Coney Island Singapore Re-visited

Most weekends, I will be out here cycling or just simply walking. It is a great place to chill out, unwind, soak in nature and practice photography. When the island was first opened, the gates at both ends were not installed yet. Now, the gates are only opened from 7am – 7pm daily.

Today’s post is more on nature photography on the island.

Misty Morning

Taken on 26 March 2017. When out cycling, I only bring along minimum gear, sometimes just the handphone. But that morning, I brought along the Nikon P900. Misty morning, just my favourite kind of scenery. The first picture, didn’t know that the lens was foggy from condensation but I like the effect anyway. Wait for the sun to rise higher up and the sunrays appeared!

Misty Sunrise

misty coney island

sunrise silhouette

lights and shadows

sunrays

 

A Different Perspective

These pictures were taken on 1 April 2017, using Nikon D5100. Happy belated April Fool Day, haha! Was hoping for mist but nope. Not meant to be on that day. But I found a different view I really like. Would not have notice this if I was out cycling. I’m glad I walked that morning, even though it was a last minute decision to get here. Walking is good because the mind slows down and see things in a different light. Pun intended!

coney island singapore

coney island singapore

 

Close-up

Taken this morning, 2 April 2017, using Olympus Pen E-PL6. Such a long time ago since I used this camera. Out cycling today so just a small camera to practice and check out different things. Tried out the 40-150 mm lens which I think I had only used about 3 times before. Switch to manual mode and make the best of the situations.

macro

close up leaf

leaf nature

white flower

leaf hearts

tree sunglow

If you haven’t been here before, do come visit! Its a haven for nature lovers, cycling buddies and photography khakis! 🙂

 

Focus on Coney Island, Singapore

If you are here looking for more information, this article is a guide on how to get here, what to see and what to watch out for.

This is a very isolated place. Visitors are advised not to come here alone. There is no shelter or facilities here (Update : There are shelters here now). As highlighted during the past lightning incident here, don’t seek shelter under a tree during stormy weather.

Why come here? Great place for hiking and birding, peace and quiet, great location for sunset and sunrise views.

Google Map

Where is Coney Island, Singapore?

Coney Island, formerly known as Serangoon Island, is located at northern east of Singapore, facing Punggol estate and Pulau Ubin. It is now connected to mainland Singapore via two dams. At one end – the East Dam – is near Lorong Halus Wetland. The West Dam is across Punggol Promenade, between the Nature Walk section and Jetty Walk section. Previously people have to hire boats to get here.

The East Dam leading to Coney Island near Lorong Halus Wetland

The East Dam

This side is more accessible for the general public and formerly a great location for fishing – the rocky shoreline opposite the Dam. Pass by Lorong Halus Wetland, through the gravel path and you will see the Dam or Tidal Gates as some called it. Facing the Dam is a road, a pathment with green railings and a view of the sea facing Pulau Ubin and Pasir Ris in the distance. Beyond the gate, is the rustic path towards the other Dam. More is explained in an earlier posting here : Exploring Coney Island

The West Dam from Punggol Promenade connecting to Coney Island

The West Dam

The other Dam is nearer to Punggol Beach and leads to one corner with steps or staircase.. You can get to Punggol Beach by taking Bus 84 from Punggol Bus Interchange and alight at Punggol End. Walk along Punggol Promenade on the right side of Punggol Beach to get here.

What to Do and See on Coney Island

Hiking and Cycling

A rustic path cuts through the heart of Coney island and connects the two dams. Personally I would prefer that rustic path closer to the shoreline facing the Nature Park, Punggol Promenade and leave the central section of Coney Island intact. Less environmental destruction this way and leave the wildlife here more space to roam.

Coney Island Rustic Path

Sightseeing

Favourite spots are along the rocky shoreline facing Pulau Ubin. There is a staircase or steps there. There used to be a Kelong here, which had since moved much closer to Pulau Ubin,

Staircase or steps on Coney Island facing Punggol Beach/Pulau Ubin

Eagle

Nature and Wild Life

Casuarina trees and other tropical trees inhabit the island. Along the shoreline, the sea almond trees are spotted at various locations. The nuts are edible. Spot the kingfishers, hermit crabs and other wild creatures along the shoreline. So many brown eagles were spotted above the trees and fishing in the water.

