Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore

loboclerk · 3rd January 2009

Hi everyone,

I'd like to start a thread about some of the popular or recommended places for macro photography in Singapore. I started bug-hunting a few months ago and thought something like this would be helpful for those starting out and looking for more places to explore.

I'll start with a raw list of some places I've been to, I'm sure there are lots more and I might even have some outdated information. All contributions, suggestions and corrections welcome! I'll update this post with whatever information can be gathered.

Admiralty Park
7 hectares of urban recreational park and 20 hectares of what used to be a mangrove swamp. There's 2 km trail and 3 boardwalks within the mangrove area, and a pond right in front of the resturant (below car park).

Look out for?
Lots of damselflies, dragonflies, stink bugs guarding their eggs (aka chocolates, coffeebeans, etc) along the edge of the pond.
Hammock webs along the nature trail will almost certainly have a spider at the center of it. Very noticeable in the mornings because of morning dew.

Getting There
About 15 min walk from Woodlands MRT. Cashcard parking for 50c per half hour since 16 Jan 2009.
View the map here

Links & Photo Galleries
http://www.rp.sg/admiraltypark/
Photos by ClubSnap members

Alexandra Hospital Butterfly Trail (aka AHBT)
Started in 2001 and has recorded over 100 butterfly species since.

Look out for?
Butterflies, caterpillars, and many other small critters.
Feel free to venture to the Medicinal Garden and the Eco Pond too.

Getting There
Bus 195 from Queenstown MRT (police station side), alight after IKEA bus stop.
Bus 14 from Dover/Clementi MRT, alight right after AYE.
Per hour ERP parking (forgot the rates)
View map here
Hospital Map

Links & Photo Galleries
Brief history on the trail
Photos by ClubSnap members

Bishan Park
Check out the herb garden

Look out for?
grasshopper, spider, fly, moth, butterfly

Getting There
Herb garden is at park 2 which is in the area after the Dog Run compound.
HDB coupon parking @ Blk 333 AMK Ave 1
Open only on Sunday, 11am to 5pm

View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members

Bukit Batok Nature Park

Look out for?
Insects (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Dragonflies, Spiders, Wasps, Butterflies etc), birds, tree snakes, squirrels etc.

Getting There
Bus 985 & 970 to Bukit Batok Ave 2 which is a 5 mins walk to the entrance of the park.

View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members

Dairy Farm Nature Park
Opened recently in September 2009, its an old disused quarry turned into a freshwater wetland. It's now home to insects, birds and fish, some never before seen in the area.

Look out for?
Butterflies, dragonflies, birds, insects, monkeys

Getting There
100 Dairy Farm Road
Take bus service SMRT 700, 700A or 966 and alight at bus stop along Petir Road between Chestnut Ave and Dairy Farm Road.

View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members

Hort Park
HortPark is a gardening hub which showcases garden designs and products. There is a Butterfly Garden newly opened in May 2009. Not open to public but there are guided walks on the last Saturday of every month.

Look out for?
Flowers, plants, butterflies

Getting There

Guided Walk Timings: 9.00am - 11.00am and 4.00pm - 6:00pm
Limited to 20 people per tour. To register for the guided tours, please call 6471 5601 or email NParks_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg at least 1 hour before the tour.
http://nparks.eventshub.sg/ems_wb_De...&EventID=45986

ERP parking.
View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members

Kent Ridge Park

Look out for?

Getting There
View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members

Labrador Park

Look out for?

Getting There
View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members

Lower Pierce Reservoir

Look out for?

Getting There
Free parking.
View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members

Mount Faber

Look out for?
Some small animals, parrots and birds and of course insects

Getting There

View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members

Pasir Ris Park

Look out for?
Butterflies near spice garden, mangrove area in the Eastern part of the park.

Getting There
15min walk from PasirRis MRT.
Free parking.
View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members

Pulau Ubin

Look out for?
Large orb weaver spiders all over the island.
Butterfly hill for butterflies
Chek Jawa for crabs, starfish, other water life

Getting There
Take a bum boat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal (near Changi Village) for $2.50.
Bicycles available for rent near Ubin Jetty.
Hire a van to Chek Jawa for $2 per person.
View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Ubin Photos by ClubSnap members
Chek Jawa Photos by ClubSnap members
More about Chek Jawa

More in post below.

tchuanye · 3rd January 2009

Thanks for the initiative loboclerk!

Updated some look up for in the list.

another place to shoot is lower pierce reservoir, Labrador park, Kent ridge park.

Actually, any of the NPB park is a good place. Info can be found here:
http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.p...arks&Itemid=73

loboclerk · 4th January 2009

Republic Polytechnic Trail
This is an unmarked trail, totally deserted and leads to no where. Beneath the thick undergrowth is a cemented pathway in most of the trail. Not recommended to go alone.

