A Weekend Explorer’s Guide to Kranji Reservoir Park
I love living in the city, but I have to admit that sometimes, I do get tired of all the hustle and bustle. When I get this feeling, my favourite thing to do is to find some natural sanctuary far from the city. The Kranji Reservoir Park, for example.
Located all the way to the north, it’s a humble reservoir park, like MacRitchie, that overlooks the Johor Straits. It’s not too big, compared to other parks in the country, but its lush trails and ample fishing grounds make it a wonderful spot to unwind for a bit.
If you’re planning to visit, here’s a guide to the Kranji Reservoir Park.
Things to Know
Address: Along Kranji Wy
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Website
How to Get Here
By Public Transportation. Take the North-South Line and get off at the Kranji MRT Station. From there, you can take the Kranji NParks Shuttle, but if you can’t, you can ride any of the following bus services instead: 925M, 925, and 925A. Alight at bus stop 49199, which is exactly where the park is.
By Car. There are two parking lots here, one near Fishing Ground A and another near Fishing Ground B. There’s a total of 70 available spaces. Parking is free in both of them.
Do’s and Don’t’s When Visiting
To ensure you’ll have the best time at the Kranji Reservoir Park, be sure to follow the dos and don’ts, as dictated by the National Parks Board.
- If you’re hiking, please stay on designated trails. If you step off, you risk trampling on endangered plants or disturbing local wildlife.
- Try to keep your voice down, and please don’t play loud music. Local wild animals are normally shy, and you don’t want to disturb them. If you do come across one, don’t approach, and don’t spook them. Doing so might provoke them into attacking you.
- Also, don’t feed any of the wild animals or release any animals into the wild. Doing either action may cause more harm than good, thus upsetting the fragile ecosystem.
- Don’t bring your pets, especially dogs. Dogs have the tendency to scent-mark places they come across and even harass native animals.
- If the weather is bad, don’t enter any of the forested areas for safety reasons. Also, don’t go immediately after heavy rain. The trails are probably still muddy and slippery, and you might slip and incur some injury.
- Don’t wade in the reservoir water. You may cause contamination in the water, effectively disturbing the water’s biodiversity.
- Please fish only in designated areas.
What to Do
See the memorial plaque
From: sinandservice
Fun fact: before Kranji Reservoir became a park, it was a battle site during World War II. To be more specific, Kranji Beach was where the soldiers from the Japanese Imperial Guards Division and the Australian 22nd Brigade clashed. There was also a special local unit called Dalforce that was tasked to defend Kranji from invaders.
This battle didn’t leave any artefacts or historical buildings to check out in the park’s grounds, but there is a memorial plaque. It provides a brief narrative of what went down during the battle, and if it’s your first time visiting the park, I recommend checking it out and reading it.
Reel in some fish
From: fh.koh
The Singapore government is pretty strict when it comes to fishing; they only allow fishing in designated spots. Fortunately, Kranji Reservoir Park has two of these spots, which is why it’s become a popular spot among anglers.
Between the two spots, Fishing Ground A is the more accessible option, since it’s a short walk away from the main gate and the car park. It’s also a lot bigger and has its own fishing jetty, providing you with a lot of space to move around and set up your gear.
That said, the fishing jetty lacks shade, so I don’t recommend coming here to fish in the morning or at the dead of noon. Early mornings and evenings are the best times to fish here.
If you don’t want to come here early or late just to fish, you can just head to Fishing Ground B. Located near the reservoir’s tidal gate, this one may be smaller, but it definitely has a lot of shelter to keep you safe from the sun.
Fishing Ground B is a perfect spot if you hate crowds, which Fishing Ground A tends to attract. This is just a tad inaccessible because it’s a longer walk from the bus stop and car park, but at least it’s quieter. I imagine introverted anglers will prefer this spot.
If you do fish here, just make sure to bring your own equipment because there’s no fishing rental nearby.
Go hiking or cycling
From: monstrum.immortale
Hiking and cycling are two other popular activities in this park. After all, you can find several hiking trails here, taking you to the beautiful greenery and the robust wildlife of the area.
If you want to see even more gorgeous scenery, you might want to extend your hike to reach the Kranji Marshes, which is near the park. This nature preserve has a whopping 57 hectares of land, so you can discover even more trails! The marshes are also great for bird enthusiasts because there’s an observation deck here.
Another recommendation I have for people who want long-distance routes is to continue your hiking or cycling journey along the Sungei Buloh Nature Park Connector. This route is 20 km long and connects this park to various neighbouring parks like the Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve. In other words, more opportunities to see more natural wonders!
Enjoy a lovely picnic with a view
From: fh.koh
What if you’re not in the mood to be physically active? I get you. I’ve been there myself, which is why sometimes I come to this park just to enjoy a lovely picnic on the green lawn.
It’s a great picnic spot because the park overlooks the Johor Straits, so I can enjoy the view of the sparkling water and the cityscape far ahead. Plus, the atmosphere here is pretty peaceful, allowing me to simply relax. Sometimes, I actually end up taking a nap here!