Beach Seats

Beach

Some of the interesting sightings along the beach – wild boar hooves prints, old tyre, fallen trees, stone seats. Where the seats came from, I have no idea. (Update : don’t try to find the seats yeah, it’s no longer at the beach. There is a similar looking stone seats near the “Coney Island” signboard somewhere near the middle of the island, close to the shoreline.)  There used to be lots of rubbish along the shore when there was no rubbish bins then. (Update : The beach has been cleaned and there are rubbish bins now on the island.) So please be mindful of the environment. Bring along a bag and remove all your rubbish once you leave the island. Do your part. A little effort goes a long way.

Hermit Crabs

How to Get to Coney Island, Singapore

To Punggol Beach : Bus No. 84 from Punggol Bus Interchange. Walk to the right side of the beach to reach the West Gate entrance.

To Lorong Halus Wetland : Alight at Riviera LRT Station (from Punggol MRT Station) or Bus No.  3, 83, 85 (from Punggol Bus Interchange). Edit : That is now a longer way. A shorter way now is to alight at Kandaloor LRT station, walk towards Punggol Edge, follow the trail down the bridge. Turn right and cross the red Halus bridge. Follow the gravel path on the left towards the beach where Coney Island. If coming from Pasir Ris Dr 3, turn right to Pasir Ris Coast Ind Park 6. To the left, there’s a road heading to Coney Island. Only bicycles here, no motorised vehicles allowed (except wheelchairs).

Fallen Tree

Operating Hours : 7am – 7pm. Gates are locked outside operating hours.

Important Noting

• No fishing.
• No camping.
• No street lights here. Plan your route and don’t come too late.
• No water cooler/venting machine here. Bring your own drinks. There is a water cooler at Lorong Halus Info Kioks and near the toilet at Punggol Beach.
• Put on insect repellants as there are plenty of sand flies at the beach.

Estimated walking time from one gate to another, depending on your route, is about 2 – 3 hrs including photo taking time, etc. Fastest way is the main route, mostly straight line from one gate to another but not much shade from the sun. The meandering tracks closer to the shoreline is more sandy and rocky but have lots more trees shade. Beware of falling branches though.

Keep the Environment Green

On an end note, Be Green and remember the saying “Leave Only Footsteps Behind” or words to that effect.

• Don’t light any fire (in the past, there are burnt out patches of trees there)
• Don’t take anything you don’t need
• Don’t throw away any rubbish
• Bring along a trash bag to put your rubbish there
• Leave the wild boars and other wildlife on the island alone

Update – Latest news articles. Coney Island has been declared as the 9th nature park in Singapore by the National Parks Board (NParks).  Set to be ready around 2 years time, NParks aimed to leave the park as untouched as possible to preserve the island’s natural habitat.

www.eco-business.com
www.straitstimes.com
news.xin.msn.com

New updates : Sorry folks, no fishing or camping here. But cycling is allowed. The official opening was on 10 October 2015. Much has been done by Nparks to preserve the natural charm of this place. No lights here so check your time and plan accordingly when hiking before it gets dark. While there are rubbish bins now, please be mindful and keep the environment green. Have fun exploring!

 

Coney Island Singapore in Black and White

I think I spoke too soon about the train service yesterday. Oops. Hope there won’t be anymore major disruption. Moving along, this is more like picture-of-the-day post. Cloudy weather. That is what we are having today and in the next few days. Won’t be getting much fresh photos for this weekend. This was an old photo taken along Coney Island Beach a few months ago. A fallen tree with its branches lay forlorn on the beach. Far away a ship sailed away on its merry way. Sail away….sail away…sail away. Fits my mood perfectly.

 

Coney Island Singapore Monochrome Landscapes

These pictures were taken yesterday morning. At around 10.30am, it was a hot day and at that angle, the camera was facing the sun. Maybe it was better to take monochrome pictures because for sure the pictures would be backlighted. The sun was shining right behind the clouds. Plenty of people fishing that day since it was high tide.

