The best free water parks in Singapore

Check out Coastal PlayGrove, located at the site of the former Big Splash water theme park in East Coast Park. It features a water play area complete with two wading pools and a narrow stream lined with water jets to up the splash factor. If you happen to swing by in the evening, you'll be treated to colourful lights setting the water play area aglow. The water feature is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 8am to 8pm and is conveniently located near a public toilet for a post-fun clean-up. While you're there, check out the 16 metre tall tower and vertical challenge at Coastal PlayGrove. 

Sited within the lush greens of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Jacob Ballas Children's Garden is a wonderland for the tiny tots. The fun really starts at the entrance where the water play area catches your eye the minute you step into it. Safe for the little ones, water spouts at low levels, so there are none of those in-your-face surprises. However, the lack of shade does call for a proper lather of sunscreen and a hat. 

Lakeside Garden in Jurong is Singapore's latest national garden, and features many play areas for children (adults, feel free to join) – including water play areas. After all, the grounds are specially landscaped and designed for families and the community to come together to play, learn and bond. Clusia Cove is a water playground where children can experience water movements that mimic tidal patterns, surface ripples and directional currents similar to those at coastal shores.

Not exactly the place to cool off, Sembawang Hot Spring Park nevertheless delivers an onsen experience in a naturalistic, kampung setting. First discovered back in 1909, the hot spring now features cascading pools and streams, a water collection point, and educational panels where you can learn about the park's history and geology. When you're done soaking your feet, you can take a meander along the new floral walk to admire the fruit trees and edible plants and reminisce about the old kampung days. 

This outdoor playground has one mission: to get everybody drenched. There are water tunnels, stepping springs and various jets your pint-sized terrors – or your mischievous side – can use to hose everyone else down. Even toddlers can get in on the aquatic action, with a safe play zone you’ll feel comfortable letting them roam around in. The water play area is open to public but adults are only allowed to enter when accompanying a child aged 12 and under. 

Take a walk along the green space or simply leave your car at car park B (enter from Ang Mo Kio Ave 1) to get to the water park at Pond Gardens. The park is designed to include a series of water channels and drainage systems. Kids can control the flow of water by manoeuvring sluice gates – it's sure different from going nuts over the usual water fountains. The park is especially great for the (really) little ones, as the two main drains are big enough for them to splash around in without worrying about water getting up to their ears. Tired adults can also sit on the movable plastic structures and let the cool water flow over their feet.

There is plenty of room for kids (and the young at heart) to run around on the spongy, wave-print turf of nex's rooftop KidzPlay @ SkyGarden. Kids can climb a pirate ship playground, jump on a trampoline, and get absolutely drenched at mist machines and a massive centrepiece bucket that creates a torrential waterfall when it tips over. There's a changing room at the corner of the water park, but bathrooms are a drippy walk across the SkyGarden.  

Most people head to Lower Seletar Reservoir for the views and trails but the park that looks out to the water is one of the most underrated ones in Singapore. Facilities and amenities include a fishing jetty, a People’s Association PAssion Wave (PW) outlet that provides kayak rentals, and a water park. Run through the fountains and splash through the wading area with mini rivers and water mills.

With water gushing up from almost 30 sockets, you're guaranteed to get soaked when you run through this fountain. If your family doesn’t fancy a wet cool-down on a hot day, they can wait underneath the shaded seating area right beside the fountain and enjoy the great view of the Marina Bay skyline. Cap the day off with a picnic on the Green Roof, where your kids can dry themselves under the sun.