Five unique things you should look out for at Bukit Batok Nature Park

Bukit Batok Nature Park might not be as popular as Bukit Timah Nature Reserve or Dairy Farm Nature Park, but it is still filled with gorgeous scenery, a variety of animals and history.

The park may be relatively small, only spanning 36 hectares, but I found quite a few trails for hiking and unique sights on my visit.

Here are five things you should look out for at the nature park. 

Bukit Batok Nature Park was actually developed around this quarry in 1988, after it had been abandoned for years. It can be accessed via a straight path from the entrance to the park.

The environment is tranquil, even though there were quite a few other hikers around us taking photos, stretching and filming TikTok videos when we went. 

You’ll also catch glimpses of fish and turtles frolicking in the water. 

Most, if not all, of the park’s trails have tree branches hanging over them, which makes a canopy to protect you from the brunt of the sun and rain. 

The canopy also casts a lovely dappled effect over the paths as you hike, and walking under the arching branches makes for a much grander-feeling hike. 

In fact, most of the park has a similar serene quality, which adds to the timeless nature of it. 

There are plenty of animals in the park, and I couldn’t catch them all on camera. We saw chickens, squirrels, water monitor lizards and birds I later identified as white-crested laughingthrushes. 

Usually wildlife stays clear of the public, but all these animals didn’t shy away from us during our visit. Their company added to our experience, and made the hike feel more like an adventure through the wild.

One laughingthrush even hopped closer to us to pick up twigs for its nearby nest, and we were able to take some very clear photos of the wildlife.

Though it’s recommended that you stay on the trails, some spots just off the beaten path might catch your eye. 

On our walk, we chanced upon several spots that seemed to transport us elsewhere. There were open clearings like the one below this one, winding desire paths— unplanned paths made by human traffic— through the trees, and scatterings of rocks that acted as stepping stones off the path. 

This is one spot that struck me, with the sunlight filtering through the trees, a fallen tree trunk and curved branches. The park has many spots like this, just make sure not to trample any flora that isn’t already dead.

The original memorial on top of Bukit Batok Hill was built by prisoners of war, but destroyed after World War II ended. All that’s left is 120 stairs and a plaque to commemorate the tragedy.

The plaque tells the story of the first memorial, written in English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil and Japanese. It also lists off other locations in Singapore where World War II markers have been erected, and pays tribute to the Allied dead.

The path up the hill is a little steep and has no railings, so make sure to wear hiking shoes and be careful if you try to access the memorial. At the top of the stairs, you can also find two transmission towers that belong to Mediacorp.

All in all, if you’re looking to visit the outdoors but you’re worried about getting lost, Bukit Batok Nature Park is the place to go. Despite being small, the tranquil park has a lot to offer.