Singapore's largest nature reserve, The Central Catchment Nature Reserve, forms one big green lung that occupies most of the island's central area.
Concurrently acting as a catchment area for four reservoirs within its boundaries, it also houses several recreational sites, including the Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari (located in the northern part of the reserve), as well as several newer facilities built to encourage public appreciation of the reserve, such as the Jelutong Tower, the walking trails and the fantastic HSBC TreeTop Walk (all are located at the southern part of the reserve, around MacRitchie Reservoir).
.
Book your hotel in Singapore here and save significantly
.
MacRitchie Reservoir, Singapore's first reservoir, lies on the southernmost edge of the reserve. It was built in the 1860s, after a delay of more than 10 years, and its development brought the forest devastation around the area to a halt. The forest surrounding the reservoir has been protected as a water catchment reserve. The forested areas surrounding the other two reservoirs, Peirce Reservoir and Upper Seletar Reservoir were also protected when these reservoirs were developed during the 20th century, although it is mostly the area around MacRitchie that boasts a truly indigenous primary forest, just like the one that covered most of Singapore many years ago...
.
Several Hiking trails and boardwalks are stretching across this part of the reserve... From the relatively easy Green marked trail and Purple marked trail, along the reservoir's shores, to the "more serious" Blue marked trail, Yellow marked trail and the difficult Pink marked trail, that go deeper into the forest.
.
|
A small tip from 'Metropolasia-Man':
One of northern Singapore's most popular nature attraction is the HSBC TreeTop Walk: A 250 meter long free standing suspension bridge that offers visitors a panoramic view of Upper Peirce Reservoir and the surrounding lush rainforest, and enables them to take a close look at the forest canopy and its dwellers...
|
.
Click here for some of the best rates in Singapore
.
Most of the hiking trails start near the entrance to MacRitchie Reservoir Park, along Lornie Road. As soon as you enter the park, turn right and walk along the reservoir till you get to the starting point (where MacRitchie Nature Trail starts from). If you want to walk the easier Purple marked trail, you can turn left and go there...
The area's most popular attraction is the HSBC TreeTop Walk, a 250 meter long free standing suspension bridge spanning Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang which are the two highest points in MacRitchie. The bridge offers visitors a panoramic view of Upper Peirce Reservoir and the surrounding lush rainforest, and enables to get a close look at the forest canopy and its dwellers...
Jelutong Tower, on the Yellow marked trail, also offers a breathtaking view of the Singapore Island Country Club golf course and the MacRitchie Reservoir.
Walking from the park entrance to the TreeTop Walk and back takes a few good hours, but you can opt for the shorter trail, starting from Venus Drive (See instructions below).
How to get there ? quite a few buses stop on Lornie Road (opposite Mount Alvernia Hospital) - Right next to MacRitchie Reservoir Park :
130 and 167 can be boarded at Fullerton Square (next to the Fullerton Hotel), or Victoria Concert Hall (opposite the Cricket Club). 130 has stops on Victoria Street (opposite CHIJMES) and outside Bugis Junction Mall, while 167 (and 162) stops on Stamford Road (outside the National Museum), Penang Road (nesr Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station), Somerset Road (parallel to Orchard Road - Near Somerset MRT Station, the Phoenix and Peranakan Place), Orchard Turn (at the back of Ngee Ann City) and Orchard Boulevard (Near Orchard MRT Station and ION Orchard).
Bus No. 166 comes here from Chinatown and stops outside People's Park Centre, before proceeding to MRT-Clarke Quay (next to exit-E), MICA Building, Stamford Road (outside the National Museum) and Little India (Bukit Timah Road, right next to exit A of Little India MRT Station).
From here, you can continue to the HSBC TreeTop Walk, as follows:
Ride a few more stops, to a bus-stop called "Opposite Flame Tree". As soon as you leave the bus turn left and walk along Upper Thomson Road (the road should be on your left), turn right to Venus Drive and after a few minutes left, to the parking lot from which the trail to HSBC TreeTop Walk begins.
The following bus routes come here from MacRitchie Reservoir Park: 132, 165, 166, 167, 852, 855 and 980
......................................................................................................................
Click here for more tour-suggestions in Central and North Singapore
