Kayaking at the Kallang Basin in Singapore

During this period of time when travelling is virtually impossible, M and I have been looking into activities that we can do in Singapore.

The past weekend, we went kayaking at the Kallang Basin. It has been a while since either of us kayaked or did anything water sports-related. Therefore, we decided this would be a good activity for us to try!

Our experience

Pre-kayak

Due to the current pandemic situation, all rentals are capped at 2 hours each. Between sessions, the kayaks are thoroughly disinfected and washed. M and I arrived at the Water Sports Centre at around 1:15pm after our lunch at nearby Old Airport Hawker Centre.

We first proceeded to do our registrations followed by payment for our rentals. The entrance to the centre is incredibly obscure yet really cool! Read on to find out where is the entrance.

After registration, we were given a short safety briefing by the instructors and then collected our kayaks. We felt that the whole process was very smooth and the instructors were incredibly professional.

Within minutes, we were in our kayak, ready to take off! Before setting off, the instructors gave us a quick crash course on the basics of kayaking and how to get in/out of our kayak.

While kayaking

The area where we can kayak is mainly within the Kallang Basin. The boundaries are clearly defined by the bridges surrounding the basin and the large pontoon.

Even though our rental was for 2 hours, we felt that 1-1.5 hours was sufficient to explore the entire area. The weather was very hot that day, so we did not want to get burnt under the sun for too long.

While paddling in the basin, you’ll get to enjoy an incredible view of the Singapore skyline. We were slightly disappointed though that the Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands were blocked by other tall structures.

Even though there’s no shade within the area, the occasional strong winds offered short respites from the hot weather.

These winds were double-edged swords as they also brought with them stronger tides! We had to paddle doubly hard just to stay in the same position.

Some tips

You’re allowed to bring your water bottle so do stay hydrated. Face mask coverings are expected to be worn whenever you’re on land. You can only take them off once you’re paddling in the water. We’d highly recommend you bring an extra mask or a ziplock bag to keep your masks dry while you’re padding.

My mask got totally wet after the session. Trust me, it wasn’t a pleasant experience trying to wear a wet mask for the rest of the day!

Lockers are also provided on-site for free. So you don’t have to worry about storing your valuables.

We’d also recommend you call them up (+65 6653 8900) before heading down as there’s currently a 50-pax limit on the venue. You’ll not be allowed into the complex if this number is exceeded.

Important information

Opening Hours

Monday – Friday: 9am – 4pm (Last Rental 1.30pm)
Saturday: 11.30am – 5pm (Last Rental 2.30pm)
Sunday: 7am – 8pm (Last Rental 4.30pm)
Be sure to register before the Last Rental timings to ensure that you can rent a kayak!

Prices

If you have a Kayaking certification, be sure to either bring a physical copy or snap a picture of it! This will increase the types of kayaks available for you to rent.

For more up to date information on kayaking at the Water Sports Centre, check out their official site here. Please make sure to check their latest announcements as regulations change very often these days.

How to get there

The nearest MRT station is Stadium. From the station, it’s just a 5 minutes walk to the entrance of the Water Centre.

Look out for this cornucopia-like structure. Walk up the stairs and you’ll see the hidden entrance.

After a long day kayaking, your body must be really tired and drained. Consider heading down to Yunomori next door at the Kallang Wave Mall for a good relaxing session of Onsen and massage!

Find out more about our experience at Yunomori here!