Sembawang Shuttle Bus & Sembawang Park Jetty
- S. N. Linn
- Apr 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 10
🎥 You can watch a short video about this trip on YouTube and other social platforms.
How it all started
Alex came to me and said, “Mummy, let’s go to Sembawang.”
His father and I were mildly surprised that he even knew Sembawang. We live on the east side of Singapore, and like most families, we frequent attractions closer to home.
Sembawang is quite a distance away from us. It had never occurred to us to visit that area, and we had never mentioned it to Alex.
But there he was, asking to go.
“Why do you want to go there?” his father asked.
“Because I want to go to Sembawang Shopping Centre,” he replied.
I asked, “Why do you want to go there?” I knew he had never cared about shopping centres.
“I want to take the shuttle bus.”
Ah ha! Finally, we knew what he was really after.
To Sembawang
So, I planned a weekend exploration trip to Sembawang. Just Alex and I would go, which meant my husband could have a bit more time to study for his certification exam.
On the day itself, it took us one and a half hours on public transport just to get to Sembawang MRT station.
This little trip was an important reminder for me—an over-planner—that even the best plans can go haywire, and sometimes it’s better to just go with the flow.
Arriving at Sembawang MRT Station
I had initially planned to arrive at 10 a.m. and catch the shuttle bus 15 minutes later to Sembawang Shopping Centre. From there, we would take a bus to Sembawang Park so we could enjoy the outdoors before it got too hot (the afternoon heat in Singapore is no joke).
But we arrived later than expected. Both of us needed the bathroom, and it took a while to figure out where the shuttle pickup point was. Long story short, we missed the 10:15 a.m. shuttle.
And with Alex being Alex, he refused to go anywhere until he had taken the shuttle. The next one wasn’t for another 30 minutes.
I was already feeling tired after the long train ride. 😮💨 When you’re middle-aged, even sitting for long periods on trains and buses can wear you out—ha…ha…ha (a dry laugh).
So, I decided I might—might—skip the park and just explore the shopping centre instead. That became my new plan.
The Shuttle Bus
And then the shuttle came. Alex was slightly disappointed that it looked different from the one he had seen online—a cheerful, green, children-themed bus. But that feeling didn’t last long when he realised it was a Woodlands Transport shuttle—the kind he had been spotting lately.
He would usually stand and watch these buses until they disappeared from sight. Now, he was thrilled to be riding one. He savored every moment of the journey.
When we arrived at Sembawang Shopping Centre, he insisted on watching the bus leave—as usual—and said, “Mummy, film the bus leaving.”
Then he noticed there were two Woodlands Transport shuttles.“Mummy, film these buses.”
So I did.
Sembawang Shopping Centre
By the time we headed into Sembawang Shopping Centre, it was past 11 a.m.—an awkward time. Too early for lunch, but too late to head outdoors on empty stomachs that would soon be hungry.
So I decided to look for something to eat while exploring the mall. We walked around, checking out eateries and pausing here and there for Alex to enjoy the kiddy rides.
Lunch
I grabbed a quick bite at Killiney. Before ordering, I found a table and asked Alex to wait there.
As I was queuing, I noticed he had followed me. I told him to go back and wait at the table.
A few minutes later, there he was again behind me—mumbling.
Usually, when he does that, it means he needs something but is struggling to express it. Moments like this require patience and observation.
I asked, “What do you want, Alex?”
Only then did he say, “I want to play with buses.”
He was asking for the toy buses I had brought along.
I handed them to him. “Alex, you cannot drop your toys or crash them, okay? No loud noises.”
He nodded and returned to the table.
We had a quick lunch—chicken curry for Alex and sesame chicken for me.
By then, it was about 11:45 a.m., and I was starting to have serious reservations about heading to Sembawang Park. It was so hot.
“Alex, shall we go home after this?”
“No, go to Sembawang Park.”
And just like that, a new plan was formed—to head to the park at the hottest time of the day.
We grabbed some ice cream first.
Taking the Shuttle Again
I could have taken a direct bus to Sembawang Park from the shopping centre, but Alex wanted to ride the shuttle again.
Well, the whole point of this trip was to create happy memories for him, and I was determined to be patient.
So we waited about 15 minutes for the shuttle and headed back to Sembawang MRT Station.
Sembawang Park Jetty
From the station, we took a bus to Sembawang Park Jetty. The ride wasn’t long, and we were dropped off near a car park. From there, we could already see the sea.
We walked from the car park to the jetty. The view was beautiful—the sea with its rippling waves, trees swaying gently in the breeze, and a mesmerising blue sky dotted with clouds.
But it was really hot. Right then and there, I made a mental note to buy sun hats for both Alex and myself for future trips. I dislike using umbrellas—especially now that one hand is often occupied with my camera.
Despite the heat, there were many people at the park—picnicking, swimming, and fishing.
At the jetty, the view was at its best. I could truly feel the vastness of the sky above me. But Alex was more interested in the waves. He chuckled at the sounds they made as they splashed against the jetty and watched them ripple again and again.
We were both content, taking in what we loved—him being him, and me being me.
I’ll definitely come back here again—with my husband next time, perhaps after 5 p.m. when the sun is kinder.
🌼 Sometimes, the best trips aren’t the ones that go according to plan, but the ones where you simply follow along and see where the day takes you.
Thanks for reading!
🎥 Watch this trip on YouTube and other social platforms.
