Located in central Singapore with the Kallang River flowing through it, the town of Kallang is known for being the location of several of the country’s national landmarks, such as the old National Stadium and Singapore’s first civil airport, the Kallang Airport. Today, it’s an excellent place for active pastimes, leisurely sightseeing, and learning more about Singapore’s rich history. Below are some of the things we think you should try out when you visit:
Go Wild in the Water
The river that runs through Kallang is an excellent spot for water-related activities, and you can rent pedal boats, kayaks and canoes from the Water Sports Centre at the Singapore Sports Hub; beginner courses on kayaking are also offered. Larger groups of people can also rent out dragon boats from the same location, courtesy of the Singapore Dragon Boat Association. Each 2-hour session comes with a 20-minute safety briefing, and it is possible to hire a trainer and a steersperson here as well.
There’s also the OCBC Aquatic Centre, which features a 50-metre long competition pool with 10 lanes, a training pool of similar length with 8 lanes, and a 25-metre wide diving pool. On non-competition days, the facility is open to the public; you and three of your friends can have a swimming lane all to yourselves if you book a reservation ahead of time, though the centre also accepts walk-ins depending on availability. Splash-N-Surf is a water playground that kids are sure to enjoy; it’s on the roof of the Kallang Wave Mall and equipped with water slides, buckets and fountains, as well as a small lazy river to drift about on. Adults on the other hand can try out bodyboarding or skimboarding at The Stingray®, a half-pipe surfing ride. Rental is available by the hour or in 3-hour blocks; helmets and rashguards will be provided. Booking a room at a Kallang hotel is recommended; it’s always nice to be close to the place where you can rest your head after a long day of physical activity.
Work Out Hard, Play Harder
At the Singapore Sports Hub Gym, you can really work up a sweat on the cardio equipment or by lifting weights. They also offer fitness classes on-site in the studio, including Pilates, yoga, barre, Zumba, and kickboxing: check out the Singapore Sports Hub’s official website for the latest month’s schedule. If contact sports are more your thing, round up your friends and head on down to the OCBC Arena, where you can play badminton, basketball, volleyball, netball, or table tennis. There are also two beach volleyball courts located near Kallang Wave if you’d rather play with a view; just remember to bring your own ball. Classes in all of the aforementioned sports are available on the weekends, though slots are limited and registration is required before you can participate.
Climb Central occupies the middle of Kallang Wave with the tallest indoor rock-climbing walls in the country—16 metres at the highest point. Those who do not have previous climbing experience need not be daunted, though! Friendly staff members are more than happy to assist, and will provide a safety briefing before you can freely explore the facilities. Rock-climbing classes are also available for beginners for a fully-guided experience. Their motto is “Everyone Can Climb”, and they do their best to lower the barrier to entry so that even children as young as 5 years old can join in on the fun. Among other places to check out at Kallang Wave include Cue Guru, a pool hall; O-Ride Singapore Mini Segway Tours, a Segway, hoverboard, electric scooter, and unicycle rental facility; and indoor playgrounds for the tots: The Petite Park, Paco Funworld, and Jolly Fields by ZOOMOV.
Search for Quiet Pursuits
It doesn’t have to be adrenaline-pumping action 24/7 in Kallang. The Kolam Ayer Bridge and waterfront is an excellent place for a relaxing photo walk, or even an easy jog. The same goes for Kallang Riverside Park, a multi-purpose green space with available facilities for fitness and water sports, but is equally popular as a bird-watching and picnic site, with stunning views of the reservoir. Visit the Sports Hub Library for a quiet spot to read and rest your feet in; it houses the most all-inclusive collection of sports-related written material in the country. There’s also Xbox gaming stations, an internet zone where you can browse the web on the library computers, and a giant chess/checker board for a larger-than-life game of wits and strategy.
The best part of the various activities available in Kallang is that you don’t have to shell out a single dollar to try them—many of the facilities especially in and around the Sports Hub are free for public use. It’s a great place to go after gorging yourself on the irresistibly accessible hawker food all around the island, so check out this underrated location now!
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