GARDENS BY THE BAY: Singapore’s Iconic Super Trees, Cloud Dome, and Sleeping Child Installation Art @VisitSingapore

2/23/15 Update: GARDENS BY THE BAY Singapore: What’s the Best Way to Explore the Gardens? @VisitSingapore 

GARDENS BY THE BAY is Singapore’s newest icon — a $1-billion investment over a 100-hectare green park zone located in Marina Bay’s “new downtown” area. It is known for its 12 Steel Giant Supertrees and 2 cooled dome conservatories: The Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome.

It is a project by Singapore’s National Parks Board, which aims to boldly transform the City of Singapore into a “City in a Garden” instead of just a “Garden City”. It was recently awarded the World Building of the Year in the World Architecture Festival 2012.

This is definitely one of the Singapore attractions I would recommend for a date with that special someone or to spend time with the family. You need to allot 3 hours max to explore the gardens.

Here are some tips on how to have an awesome experience in Gardens by the Bay:

Your Awesome Singapore Series:

• GARDENS BY THE BAY: Singapore’s Super Trees, Cloud Dome, and Sleeping Boy Child Art
• SINGAPORE CHINATOWN WALK: Red Clogs Down the Five Foot Way (A Review)
• SINGAPORE LITTLE INDIA WALK: Dhobis, Saris & a Spot of Curry (A Review)
• BANANA LEAF APOLLO: Indian Food We Love in Little India @VisitSingapore
• THE INTAN: Peranakan Heritage Home-Museum by Antique Collector Alvin Yapp 

HOW TO GET TO GARDENS BY THE BAY

One of the fastest ways to get to Gardens by the Bay is via the Circle Line of the MRT. You have to go down at BAY FRONT MRT Station (CE1) and take Exit B. Follow the underground link way and you’ll exit near the Dragonfly Bridge into Gardens by the Bay.

(Note: You can also go via the North-South line, and go down at Marina Bay MRT Station (NS27/CE2). Take exit A and ride on the Bus Service 400. You can go down along Marina Bay Gardens Drive, which is 4 stops away.)

GARDENS BY THE BAY is directly across Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. You just have to walk across the Lion Bridge that connects to the Dragonfly Bridge.

This is the Dragonfly Bridge entrance. You can have a leisurely walk around the different heritage gardens going to the different domes.

Here is a view of the Dragonfly Lake from the bridge with the Singapore Flyer, the cluster of 3 Supertrees in the Silver Garden, and the Flower Dome in the background.

 

GARDEN CRUISER TOUR

If you want to explore the gardens quickly, hop aboard the Garden Cruiser (S$5/person), a golf cart-like mini-bus that takes you on a 24-minute tour. It provides an audio guide on the different heritage gardens and attractions, explaining their significance to the colonial heritage of Singapore.

Here is the map of the Gardens by the Bay. The pink line highlights the route of the cruiser. You have to walk all the way from the Dragonfly Bridge to the Visitor Centre.

Take a closer look at the Gardens by the Bay Map here.

 

SUPERTREE GROVE

The Supertrees are AWESOME! They are 25 to 50 metres, 16 storeys high, with large canopies that provide shade in the daytime and provide a platform for light and sounds at night.

There are 12 interconnected steel Supertrees in the Supertree Grove, 3 Supertrees in the Golden Garden near the Visitor Centre, and another cluster of 3 in the Silver Gardens.

You can’t help but be awestruck by the presence of these giant structures. 

The tallest, 50-meter tree has a Supertree-top Bistro that provides a 360^o-view of the gardens.

Two of the 25-meter Supertrees are connected by a canopy walk known as the “OCBC Skyway”.

 

OCBC SKYWAY

You go up the OCBC Skyway via the elevator inside the trees for S$5/person. The best time to go is before the sun is about to set.

I love the bird’s-eye view you get from here.

It’s interesting to see the canopy of trees, up close and personal. 

You can walk among the Supertrees to meditate or lift up a prayer to thank God for all the blessings and awesome experiences in your life.

It’s a great place to HHWW with your special someone or take your Gardens by the Bay portrait photo as your souvenir.

(Note: The entrance to the skyway is worth it! 🙂 )

 

CLOUD FOREST

 
The 30-meter waterfall and cool weather greet you as you enter the Cloud Forest dome.

I was impressed with the lush environment with waterfalls, different flora, and a walkway that makes you feel like you are among the clouds.

