Before the 2012 launch of Adventure Cove Waterpark at Resorts World Sentosa and Port of Lost Wonder at Palawan Beach, Wild Wild Wet at Downtown East was already making waves in Singapore. With the upcoming launch of LEGOLAND Water Park on 21 October 2013, water theme parks are set to make an even bigger splash. However, admission fees to these themed water parks do not come cheap. The price of a ticket for one child alone starts from a double-digit figure. Little Day Out swum around the heartlands to scoop up Singapore’s best swimming pools for kids that have also been making waves with their very own lazy rivers, pool slides and jacuzzis.
Rates to enter these special feature pools under the care of Singapore Sports Council are kept affordable at $1.50 per adult and $0.80 per child/senior on weekdays, and $2.00 per adult and $1.00 per child/senior on weekends and public holidays. In other words, you can stay cool for more than a paddle in the pool with just $6 for a typical family of four on a weekend!
So slide down with us now to these best swimming pools in Singapore with wet, wild twists and immerse your family and kids for a splashing good time!
Public Swimming Pools with Special Water Features
Sengkang Swimming Complex
The second newest kid on the swimming complex block burst onto the Sengkang scene back in August 2008. As long as your children are at least 1.2 metres in height, they can have great fun zipping down the eight slides – multislide, free fall, speedslide and twistslides! Your younger kiddos won’t be left out either as there is a dedicated splash-and-slide area including a big bucket of water that pours down on them every few minutes. For yourself, find time to soak and enjoy the jets in the large jacuzzi pod.
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The many pools, including a sheltered 50-metre long pool, are part of the larger Sengkang Sports and Recreation Centre with a gym, dance studio, hockey field and more, and are well served by cafés and eateries including Pastamania! and McDonalds. The Centre is also right next to the Sengkang Riverside Park and Punggol Reservoir so it makes the long drive up north worthwhile for a full day out!
Facilities: 1 Fun Pool, 1 Jacuzzi, 8 Slides, 1 Competition Pool, 2 Teaching Pools
Where: 57 Anchorvale Road, Singapore 544964. Tel: +65 6315 3574.
Nearest MRT: Sengkang
Open: Tuesdays to Sundays, 8.00 am to 9.30 pm (closed on Mondays, except public holidays)
Choa Chu Kang Swimming Complex
The tall spiral water slide that sticks out up high to greet you pumps up your adrenaline level even before you enter the swimming complex. The myriad of colours on the play equipment with the neverending sprays of cascading waters is also a welcome sight to behold. But we’re sure that all in the family will waste no time in renting a float and enjoying the lazy river, wave pool, play pool and even the spas at this wonder of a swimming complex within the Choa Chu Kang neighbourhood.
Facilities: 1 Toddler’s Pool, 1 Wave Pool, 1 Interactive Pool, 1 Water slide, 1 River Rapid, 1 Whirlpool, 1 Jacuzzi, 1 Competition Pool
Where: 1 Choa Chu Kang Street 53, Singapore 689236. Tel: +65 6767 8606
Nearest MRT: Choa Chu Kang
Open: Tuesdays to Sundays, 8.00 am to 9.30 pm (closed on Mondays, except public holidays)
Jurong East Swimming Complex
This rare gem of a swimming pool is arguably our island’s largest public pool with the most comprehensive water park facilities. Taking centre stage are three intertwining spiral water slides, ranging from 22 to 155 metres in length and 5.5 metres to 17.7 metres in height, that have heard the squeals of many a child above 1.2 metres tall. On the left of it is a wave pool that comes alive with the sound of music around the 40th minute of every hour for 15 minutes and is accompanied by gentle sprays of water from the rock caverns. Take a slow ride down the winding lazy river to encounter waterfalls and relax in a bubble jet jacuzzi pool. Your little ones will love basking under the mushroom stream course and kiddy fun pool. After all that action, you can head over to KFC within the Sports Complex for a quick refuel.
Facilities: 1 Wave Pool, 1 Lazy River, 3 Water Slides, 1 Jacuzzi, 1 Kiddy Fun Station Pool, 1 Competition Pool
Where: 21 Jurong East St 31, Singapore 609517. Tel: +65 6896 3566 / 6563 5052.
Nearest MRT: Chinese Garden
Open: Tuesdays to Sundays, 8.00 am to 9.30 pm (closed on Mondays, except public holidays)
Jurong West Swimming Complex
Known also as the Aquatic Centre, this swimming complex in the wild, wild west of Singapore can be found before you even hit the Tuas checkpoint and is near the second last MRT stop on the East West line. Look out for the Jurong West Sports and Recreation Centre building and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover the generous pool area located above ground on the second level. There are two 50-metre pools, one of which is sheltered, a lazy river, a jacuzzi, as well as a kiddy pool with a fun play structure. The gentle giant of a three-storey water slide that swirls right past the water playground will draw out the adventurous side of you and the kids.