Look out for?
Butterflies in abundance! Large orb web spiders, occasional snakes.

Getting There
Parking at Republic Polytechnic. 1c per minute at West entrance, free parking at North entrance. Nearest MRT: Woodlands.
View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members

Sentosa

Look out for?
Some scattered spots have peacocks and insects are abundant and not forgetting the botany abundance!
Butt newbies can try out the butterfly park as the butterflies are quite used to humans and less skittish.

Getting There
Driving: $2 per car, $2 per person, $1 for sheltered parking
Most convenient mode of transport is by the Sentosa bus
View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members
Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom

Singapore Botanic Gardens (aka SBG)

Look out for?

Getting There
View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (aka SBWR)

Look out for?
Spiders, atlas moth, dragonflies, damselflies, cotton stainers, etc.

Getting There
SMRT Bus 925 from Kranji MRT, alight at Kranji Reservoir carpark for 15-min walk to the reserve.
Free parking.
Free entry on weekdays, $1 for adults and $0.50 for children on weekends and school/public holidays
View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Photos by ClubSnap members

Toa Payoh Town Park

Look out for?
Butterflies, damselflies, dragonflies, pond skaters, Spiders

Getting There
Less than 10min walk from Toa Payoh MRT.
View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members

Venus Drive
Entrance to the HSBC Treetop Walk.

Look out for?
Spiders, dragonflies, damselflies, centipedes etc

Getting There
Bus 166 from Ang Mo Kio MRT, alight along Upper Thomson Road after Island Club Road
Free parking.
View map here

Links & Photo Galleries
Photos by ClubSnap members

Disclaimer
All information above were provided to the best of my limited knowledge. Please do your homework to verify the info before going to these places.

Good luck!

crazypaladin · 4th January 2009

Good initiative to start this macros list.

I got 2 venues:

+ Mount Faber - some small animals, parrots and birds and of course insects
+ Sentosa - some scattered spots have peacocks and insects are abundant and not forgetting the botany abundance!
+

AlexK · 4th January 2009

Hi loboclerk, thanks for your compilation.

loboclerk · 4th January 2009

Added Ubin, Sentosa and Mount Faber. Thanks!

ddwmk2002 · 12th January 2009

Bishan Park herbs garden. Open only on Sunday 11am-5pm. Nothing very exotic but always can find some grasshopper, spider, fly, moth, butterfly etc. to shoot.

http://gardeningdreaminspire.blogspo...rb-garden.html

loboclerk · 12th January 2009

Added. Thanks!

loboclerk · 9th February 2009

Added Republic Poly trail.

starocker · 12th February 2009

hi..does anyone noe whether the butterfly "farm" (i dunno the name, sry bout tt) it still in sentosa? if its still there, can any1 give me some directions to that place?

thx in advance

Umeiko · 12th February 2009

Originally Posted by starocker

hi..does anyone noe whether the butterfly "farm" (i dunno the name, sry bout tt) it still in sentosa? if its still there, can any1 give me some directions to that place?

thx in advance

Here's the info you need: http://www.sentosa.com.sg/explore_se...ctkingdom.html

starocker · 12th February 2009

Originally Posted by Umeiko

Here's the info you need: http://www.sentosa.com.sg/explore_se...ctkingdom.html

thx=) i went to the sentosa and saw eerything but this..haha..thahk you so much

teebs · 19th February 2009

Pls add Bukit Batok Nature Park into the list.

loboclerk · 22nd February 2009

I've been there once long ago but not for macro. Could you post some info like how to get there, what to look out for, etc?

thanks!

teebs · 22nd February 2009

Originally Posted by loboclerk

I've been there once long ago but not for macro. Could you post some info like how to get there, what to look out for, etc? thanks!

Bus 985 & 970 to Bukit Batok Ave 2 which is a 5 mins walk to the entrance of the park.

What to look out for: Insects (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Dragonflies, Spiders, Wasps, Butterflies etc), birds, tree snakes, squirrels etc.

loboclerk · 28th February 2009

Added. Thanks!

Alm1ghty · 4th March 2009

Bro!

loboclerk · 10th September 2009

Added Dairy Farm Nature Park that was opened this month. Gotta visit it some day!

mojopy · 11th September 2009

recently, I walked through the Kranji Nature trail (entrance/exit is at one corner of SBWR carpark)
What to look out for: dragonfly, spider, grasshopper, other insects, birds.