Coney Island in black and white

Coney Island taken with a green filter

Coney Island taken with a blue filter

There is a dam connecting Punggol Promenade at Punggol Beach to Coney Island. However there is a green fence there preventing entry. I saw a guy perching on the stone edges of the dam. The more agile may be able to cross the barrier and reach the stone steps at Coney Island by this route. Another longer way is to go via Lorong Halus Wetland, pass the green railing opposite Serangoon Reservoir East Dam and follow the shoreline to reach here.

There will be a nature track cutting through the central portion of Coney Island connecting the two dams. I have seen the tracks, no, it is not completed yet. It is meant to be rustic like the Nature Walk portion of Punggol Promenade with tracks made of soil and stones. Hear the sounds of birds, the rustle of casurina trees and other tropical trees and waves crashing nearby.

Hope you have lots of fun exploring the many nature parks connecting Punggol Beach, Punggol Waterway and Lorong Halus Wetland.

Related posts on Coney Island and surroundings
Exploring Coney Island, Singapore
Coney Island Opposite Punggol Promenade Nature Walk
Evening Landscapes at Coney Island and Punggol Reservoir
Beach Opposite Serangoon Rerservoir East Dam
Path to Serangoon Reservoir East Dam and Coney Island
Golden Sunrise at Serangoon Harbour
Coney Island, Singapore – Landscapes Around the Shoreline

 

Punggol Promenade Nature Walk Early Views

Well, it rained all morning today so the tracks were rather muddy in places. Did not quite get to all the places I wanted to go.

Last Sunday, I ventured out further along the Nature Walk track along the Punggol Promenade opposite Coney Island. Had to stop at the second bridge because the bicycle gear got stuck and made a u-turn to push the bicycle. Managed to get some pictures before I left.

To recap, let’s have a look at the Punggol Promenade map again. Click to see a larger view.

Punggol Promenade Coastal Walk

After crossing the circular bridge at Punggol Waterway, Serangoon Reservoir, walk along the boardwalk to reach this bridge. There are barriers at both entrance so need to slide under it.

Red Bridge at Nature Walk, Punggol Promenade

After that, the red track starts. The track is a mixture of soil, sand and stones. After the red bridge, take a breather along here – with a view of Serangoon Reservoir.

Nature Walk Track

A shelter here with some protection from the rain.

One of the shelters along the way

Further up, more views of the Serangoon Reservoir East Dam.

A View of Serangoon Reservoir East Dam

More Views along the Nature Walk track. The opposite river bank is Coney Island.

Coney Island on the opposite riverbank

More trees will be planted along the grass patches.

More trees to be planted along the Nature Walk

Here is the viewing boardwalk with plenty of seats to rest and to simply enjoy the views.

The Boardwalk at the Nature Walk, Punggol Promenade

Further up is another bridge. After the bridge, there are more viewing platforms.

Viewing Platform at Serangoon Reservoir

Serangoon Reservoir West Dam is around the next stop. The way across is not passable at the moment. Have to wait until the Nature Track at Coney Island is ready I suppose.

Coney Island West Dam

The next section is the Punggol Point Walk track heading towards the Jetty Point and Punggol Beach.

I am not too sure at the moment if the opening of Punggol Waterway on 23 October 2011 coincides with the Punggol Promenade along this section. Have to wait and see.

Meanwhile, it is wednesday, mid-week. Hold on tight till the weekends!

Related Posts
Then and Now : Punggol Waterway/Punggol Promenade at Serangoon Reservoir
Punggol Promenade – Faraway and Near Views of Punggol Point Walk and Nature Walk
Punggol Promenade : Jetty Point Walk to Riverside Walk
Punggol Promenade – 3 Different Views – at Lorong Halus Wetland
Punggol Reservoir and Serangoon Reservoir Viewing Platforms

 

Spot Landmarks at Punggol Beach

Other than watching ships, airplanes, birds and the people going by, I did not notice before the landmarks in the far horizon.

See the Changi Airport Tower in the distance?

