Best group outdoor activities in Singapore

The next time the line at the Luge gets too long, pop over to Combat Skirmish LIVE for a quick 15- or 30-minute game of laser tag. There’s no need to book in advance – just rock up to the ticketing counter and choose from six activities that include an indoor maze, laser clay shooting and a ‘tunnel battle’ all played out in Fort Siloso, the only preserved coastal fort in Singapore left behind from WWII.

You don’t need a big group, either. In the tunnel battle, a team of maximum six players wage war against mechanical soldiers while bigger groups, of up to 12, can form two squads to navigate the indoor maze, shoot down opponents and accomplish team objectives. And don’t worry about painful ‘bullets’. The ‘firearms’ involve no physical projectiles and are powered by harmless infrared light, similar to that of remote controls.

Quote 'Time Out 2016' for 10 percent off any activity 'til the end of this year. 

Yes, it’s out of the way. But its ulu location in Turf City means that the paintball arena has acres of open space to run around firing and dodging pain balls paintballs while engaging in not-so-friendly fire. Besides shooting pellets at your comrades, you can also battle it out with foam dart blasters in specially designed game scenarios such as Freeze Tag and Capture the Flag, or unleash fancy footwork over a round of bubble soccer. With over 15 years of experience in the paintball game, you can be sure these guys know their stuff.

This recreational centre is the size of seven football fields and, man, did they put the space to good use. ORTO is an enclave of facilities and activities, including a 24/7 prawning facility, trampoline park, paintball, futsal and Singapore’s largest freshwater fishing pond. Of the six eateries on-site, two of them open until 3am, so refuelling is never an issue. The wheelchair- and stroller-friendly park maintains a laid-back kampong vibe, even using recycled wood for its design elements. ORTO also has three event venues, one of which is air-conditioned and can fit up to 200 people.

Kartright isn’t just for karting amateurs, although you can walk-in without prior booking or experience to satisfy your need for speed. At 750 metres long and 7 metres wide, this competition-length go-karting facility is also an arena for competitive karting races, where the little buggies zoom up to 130 kilometres per hour. The adjacent two-storey building comprises a pit lane, viewing gallery, teaching rooms and food establishments.

Football, otherwise known as our unofficial national sport, is played in many open fields and – dare we say it ­– void decks. But if you don’t have 11 players to form a team, futsal’s the next best thing. Uber Sports offers sheltered artificial turf pitches, enclosed within safety nettings, for five- and seven-a-side games to be played. The pitches are even equipped with sound systems so you can show off your mad skills to upbeat music and pretend you’re in a YouTube video. Knowing our penchant for midnight haunts, Uber Sports operates ’til 2am, so it’s never too late for a quick match. It also runs a 24-hour futsal facility in ORTO.