIVING

FROM EAST COAST PARKWAY (ECP) AND KALLANG-PAYA LEBAR EXPRESSWAY (KPE) IN THE DIRECTION TOWARDS THE CITY
Continue onto Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE)
Take Exit 3 onto Central Boulevard
Turn right into Marina Gardens Drive

FROM AYER RAJAH EXPRESSWAY (AYE) IN THE DIRECTION TOWARDS THE CITY
Continue onto Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE)
Take Exit 2 onto Central Boulevard
Turn right to Marina Gardens Drive

FROM OPHIR ROAD
Head towards Sheares Avenue
Exit onto Marina Boulevard
Turn left to Marina Gardens Drive

 

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