Here are some outdoor activities that really brings out the fun in fitness.
Are you bored with your usual exercise regime? Most of us go running or hit the gym a few times a week to keep fit, but these activities can get monotonous after a while. It’s no wonder that many of us find it hard to keep the momentum and drive for fitness going.
Thankfully, there are plenty of other fun and exciting things you can do—outside the gym—to help you keep in shape and learn to appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors at the same time.
Take advantage of our island’s sunny weather and try these alternative and fun outdoor activities in Singapore that are bound to keep you entertained and healthy at the same time!
Skateboarding is an action sport that involves riding and performing tricks.
Besides being a fun and challenging workout, skateboarding offers a creative outlet. You're able to add your own personality and originality into your skateboarding style and tricks!
There are plenty of skate parks in Singapore where you can skate with other skateboarding enthusiasts, including the SkatePark @ Lakeside Garden, which is the largest outdoor skate park in Singapore.
Rock climbing is a physically and mentally demanding sport where climbers scale up, down, or across either natural rock formations or artificial rock walls.
Climbers have to be able to locate sufficient footholds and handholds, balance on these holds in precarious positions, and move from one position to another without falling!
This is a sport that requires strength, agility, flexibility, endurance, and mental control. Definitely not an easy sport!
But of course, the harder it is, the better the rewards. When you finally climb to the top, you will feel like you're on the top of the world!
There are many climbing gyms in Singapore where you can give rock climbing a try.
Hiking is a simple enough activity that anyone can do at any time: walking in a natural environment, such as forests and parks. Studies have shown that hiking actually has a lot of health benefits. It works on your aerobic fitness and muscular strength, which helps reduce the risk of chronic illness, and improves mental health!
Many beautiful, natural environments have hiking trails that allow hikers to walk along and immerse themselves in the scenery.
In Singapore, the best hiking trails in Singapore are located at MacRitchie Reservoir and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve! There’s also a Coast-to-Coast trail spanning 36km from Jurong Lake Gardens in the west all the way to Coney Island Park in the northeast.
Another place where you can enjoy the great outdoors far away from the hustle and bustle of the city is Pulau Ubin’s Chek Jawa Wetlands. You can hike up to Puaka Hill—the highest peak of Pulau Ubin—where you can soak in the fresh air as well as breathtaking views of the quarry. You may even catch Singapore’s CBD skyline in the distance.
Looking for a hike filled with flora and fauna right in the heart of the city? Hike your way up to Fort Canning Park which is perched on a hill. There are walking trails within the park. One brings you through the spice garden where you can stop to smell a variety of basil leaves and learn about the different types of galangal (ginger).
Don’t worry, you don’t need to wear your army boots, carry a heavy backpack or hold on tight to a rifle while tackling this obstacle course.
Bedok Reservoir has an obstacle course that’s self-guided. Securely attached to a harness, the kid-friendly course starts with a safety briefing and then each adventurer attempts the obstacles at their own pace.
For a free dose of myth and legends, check out Haw Par Villa, one of Singapore’s first theme parks that will bring you back to a different era of Singapore’s past.
Is a wildlife park more up your alley? Then don’t forget to revisit Singapore’s arguably most famous attraction—the Night Safari. It’s perfect for nocturnal beings who prefer a cool evening breeze among other nocturnal beings with hooves, claws, and eyes that glow at night.
These wakeboarding tricks are spectacular to watch, aren't they?
Wakeboarding is a water sport that involves riding a wakeboard and performing manoeuvers over the surface of the water. The rider, standing on the wakeboard, is towed behind either a speedboat or a cable system such as the one at East Coast Park.
It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snowboarding and surfing. So you can imagine how thrilling and challenging wakeboarding is!
Besides keeping you fit, wakeboarding also enhances your sense of balance, which is important in allowing you to do daily task with ease.
Head to the Water Sports Centre at the Singapore Sports Hub where you can rent a pedal boat, pedal bike, kayak or canoe. Water sports enthusiasts can pedal within Marina Reservoir and enjoy the scenic backdrop of Marina Bay. You might even catch sight of people kite flying at Marina Barrage.
Choose the right craft for a lower body workout, which can replace your leg day at the gym!
Stand Up Paddle (SUP) is exactly what you think it means. You stand up on a board and paddle your way in the waters of Singapore. It’s similar to kayaking, except that you have to do it standing up, and that requires you to have a strong sense of balance!
If you feel that your motivation to hit the gym has declined lately, don’t fret about it. Get out of the gym and try these fun outdoor activities instead to shake things up and shape up at the same time.
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This article was last reviewed on 30 Mar 2023
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