3rd January 2009	#1
loboclerk Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 584	Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore Hi everyone, I'd like to start a thread about some of the popular or recommended places for macro photography in Singapore. I started bug-hunting a few months ago and thought something like this would be helpful for those starting out and looking for more places to explore. I'll start with a raw list of some places I've been to, I'm sure there are lots more and I might even have some outdated information. All contributions, suggestions and corrections welcome! I'll update this post with whatever information can be gathered. Admiralty Park 7 hectares of urban recreational park and 20 hectares of what used to be a mangrove swamp. There's 2 km trail and 3 boardwalks within the mangrove area, and a pond right in front of the resturant (below car park). Look out for? Lots of damselflies, dragonflies, stink bugs guarding their eggs (aka chocolates, coffeebeans, etc) along the edge of the pond. Hammock webs along the nature trail will almost certainly have a spider at the center of it. Very noticeable in the mornings because of morning dew. Getting There About 15 min walk from Woodlands MRT. Cashcard parking for 50c per half hour since 16 Jan 2009. View the map here Links & Photo Galleries http://www.rp.sg/admiraltypark/ Photos by ClubSnap members Alexandra Hospital Butterfly Trail (aka AHBT) Started in 2001 and has recorded over 100 butterfly species since. Look out for? Butterflies, caterpillars, and many other small critters. Feel free to venture to the Medicinal Garden and the Eco Pond too. Getting There Bus 195 from Queenstown MRT (police station side), alight after IKEA bus stop. Bus 14 from Dover/Clementi MRT, alight right after AYE. Per hour ERP parking (forgot the rates) View map here Hospital Map Links & Photo Galleries Brief history on the trail Photos by ClubSnap members Bishan Park Check out the herb garden Look out for? grasshopper, spider, fly, moth, butterfly Getting There Herb garden is at park 2 which is in the area after the Dog Run compound. HDB coupon parking @ Blk 333 AMK Ave 1 Open only on Sunday, 11am to 5pm View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Bukit Batok Nature Park Look out for? Insects (Grasshoppers, Crickets, Dragonflies, Spiders, Wasps, Butterflies etc), birds, tree snakes, squirrels etc. Getting There Bus 985 & 970 to Bukit Batok Ave 2 which is a 5 mins walk to the entrance of the park. View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Dairy Farm Nature Park Opened recently in September 2009, its an old disused quarry turned into a freshwater wetland. It's now home to insects, birds and fish, some never before seen in the area. Look out for? Butterflies, dragonflies, birds, insects, monkeys Getting There 100 Dairy Farm Road Take bus service SMRT 700, 700A or 966 and alight at bus stop along Petir Road between Chestnut Ave and Dairy Farm Road. View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Hort Park HortPark is a gardening hub which showcases garden designs and products. There is a Butterfly Garden newly opened in May 2009. Not open to public but there are guided walks on the last Saturday of every month. Look out for? Flowers, plants, butterflies Getting There Guided Walk Timings: 9.00am - 11.00am and 4.00pm - 6:00pm Limited to 20 people per tour. To register for the guided tours, please call 6471 5601 or email NParks_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg at least 1 hour before the tour. http://nparks.eventshub.sg/ems_wb_De...&EventID=45986 ERP parking. View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Kent Ridge Park Look out for? Getting There View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Labrador Park Look out for? Getting There View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Lower Pierce Reservoir Look out for? Getting There Free parking. View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Mount Faber Look out for? Some small animals, parrots and birds and of course insects Getting There View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Pasir Ris Park Look out for? Butterflies near spice garden, mangrove area in the Eastern part of the park. Getting There 15min walk from PasirRis MRT. Free parking. View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Pulau Ubin Look out for? Large orb weaver spiders all over the island. Butterfly hill for butterflies Chek Jawa for crabs, starfish, other water life Getting There Take a bum boat from Changi Point Ferry Terminal (near Changi Village) for $2.50. Bicycles available for rent near Ubin Jetty. Hire a van to Chek Jawa for $2 per person. View map here Links & Photo Galleries Ubin Photos by ClubSnap members Chek Jawa Photos by ClubSnap members More about Chek Jawa More in post below. __________________ D80 / T180mm / N50mm / T11-18mm / S30mm / T17-50mm Last edited by loboclerk; 10th September 2009 at 11:04 PM. Reason: Added HortPark Butterfly Garden

3rd January 2009	#2
tchuanye Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,957	Re: Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore Thanks for the initiative loboclerk! Updated some look up for in the list. another place to shoot is lower pierce reservoir, Labrador park, Kent ridge park. Actually, any of the NPB park is a good place. Info can be found here: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.p...arks&Itemid=73 __________________ My Gallery: http://www.tchuanye.smugmug.com/ Eqpt: http://www.tchuanye.smugmug.com/gallery/271702 Last edited by tchuanye; 4th January 2009 at 08:31 PM.