From the gound floor, you can take an elevator to the Waterfall View to have a closer look at the falls, and take another elevator to the highest point called The Lost World.

The Lost World exudes a mysterious aura.

It simulates the plants, vegetation and garden environment that can thrive at around 2,000 metres above sea level. 

Here’s also a look at the waterfalls from the highest floor.

At the highest point, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Marina Bay Waterfront.

My favorite part of the Cloud Forest is the Cloud Walk, where you feel like you are walking among the clouds and around a mountain.

If you love plants and flowers, you’ll appreciate the different orchids and rare plants displayed there.

When you look below you, you’ll see the Treetop walk and the ground floor access.

As you go down, you’ll see the Crystal Mountain, which showcases various stalactites and stalagmites.

Before you exit, you can visit the Secret Garden,

where you can also watch a presentation on Climate Change, and

appreciate the eco-friendly operation of Gardens by the Bay.

 

SLEEPING CHILD INSTALLATION ART

 

I love this huge sculpture of a sleeping boy. Although it looks as if it is floating in the air, its weight is actually resting and balanced perfectly on the child’s right hand that touches the earth.

This installation art was created by Marc Quinn, a famous sculptor from the UK.

Here is a beautiful view of the baby with the Singapore skyline in the background. 🙂

Overall, the gardens are indeed very impressive and worth all the hype and accolades it is getting. Don’t miss visiting Gardens by the Bay on your next trip to Singapore!

It is best to take the garden cruiser to go around the gardens, then visit the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, and end with a leisurely stroll in the Canopy Skywalk. Budget S$38/person to get the ultimate experience of the gardens.

The Flower Dome was closed when I visited on a Monday, so I guess I have a reason to go back — but this time with the family. 🙂

GARDENS BY THE BAY
18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Facebook: Gardens by the Bay 
Telephone: +65 6420 6848
Email: feedback@gardensbythebay.com.sg
Website: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg

Access to the outdoor gardens at Bay South is free, while admission charges apply to the Cooled Conservatories and OCBC Skyway.

Two Conservatories Entrance Fee: S$28 Adult and Senior Citizen  | S$15 Child (age 3-12)
OCBC Skyway Fee: S$5 Adult and Senior Citizen | S$3 Child (age 3-12)

Garden Cruiser: S$5 Adult and Senior Citizen | S$3 Child (age 3-12)

Buy your tickets online here: https://ticketing.gardensbythebay.com.sg/ticketing.aspx

Garden Hours:
Bay South Outdoor Gardens: Opens 5:00 AM – 2:00 AM daily
Cooled Conservatories & OCBC Skyway: Opens 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily
Last ticket sale at 8:00 PM daily
Last admission at 8:30 PM daily

Garden Cruiser Hours:
Monday* – Friday:  9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Last ride)
*Service begins at 12:00 PM every first Monday of the month
Saturday, Sunday, eve of and on PH: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Last ride)

Related Blog Post: GARDENS BY THE BAY Singapore: What’s the Best Way to Explore the Gardens? @VisitSingapore 

Your Awesome Singapore Series:

• GARDENS BY THE BAY: Singapore’s Super Trees, Cloud Dome, and Sleeping Boy Child Art
• SINGAPORE CHINATOWN WALK: Red Clogs Down the Five Foot Way (A Review)
• SINGAPORE LITTLE INDIA WALK: Dhobis, Saris & a Spot of Curry (A Review)
• BANANA LEAF APOLLO: Indian Food We Love in Little India @VisitSingapore
• THE INTAN: Peranakan Heritage Home-Museum by Antique Collector Alvin Yapp 

Singapore Tourism Board
Official Website: http://www.YourSingapore.com/ 
Facebook: Your Singapore
Twitter: @VisitSingapore
Youtube:  Your Singapore

Book your Singapore Accomodations via Agoda (Low Rates Guaranteed!):

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If you have tips on awesome food and travel destinations, please email me at anton@diaz.ph.

 

Full Disclosure: My Singapore trip is courtesy of Singapore Tourism to promote Singapore as a summer destination for Filipinos . I wrote this blog post myself, and it expresses my own opinions.

I have no business relationship with any company mentioned in this post or any organization promoting it. As a policy, I do not accept advertising from food and travel places we feature in the blog.

P.S. We did not try the restaurants around the garden. Is the bistro or the other restaurants worth it?