The best free water parks in Singapore

Check out the spankin' new Coastal PlayGrove 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. 

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 only one adult is allowed in per child on peak periods. On top of this, other safety distancing measures are in place too. 

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.

The OG of free water play areas, the Bugis Junction's street level water play area has been a rite of passage for most little ones in Singapore. While there's no fancy slides or cute animal statues to interact with, the fun lies in playing around attempting to avoid the impromptu water jets. Added bonus: There's a McDonald's right next to the fountain and we all know how much joy that $0.80 vanilla cone can bring. 

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 Water Venture 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.

You may need a map to navigate your way around VivoCity, but one thing’s for sure: this sprawling mall has everything under one roof. Or on its roof itself. Kids can splash around and cool down at the sprawling rooftop pools overlooking Sentosa while parents can take a breather after a shopping spree. You can also rent paddle boats (from $8) for the younger kids to tackle the knee-deep waters. 

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. 

Make sure to slap on some sunblock and enjoy a splashing good time at this water park, which overlooks the city skyline. The play area is equipped with water jets, colourful slides and a 60-centimetre-deep pool. Although friendly and helpful lifeguards are on duty, parental supervision is required at all times. Amenities include shower facilities and lockers. 

It's called Westgate Wonderland for good reason. This massive playground bears a ‘fantasy garden’ theme and is split into dry and wet sections. Kids (2-12 years old) can roll around in the small water section and be showered by an enormous watering can that sprays water every once in a while. Parents will be happy to note that there's a free blower room for children to dry off. Avoid the last Monday of every month, when the area is closed for maintenance. 

It may be a small water play area up in the mall's Garden Plaza section, but the eclectic spread of installations leaves kids with a lot of options. Engage in a friendly battle with rotating water guns, or patiently wait under little buckets to get drenched. There's only one dry bench for waiting parents, but with the changing rooms just nearby, they won't have to take the little ones far.
 

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. 

Located near the Koufu food court, this water park is dominated by its interactive water elements and the three treehouse trail, comprising of a small park built in a “tree-house” at Level 2. There's a quieter courtyard area with a koi pond on Level 1 and Basement 1 for parents with babies looking for a little respite from the crowds. 

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 draining 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 having to worry 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.

Not too far away from Punggol MRT station, this water play area is situated in the park's recreation zone. While this water playground doesn’t boast the largest array of powerful water jets, its gushing fountains and water cannons are more than enough to satisfy. Make sure to run through the orange-ringed structure (pictured) and be prepared to get soaked. There are also toilets nearby and plenty of benches under shaded areas for parents to chill or if you fancy a spot of bird watching. It can get a bit crowded at times though, so be warned.

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. There's a variety of ways to get wet – from mist machines to 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. 

If the kids can't decide whether they want to go to a water park or a dry jungle gym, head to Splash Park at Sembawang Shopping Centre. Features of the water park include mist machines, water guns, a swirling windmill and slides that lead from the wet area to the (somewhat) dry section. There are also free lockers and a kids shower area. 

This animal-themed water park on the rooftop of this heartland mall will surely make the kids go wild with its sea lion and polar bear slides and hippopotamus fountains. In case it gets too hot, cool down and move to the shaded areas. Shower facilities are also available.

With both dry and wet playgrounds, there's lots of space for kids to run around. The water park is animal-themed, with the pipes around it modelled after giraffes, frogs and elephants. Shower facilities are available.

Located right next to Punggol MRT/LRT station, Waterway Point's Happy Park is dotted with massive lilies and leaf sculptures. Plus, there's a good ratio of wet/dry areas so you don't have to remain constantly soaked the whole day.