Singapore: five essential experiences
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We’ve picked the brains of the travellers who joined the first HerCanberra tour to Singapore to share five essential experiences we recommend to every visitor.
Eating Chilli Mud Crab
When we think of quintessential Singapore tastes, chilli mud crab is foremost in our minds. Having already learnt the special secret recipe during our Urban Adventure cooking class (a must-do for foodies), we were keen to scoff an entire crab and started asking around (cab drivers, hotel staff, people on the street) to find the best spot. Everyone had helpful hints but the consensus seemed to be that the Jumbo Seafood chain of restaurants—six locations across the city—had the consistently best chili mud crab on offer.
Then we tried to get a booking.
Easier said than done as it turns out. There was no spot available at all. Day two and we try again. Our closest two Jumbos are booked solid. OK, we say to the concierge, you find us a table and we will travel where ever we need to go.
We finally get the green light and jump in a cab to Dempsey Hill. We are ushered to an outdoor eating area and find ourselves crammed into a tiny table amid diners gorging on a huge array of dishes. We can hardly contain our excitement as we don our bibs and a giant red saucy crab arrives at the table. We also order fried mantou (little bread rolls) to sop up the juices. It is a feast.
OK, so it also looks like an out-take from CSI when we have finished—red sauce, crab shell and napkins are strewn across the table. But it was as sensationally fresh, spicy and crazily enjoyable for everyone. A must-do.
You can find Jumbo Seafood at locations across the city—East Coast Seafood Centre, Riverside Point, The Riverwalk, Dempsey Hill, ION Orchard, Jewel Changi Airport.
Shopping at Orchard Road
Orchard Road used to be the site of fruit orchards (obvs) but now it houses 5000 shops, restaurants and retail experiences for the tourists and locals who visit each day en masse.
There’s TANGS, Singapore’s oldest department store (opened 1958) for a taste of history, or do as we did and immerse yourself in the uber-luxurious and air-conditioned refinement of ION Orchard, which is a futuristic mall rising eight stories into retail heaven.
From the bustling Hawker-style food court down below to running the gamut of designer havens up the top, these shops take things to the next level. For instance, we may have made a little purchase at Kate Spade. It was exhausting looking at all the things so the staff led us to a beautiful velvet sofa and brought us pink lemonade. If only all shopping was that pleasurable.
A Trishaw ride
We’ll admit it, we were expecting this to be cringey and touristy—in fact, it was one of the highlights of our trip!
What’s a trishaw? It’s a bicycle with a sidecar, driven by locals, which takes you on a meandering journey through some of Singapore’s most colourful districts.
We took a nighttime tour of Little India, around eight trishaws travelling in convoy around this vibrant part of Singapore. We passed temples, restaurants and jaw-dropping jewellery shops which seemed to glitter with gold—all to a fantastic K-Pop soundtrack pumped out by one of the drivers. The night was balmy and it was a brilliant way to get up close and personal with the city.
You can choose from four tours, with Kampong Glam, Singapore River and Chinatown also able to be experienced in this unique and super-fun way.
Exploring Gardens By The Bay
This sprawling waterfront oasis is simply beautiful at any time of day. And while it’s perhaps best known for its grove of soaring, surreal 20-to-50-metre-high Supertrees, there’s so much more to see and do at Gardens by The Bay.
Discover plants and flowers from five continents, from thousand-year-old olive trees to magnolias and orchids in the world’s largest greenhouse—officially—the Flower Dome.
In a second indoor conservatory Floral Fantasy (above), you’ll find cavernous spaces, dramatic driftwood sculptures and works of floral art that take inspiration from fairy tales and the storied Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Or explore the Cloud Forest (below)—a mist-filled landscape of rare vegetation and dramatic vistas, ferns and pitcher plants from the tropical highlands.