Can you spot the Changi Airport Tower? On the far horizon is the Pasir Ris shoreline. That rectangular building in the left frame – I will post a picture of that tomorrow. Ships are anchored along that stretch of shoreline in Pasir Ris. Pulau Ubin, though not visible in this picture, is on the left frame. The trees on the right frame grow along the shoreline of Coney Island.

So if you want a closer look, remember to bring along binoculars or your telephoto lens camera. Happy shooting!

 

Sightings along Punggol Beach, Punggol Promenade

If you walk along the shoreline on the right side of Punggol Beach, Punggol Promenade, you will notice the sand here is much finer than the left side. There is a sharp bend in the shoreline and in the next corner, Coney Island is within sight.

There are a number of concrete borders, almost like rough steps leading to the railing along the Boardwalk. I wonder how those get there. Graffiti are sprayed along the walls of the Boardwalk.

Keep a lookout for the kelong. There are a number of birds about – eagles, heron, kingfishers. Bring your binoculars along for a closer look or a telephoto camera.

Have fun on the Punggol Promenade Coastal Walk!

Stones along Punggol Beach shoreline below Punggol Promenade

Graffiti along the walls of Punggol Promenade

Coney Island as seen from Punggol Beach Punggol Promenade

Kelong between the waters of Pulau Ubin and Coney Island

 

Coney Island, Singapore – Landscapes Around the Shoreline

If you are heading to the shoreline, for fishing or just to explore, find out about the tides condition first. If there is low tide, it is possible to walk all around the island shoreline from one end to another. More things to explore at the beach too during low tides.

For today, we noted that it low tides would be in the early morning till 9.30am. Time to get off the beach before that otherwise there would not any shoreline to walk back.

A very foggy morning today. There are steps along one shoreline, next to one end of the dam at Coney Island – opposite the proposed Nature Walk from Punggol Jetty.

Cloudy Morning at Coney Island

Pulau Ubin in the background

Green Berries - not meant for human consumption

Two eagles flying high at Coney Island

Fly free like a bird

Forest trail at Coney Island

Concrete Steps at Coney Island

Step by Step

 

Coney Island Opposite Punggol Promenade Nature Walk

The barricade is still there today next to the red bridge to Lorong Halus Wetland. Looks like construction works are still on-going and should be finished before 9 September 2011 in time for the CSC Walk @Punggol Promenade.

Ventured over the green fence today to have a closer look. Here are the pictures. Sand and cranes dotted the landscape along the Nature Walk route of Punggol Promenade as viewed from the shoreline of Coney Island, next to the Serangoon Reservoir East Dam. At the end of the stones shoreline, the purple morning glory plants grow in abundance along the sandy shoreline. Mimosa plants also grow along edges of the shoreline.

I wonder if the Nature/Rustic Park that will be opened in Coney Island will be at the other end of the shoreline, maybe nearer towards the Jetty Point side.

The other side view of Serangoon Reservoir East Dam

Coney Island stone edges from Serangoon Reservoir East Dam

Coney Island Greenery

Mimosa Plant

Morning Glory Plants along the sandy shoreline of Coney Island

Construction works on-going along Punggol Prominade Nature Walk

Related Posts on Coney Island & Punggol Promenade
Punggol Promenade : Jetty Point Walk to Riverside Walk
Recap on Singapore Coney Island
Exploring Coney Island, Singapore

 

Beach Opposite Serangoon Rerservoir East Dam

Ever wondered what the sand looks like along the shoreline of the beach opposite Serangoon Reservoir East Dam? Not quite sure of the correct name for the beach yet. Serangoon Beach? Sungei Serangoon Beach? Will update once I get the correct info. Meanwhile….

Had a chance to wander around during low tide. Just walk along the stones on the right side of the shoreline opposite the dam and took some pictures. By the way, after the barrier on the stones edge, Pasir Ris Park Beach is right around the corner. It is not that far. As always, there were debris along the shorelines.

Have a closer look while you are there.

A look back at Serangoon Reservoir East Dam with Coney Island on the right

After the stones barrier is Pasir Ris Park Beach

Shallow Depth of Field of Sandy Beach