It’s safe to say that 2020 will be a year that we will remember for a long, long time. After all, when else can we say that we’ve stayed at home for most parts of the year and haven’t had a single holiday? Chances are, you have some unused annual leave that you have to clear before the year ends. Instead of just being a couch potato at home, make the most of it by visiting one of these new attractions that have opened in Singapore in 2020!
Adventure HQ
Playgrounds are for kids, they say. But the truth is, we’re all kids at heart, and AdventureHQ serves to unleash that. A sprawling indoor playground at HomeTeamNS Khatib, the space is filled with everything you need for an adrenaline fix. Think high element courses, ninja warrior routes, interactive rock climbing walls and even a 14-metre-high slide!
Address: 2 Yishun Walk, HomeTeamNS Khatib, Singapore 767944 | https://www.hometeamns.sg/khatib/adventurehq/
Winter Shooting Arena
Paintball shooting in sub-zero temperatures, anyone? Winter Shooting Arena is the latest addition to Snow City. Form a team with your best buds and have a go at one another in a Close Quarter Battle, where you’ll be armed with paintball guns, protective gear and winter wear. Snowball fight optional! If the idea of getting shot at doesn’t thrill you, then head over to Target Shooting where you can try your hand at shooting targets in the shortest possible time.
Address: 21 Jurong Town Hall Road, Snow City Building, Singapore 609433 | http://www.snowcity.com.sg/about-us/new-winter-shooting-arena/
HydroDash
The first of its kind in Singapore, HydroDash is an inflatable water park at Sentosa with spinning target wheels, slippery monkey bars and a 3-metre-high springboard where you can jump right off. Can’t swim? Don’t worry, because life vests will be provided, and there is also a special Children’s Zone for kids between 5 to 8 years old. Climb, slide, leap and bounce to your hearts' content (if you can keep your balance!)
Address: Palawan Beach, Sentosa, Singapore 098498 | https://www.hydrodash.com.sg/
Clementi Forest
Clementi forest has been around since before many of us were even born, so we wonder why it’s only coming up on the radar now! Located along King Albert Park and Clementi MRT, the forest provides a real off-the-beaten-track wilderness experience, something that’s hard to come by in Singapore. Make sure to put on some proper footwear and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, as the narrow dirt path can get pretty muddy and slippery, especially after a rain!
How to get there: Walk towards the old Bukit Timah Railway Station from King Albert Park and head down the green corridor. Turn left when you see a beaten path that heads into the valley of Clementi Forest. Exit at Holland Road.
Sembawang Hot Spring Park
Sembawang Hot Spring Park reopened early this year before the pandemic took hold, with new cascading pools, water collection points and greenery all around. The centerpiece is the Cascading Pool. where water emerges at the top at 70°C and cascades down one tier at 60°C, then 45°C and finally at 40°C at the foot of the pool. Here, visitors can rest on the built-in seats and enjoy a foot bath. Or head to the Main Water Collection Point – this area allows you to collect water in your own containers or buckets. Don't forget to bring some eggs along to cook your very own onsen eggs!
Address: 500 Gambas Avenue | https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/sembawang-hot-spring-park
Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant (KMEDP)
Not your average desalination plant, KMEDP has a sprawling rooftop garden for your picnics and recreational activities. Now you don't have to fight for space with people at Marina Barrage! In its efforts to go green, the facility does not have a carpark. So to get there you will need to either walk 15 minutes from the nearest car park at Fort Road or the nearest bus stop.
Address: 1 Marina East Drive, Singapore 029996 | http://www.kepinfra.com/kmedp/
Timezone Westgate
Timezone's new outlet At Westgate takes title of the largest Timezone arcade in Singapore. Spanning the size of three basketball courts and filled with more than 200 games, Westgate's Timezone is every 90s kid’s arcade dreams come true. You'll find classics like Dance Dance Revolution, giant claw machines, carnival games and even mini bowling lanes where the whole family can get in on the fun!
Address: 3 Gateway Drive, #B1-45 Westgate, Singapore 608532 | https://www.timezonegames.com/en-sg/westgate
TactSim
Real life Call of Duty, anyone? TactSim is the first Airsoft Arena in Singapore where you can go HAM with pellet-filled submachine guns or rifles. Go head to head with your friends in thrilling games like Capture the Flag, King of the Hill and Strike Team. To experience shooting without a class license, the facility also has a Target Shooting Range, where you can challenge friends and test out your aim with a Glock 19 pistol and target shooting board.
Address: 2 Yishun Walk, HomeTeamNS Khatib, Level 3, Singapore 767944 | https://www.hometeamns.sg/tactsim/
Once Upon A Time On The Orient Express
Murder-mystery fans should be no stranger to Murder on the Orient Express, a novel by Agatha Christie that was later made into a movie. Now, enter the scenes of the story in real life with the Once Upon A Time On The Orient Express at Gardens by the Bay, which includes a themed escape room game with the original train carriages brought in from France!
Address: Gardens by the Bay, West Lawn (next to Bayfront Plaza), 18 Marina Gardens Drive Singapore 018953 | https://www.orientexpressexhibition.com/
Zouk Cinema Club
If you told me pre-pandemic that Zouk would one day become a cinema club, I would look at you like you were crazy. But the idea is pretty ingenious, since state-of-the-art sound systems screens are already in place. A cinematic experience that’s out of the ordinary, guests are welcome to express themselves and have fun during screenings. This means you can cheer, cry, and react to the characters on screen to your heart’s content. And instead of buying entry tickets, all you have to do is hit the minimum spend of $80/person by purchasing snacks or booze!
Address: 3C River Valley Road, Clarke Quay, #01-05 to #02-06, The Cannery, Singapore 179022 | https://zoukclub.com/outlets/cinemaclub/