Facilities: 1 Lazy River, 1 Jacuzzi, 1 Kiddy Pool, 1 Slide, 1 Sheltered Competition Pool, 1 Teaching Pool
Where: 20 Jurong West Street 93, Singapore 648965. Tel: 6515 5332
Nearest MRT: Pioneer
Open: Wednesdays to Mondays, 8.00 am to 9.30 pm (closed on Tuesdays, except public holidays)
Pasir Ris Swimming Complex
Opened not too long ago in July 2011, this is Singapore’s spanking new public swimming complex located in the East. Its two super water slides, fun water playground and paddling pools are a hit with the crowds.
Photo: Singapore Sports Council
Facilities: 1 Wading Pool, 1 Toddlers Pool, 2 Slides, 1 Jacuzzi Pool, 1 Competition Pool, 1 Learner Pool
Where: 120 Pasir Ris Central, Singapore 519640. Tel: +65 6583 5523
Nearest MRT: Pasir Ris
Open: Thursdays to Tuesdays, 8.00 am to 9.30 pm (closed on Wednesdays, except public holidays)
Conventional Public Swimming Pools with an Added Fun Touch
We’ve found that there are more ways to beat the heat with these conventional pools that have also added a water playground feature.
Bukit Batok Swimming Complex
Although not one of the five special feature public pools, this pool deserves mention with its small but fun water playground feature within its wading pool area. Fellow parents have shared with us how their young ones had such great fun with just this small structure alone.
Note: This photo was taken while the pool was closed for regular maintenance.
Facilities: 1 Wading Pool, 1 Teaching Pool, 1 Competition Pool
Where: 2 Bukit Batok Street 22, Singapore 659581. Tel: +65 6561 0939
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok
Open: Thursdays to Tuesdays, 8.00 am to 9.30 pm; Wednesdays, 2.30pm to 9.30 pm
Tampines Swimming Complex
(Editor’s Note: Tampines Swimming Complex has closed in August 2017. Head over to the new swimming pools at Our Tampines Hub. Read more.)
Again, while this pool may not have all the fancy slides like its other newer sister pools, it does have an artic-like cave structure with two slides into the kids’ pool. Situated right next to the entrance, the kids will make a beeline for it and get drenched under the ever flowing mushroom jet stream. After the swim, don’t forget to take a short walk to Tampines Central Park just at the back and have some fun at the nostalgic watermelon and mangosteens-shaped heritage playgrounds.
Facilities: 1 Wading Pool, 1 Learner Pool, 1 Teaching Pool, 1 Competition Pool
Where: 505 Tampines Avenue 5, Singapore 529652. Tel: +65 6786 1151
Nearest MRT: Tampines
Open: Wednesdays to Mondays, 8.00 am to 9.30 pm; Tuesdays, 2.30pm to 9.30 pm
Senja-Cashew Community Club
Typically, a community club comes with badminton courts and other dry facilities. This club, under the People’s Association, just across from Bukit Panjang Plaza is the first fully integrated CC and sports complex. It boasts of a children’s pool with a water playground feature, an infinity pool with jacuzzi and a larger eight-lane pool. Have a drink at the small café just outside the pool area and enjoy the scenic water catchment area right next to the community club.
Facilities: 1 Infinity Pool with Jacuzzi, 1 Children’s playground with water features, 1 eight-lane Swimming Pool
Where: 101 Bukit Panjang Road, Singapore 679910. Tel: +65 6219 4561
Nearest LRT: Senja
Open: Thursdays to Tuesdays, 8.00 am to 9.30 pm; Wednesdays, 2.30 pm to 9.30 pm
Fees: Adults: $1.50 per entry on weekdays, $2 per entry on weekends and public holidays; Children, Students, Senior Citizens with Concession Cards: $0.80 per entry on weekdays, $1.00 per entry on weekends and public holidays; Passion Ez-link Card: $1.30 per entry on weekdays, $1.80 per entry on weekends; Free for pre-schoolers/children below 0.9 metres tall.
Singapore’s Best Swimming Pools for Kids
In a scoop, here’s where you can find Singapore’s best swimming pools for kids.
- North: Sengkang Swimming Complex
- East: Pasir Ris Swimming Complex, Tampines Swimming Complex
- West: Choa Chu Kang Swimming Complex, Jurong East Swimming Complex, Jurong West Swimming Complex, Bukit Batok Swimming Complex, Senja-Cashew Community Club
Note on Facility Closures
All of Singapore Sports Council’s pools are closed for maintenance and upkeep works weekly. Standard operating hours are stated above and you can click here to check on the closures before you head down to the respective pools.
Remember to bring your EZ Link cards along for easy access at these public swimming pools. Have a great Little Day Out!
