A Guide to Coastal Playgrove: A fun time awaits your child (& you!)
Call me old-fashioned, but I believe young children should be playing outside instead of staring at tablets. That’s why whenever my siblings ask me to babysit their children, I bring them to a playground.
We’ve been to several playgrounds around Singapore (both the indoor and the outdoor kind). And so far, out of all the playgrounds we’ve visited, Coastal Playgrove is one they keep asking me to go back to.
But what’s so great about Coastal Playgrove? Well, I’m here to enlighten you and convince you to bring your child here when school’s over.
Things to Know
Address: 8287 Khumalo Rd, Orlando West, Johannesburg, 1804
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday—8 am to 8 pm
- Closed on Monday
Admission Fee: Free
Background
— From: thenewspaper
Coastal Playgrove is actually part of East Coast Park, the largest park in all of Singapore. It was once Big Splash, a popular water park back in the day, but that was demolished in 2017, and in its place, Coastal Playgrove was constructed.
The playground spans 4.5 hectares of land and comes with many different features so that children have more options on what to do. Because of this, it’s not a surprise that Coastal Playgrove is one of the most popular playgrounds on Singapore’s East Coast.
Age Requirement
— From: josieth2017
Coastal Playgrove is best for children ages 3 to 12 years old, but that doesn’t mean anyone ages 13 and above can’t have fun here. In fact, even grown adults like you and me are free to play with our little kids!
Despite that, keep in mind the target crowd is still children, so we need to prioritize them. If you want to go down the slide but there are many little kids lining up to try it, let them get to it before you do.
How to Get There
Bus: To get to Coastal Playgrove, ride any of these bus services: 31, 36, 43, 47, 48, 134, 196, 197, 401, and 853M. Then, alight at bus stop 92241 (Amber Gdns) or 92249 (Opp Amber Gdns), and walk to the playground via the Amber Gardens Underpass.
Car: If you prefer driving, you can park your cat at Car Park B2.
What to Do in Coastal Playgrove
Go down the slides at the Play Tower
— From: littledayout
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—8 am to 12 pm, 4 pm to 10 pm
Appropriate for: 13-year-olds and above
The Play Tower is where Big Splash used to be, and now it’s the main highlight of Coastal Playgrove. To be more specific, the star of the show is the tower’s slides, which are metal tubes that span 7.3 meters and 11.9 meters tall.
The slides are so exhilarating; I remember whenever I go down the tallest one, I always squeal so loudly that the sound echoes all around me, ruining my own eardrums. I’m sure people outside can hear me loud and clear as well!
That said, keep in mind that they’re still metal, which means that they can become really hot in no time. That’s why I recommend using them only in the morning or late in the afternoon. Wearing leggings or long pants is another thing you can do.
Test your climbing skills at the Vertical Challenge
— From: shuutravels
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday—8 am to 10 pm
- Closed on Mondays
Appropriate for: 13-year-olds and above
There’s more to the Play Tower than meets the eye. Beyond the long, metallic slides, this tower also boasts the Vertical Challenge, a 16-meter high play structure that you can scale over like a superhero!
Make your way to the top of the tower by slowly climbing the grip wall and navigating the zig-zag bridge. By the time you reach the peak, you’ll feel accomplished like you’re a professional athlete. Plus, the views from the top are beautiful!
While it’s fun to climb up, personally I just like to lounge (if you haven’t guessed it already, I don’t have the stamina of a youngster). That’s why I enjoy swaying in the disc swings, laying down on the hammocks, or wandering in the hoop maze.
Climb or jump on the Leisure Nets
— From: littledayout
Appropriate for: 5-year-olds and above
Little children might be bummed to know that they’re not allowed in the Play Tower, but you can console them by saying there’s the Leisure Nets at the foot of the tower.
The Leisure Nets is a climbing frame that’s pretty simple and straightforward. Despite that, it’s still fun to play here, and there are even sections that act as a trampoline, so you can bounce and jump.
The Leisure Nets can serve as a training ground for the Vertical Challenge. So, tell your little one that they can practice their skills there so that by the time they reach 13, they can easily conquer the Play Tower.
Beat the heat by splashing in the Water Play Area
— From: yulespics
Appropriate for: 5- to 12-year-olds
Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible
Singapore’s heat can be relentless sometimes (okay, most of the time), so I can understand if you’d want to just dunk yourself in the water to cool down. Luckily, you can do this (somewhat) at Coastal Playgrove, thanks to the Water Play Area.
The Water Play Area is like a mini water park. There are wading pools that are connected by a stream, and all of them have many water fountains, so you’ll really be soaked through in no time.
Just make sure to bring a change of clothes for you and your child. Even if you’re adamant about not getting wet, chances are high that you’ll end up playing here in the end (either because your child successfully convinces you or the heat gets too much).
Immerse in the beauty of nature at the Nature Playgarden
— From: cheekiemonkies
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Appropriate for: 3- to 12-year-olds
Introduce your child to our beautiful Mother Earth by letting them play at the Nature Playgarden!
This garden has play features that are made of natural materials (particularly wood, sand, and gravel). It also has trees and shrubs that attract different animals and insects, so your little one can learn about biodiversity at an early age.
The best thing about this garden is that it has different themed sections. My nieces and nephews enjoy going on a “hike” along the bamboo trail or going on an expedition to find an exotic plant in a forest (they’ve been watching too many adventure movies).
Learn more about nature in the outdoor classroom by the sea
— From: playalldayerrday
Appropriate for: Preschoolers
If you think your child is way too young for the Nature Playgarden, you can drop them off at NParks’ first-ever outdoor classroom by the sea.
This outdoor classroom actually has a chalkboard, so you can act as a teacher, informing your little one all about nature. Meanwhile, they can sit quietly on any of the boulders and log stools.
But knowing children, I bet your child won’t just stay in one place for far too long. So, let them explore the area. They might want to peer into a hornbill’s nest and see all the fascinating plants there.
Dress up as a princess in The Tiara Society
— From: lecinlurvee
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—9 am to 6:30 pm
Admission Fee: From S$35
Appropriate for: All ages
Located inside the Play Tower is The Tiara Society, the wonderland for all people who wish to live in a fairy tale. And the best part is that it’s not just open to children—adults are more than welcome to dress up and play pretend as well!
This place comes with a wide variety of gowns and costumes, so it’s easy to fantasize that you’re a prince or princess in a kingdom far, far away. To make things better, there are even props, such as a royal carriage or a (fake) horse, to aid them in their fantasy.
There are other cool activities here. I know my nieces and nephews like to participate in the Secret Chamber Escape Room or attend Open Minds, a holiday camp full of fun activities in the summer.
Have a picnic on the Event Lawn
— From: bolsterboi
Sometimes, you’re just not in the mood to run around. Instead, you just want to lounge and relax. If this sounds like you, the Event Lawn is where you can go.
Technically, the Event Lawn is intended for any possible events like concerts and camps, but most of the time, there aren’t any activities, so it’s become a place for fun, casual picnics. Just be sure to bring your own blankets and snacks!
I also really like flying kites here, and if I’m bringing my dogs with my nieces and nephews, we like playing fetch or frisbee.
Where to Eat in Coastal Playgrove
Food Splash
— From: attapgrill
Playing around in Coastal Playgrove takes a lot of energy, so if you’re feeling hungry, just head to Food Splash, which is a food court with different F&B outlets.
My go-to is usually Burger King because it’s the brand we’re the most familiar with, but other times, we try other brands as well. I really like the Korean dishes at Kimchi Box and the roti prata (a kind of flatbread) and dosa (a thin, savory crepe) at Prata Wala.