4th January 2009	#3
loboclerk Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 584	Re: Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore Republic Polytechnic Trail This is an unmarked trail, totally deserted and leads to no where. Beneath the thick undergrowth is a cemented pathway in most of the trail. Not recommended to go alone. Look out for? Butterflies in abundance! Large orb web spiders, occasional snakes. Getting There Parking at Republic Polytechnic. 1c per minute at West entrance, free parking at North entrance. Nearest MRT: Woodlands. View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Sentosa Look out for? Some scattered spots have peacocks and insects are abundant and not forgetting the botany abundance! Butt newbies can try out the butterfly park as the butterflies are quite used to humans and less skittish. Getting There Driving: $2 per car, $2 per person, $1 for sheltered parking Most convenient mode of transport is by the Sentosa bus View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom Singapore Botanic Gardens (aka SBG) Look out for? Getting There View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (aka SBWR) Look out for? Spiders, atlas moth, dragonflies, damselflies, cotton stainers, etc. Getting There SMRT Bus 925 from Kranji MRT, alight at Kranji Reservoir carpark for 15-min walk to the reserve. Free parking. Free entry on weekdays, $1 for adults and $0.50 for children on weekends and school/public holidays View map here Links & Photo Galleries http://www.sbwr.org.sg/ Photos by ClubSnap members Toa Payoh Town Park Look out for? Butterflies, damselflies, dragonflies, pond skaters, Spiders Getting There Less than 10min walk from Toa Payoh MRT. View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Venus Drive Entrance to the HSBC Treetop Walk. Look out for? Spiders, dragonflies, damselflies, centipedes etc Getting There Bus 166 from Ang Mo Kio MRT, alight along Upper Thomson Road after Island Club Road Free parking. View map here Links & Photo Galleries Photos by ClubSnap members Disclaimer All information above were provided to the best of my limited knowledge. Please do your homework to verify the info before going to these places. Good luck! __________________ D80 / T180mm / N50mm / T11-18mm / S30mm / T17-50mm Last edited by loboclerk; 10th March 2009 at 08:56 PM.

4th January 2009	#4
crazypaladin Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Singapore Central Posts: 748	Re: Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore Good initiative to start this macros list. I got 2 venues: + Mount Faber - some small animals, parrots and birds and of course insects + Sentosa - some scattered spots have peacocks and insects are abundant and not forgetting the botany abundance! +

4th January 2009	#5
AlexK Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 423	Re: Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore Hi loboclerk, thanks for your compilation.

12th January 2009	#7
ddwmk2002 Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 156	Re: Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore Bishan Park herbs garden. Open only on Sunday 11am-5pm. Nothing very exotic but always can find some grasshopper, spider, fly, moth, butterfly etc. to shoot. http://gardeningdreaminspire.blogspo...rb-garden.html

9th February 2009	#9
loboclerk Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 584	Re: Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore Added Republic Poly trail. __________________ D80 / T180mm / N50mm / T11-18mm / S30mm / T17-50mm

12th February 2009	#10
starocker Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Yishun Posts: 187	Re: Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore hi..does anyone noe whether the butterfly "farm" (i dunno the name, sry bout tt) it still in sentosa? if its still there, can any1 give me some directions to that place? thx in advance

19th February 2009	#13
teebs Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,377	Re: Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore Pls add Bukit Batok Nature Park into the list.

22nd February 2009	#14
loboclerk Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 584	Re: Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore I've been there once long ago but not for macro. Could you post some info like how to get there, what to look out for, etc? thanks! __________________ D80 / T180mm / N50mm / T11-18mm / S30mm / T17-50mm

28th February 2009	#16
loboclerk Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 584	Re: Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore Added. Thanks! __________________ D80 / T180mm / N50mm / T11-18mm / S30mm / T17-50mm

4th March 2009	#17
Alm1ghty Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Me Stay North Posts: 521	Re: Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore Bro! __________________ Lookin' for Olympus Teleconverter EC14/EC20

10th September 2009	#18
loboclerk Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 584	Re: Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore Added Dairy Farm Nature Park that was opened this month. Gotta visit it some day! __________________ D80 / T180mm / N50mm / T11-18mm / S30mm / T17-50mm

11th September 2009	#19
mojopy Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: bEdOk NoRtH Posts: 286	Re: Recommended Macro Spots in Singapore recently, I walked through the Kranji Nature trail (entrance/exit is at one corner of SBWR carpark) What to look out for: dragonfly, spider, grasshopper, other insects, birds. __________________ LX3, FM2, D200, 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5, 50mm f/1.8, 85mm f/1.8, SB800, LSII PBase\|\| Blog