When dusk falls, the Supertree Grove lights up with the Garden Rhapsody, a spectacle of light and sound. We were super keen to make it to the Supertree Grove for a night skywalk, and (literally) ran from drinks at the Fullerton Bay Hotel to make the last entry by 8 pm. Turns out about one bazillion people had the same idea, so we had to content ourselves with a wander around the gardens, which we weren’t all that mad about. It was gorgeous!
We went back first thing the next day and explored the gardens in the sunshine, and could have quite easily whiled away the day there. If you’re there later on in the day, head to Bay East Garden for an unforgettable sunset. The lush open lawns and beautiful waterfront will give you an unobscured view of Singapore’s skyline.
Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore. gardensbythebay.com.sg
A day at Sentosa Island
An island resort literally minutes from the city centre, Sentosa is known for its tropical beaches, luxurious hotels and so many things to do—Universal Studios, Adventure Cove Waterpark, bungee jumping, an aquarium, indoor and outdoor theme parks, watersports and more! There’s a reason why they call it the ‘State of Fun’!
We caught the cable car from Singapore’s highest point Mt Faber Park. The trip takes about 30 minutes over rainforest, the harbour and through the middle of a skyscraper! You can also get to Sentosa Island by train from Harbourfront MRT.
Sentosa needs a good few days to explore and is a great family resort holiday destination—particularly if you love your holidays to have a mix of culture and good old-fashioned family fun. We recommend buying a combo ticket for activities for healthy discounts.
Catch the lift inside the Sentosa Merlion and take in the expansive views over Singapore from his mouth (a photographer awaits you and will happily take photos with your camera or phone while you growl like a lion) and then take the stairs to the top of his head. Exchange your entry ticket for a cool gold Sentosa souvenir coin and pick up a couple of Singapore Slings in a can for SGD16 at the gift shop on exiting.
If you’d rather just chill, pull up a daybed at one of Sentosa’s beach clubs (Tanjong Beach Club is a fave), order a cocktail and watch the world go by.
Queues can be very long on weekends at Sentosa and shuttles crowded, so weekday visits are recommended if you prefer a more leisurely visit.
Ready to book your ticket?
Tempted by the thought of exploring Singapore? The beauty of having a destination like Singapore leaving from your own doorstep every single night means you can go whenever the mood takes you. And competitive fares mean that it could even be cheaper than flights to one of Australia’s tropical locales.
Want to know what’s in store before you go? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
When do flights leave?
Canberra Airport has daily international flights with Singapore Airlines, departing at 11:55 pm each night. It’s perfectly timed so you can rock up in Singapore bright and early and ready to make the most of the full day ahead of you.
What time should I get there?
The Singapore Airlines international check-in process is super quick and efficient. The International Departures Lounge opens two hours before each flight departs (9:15pm), so we recommend getting there around 9pm.
Given the flight time (and Canberra traffic in general), it’s an easy journey to the airport, and the terminal is less crowded than its larger city counterparts, meaning less queues and more time spent relaxing before your flight.
Is there an international lounge at Canberra Airport?
Oh yes indeedy! It’s rather lovely, actually—very spacious, lots of natural light, free Wi-Fi and plush, European furniture. You can also enjoy pre-flight snacks and drinks at the bar and even do a spot of shopping at Lotte Duty Free.
Can I park at the airport?
Yes, you can. And it’s cheaper than you think.
You can park from 3 pm Friday and exit before last flights on Sunday in one of the outdoor car parks for just $35—that’s cheaper than a couple of taxi fares or rideshare fares. If you need a little longer, take advantage of the long stay outdoor parking. Park for up to six weeks and you’ll only pay a capped amount of $175 (that’s only a little over $4 a day).
Or you can choose to park undercover with direct access to the terminal. Find out more at canberraairport.com.au
Do we clear Customs in Sydney on our return journey?
No, right here in Canberra, in a super-quick Customs process. Chances are you’ll be off the plane and collecting your baggage in about 15 mins (and most likely tucked up in bed before midnight!)
Bon voyage!
This article is presented in partnership with Canberra Airport.
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