Once a fishing village, Singapore's first eco-town, Punggol, is now known as the 'Waterfront Town' as it's surrounded by rivers with plenty of green spots, including the nature sanctuary of Coney Island, which opened to the public on 11 October 2015. Here are some places of interest that will take your visitors away from the urban jungle and off the beaten track.

Punggol Waterway Park

A popular destination for residents living in the area, the 12.25-hectare Punggol Waterway Park is a great place to go to unwind and relax. The park is segmented into four areas:

Recreation Zone (a sand and water playground, includes a fitness corner as well)

Nature Cove (a great spot from which to admire the waterfront scenery)

Heritage Zone (once the Old Punggol Road, which was home to the old Punggol Kampong, a village in Singapore’s early days)

Green Gallery (a mini trail with various flora and fauna)

Kids can play at the water playground and nature lovers can partake in bird watching – keep an eye out for different bird species that can be spotted along the waterway.

Address: Sentul Crescent Road

North Eastern Riverine Loop Cycling Trail

For something very different from the usual walking (and bus) tours around Singapore’s popular tourist precincts, there’s the 26-kilometre long North Eastern Riverine Loop, which runs through four parks in the zones of Buangkok, Sengkang and Punggol. It also continues into areas like Punggol Beach and Lorong Halus Wetland. Visitors can choose to complete the trail on foot (takes three to four hours) or on a rented bicycle from GoCycling (11 Hougang Avenue 10, Tel: +65 9859 0053), which offers discounted rates for groups of 10 or more. Along the way, your clients will be treated to a stunning variety of wildlife, including the white-throated kingfisher and grey herons.

(Starting point: Punggol Park via Serangoon Park Connector)
Address: Hougang Avenue 8 & Hougang Avenue 10

Coney Island

The 50-hectare Coney Island is one of Singapore's well-loved green attractions. There are approximately 80 species of birds on the island, from the bright-coloured baya weaver to the adorable parakeet, so birdwatching enthusiasts can spend hours here. Coney Island also features mangrove habitats and a number of beaches, which can be explored via boardwalks. After this, visitors can take a walk (or cycle) to nearby Tebing Lane for light bites and coffee at eateries like Whisk & Paddle (10 Tebing Lane, #01-01; Tel: +65 6242 4617).

Address: 500m east along the Punggol Promenade Nature Walk (near The Punggol Settlement, 3 Punggol Point Road)

(Content source: STB Website)