Peak Residence at Novena is Near to Everything for Families, from Schools, Nature & Heritage to Food & Shopping!

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After being a parent for 17 years (and counting), I think it is safe to say that there is absolutely nothing that I will not do for my kids. And I believe I speak for most parents too when I say that... because how many times have we let our kids eat their fave foods while having the leftovers, or forgo me-time and even sleep so that we can chauffeur them from place to place, or even volunteer to sleep on the hotel room's floor when there aren't even beds to go around? 😅

Been there, done that.

Same thing applies when it comes to giving them the best, be it enrolling them in good schools, enrichment centres, exposing them to heritage and nature or simply just having everything in your neighbourhood for the sake of convenience.

Sounds too good to be true, right?

Not if your new home is at Peak Residence.

A freehold condominium development located at 333 Thomson Road, Peak Residence boasts exclusive living at its finest with 90 units in prime District 11.

Expected to complete in 2025, I say that Peak Residence's location is its strongest selling point since it is in the Thomson and Novena areas. In fact, it is a mere 10-minute drive to everything from nature and heritage, to great food and shopping, to even good schools and enrichment centres!

Don't believe? Just read on.

Escape to a world of Nature

Take your pick from two huge nature playgrounds in the form of MacRitchie Reservoir Nature Trail & Reservoir Park and Singapore Botanic Gardens, where both are less than a 10-minute drive away.

Anchored by Singapore’s largest reservoir, MacRitchie Reservoir Nature Trail & Reservoir Park is a popular destination for all nature lovers and great for bringing kids for their first hiking trail. There are a variety of nature trails to explore, ranging from easy to difficult, which will bring one right within the tropical rainforest of Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

Kids will have a field day trying to spot the many animals along the way, like the long-tailed macaque monkeys, squirrels and monitor lizards. If you are lucky, you may even encounter colugos (flying lemurs) or owls! Or if wish to level up, head to the Treetop Walks, a 250-metre aerial free standing suspension bridge spanning the two highest points within MacRitchie. Everyone in the family will enjoy the tranquillity of walking above lush green foliage.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is also extremely great for kids as well. Inscribed as the first UNESCO Heritage Site in Singapore,Singapore Botanic Gardens is a haven for kids looking for outdoor adventure play. 

Choose from Jacob Ballas Children's Garden which is the first garden in Asia dedicated to children, Learning Forest where kids can laze on an 8m-high Canopy Web and walk on elevated boardwalks, or the new Gallop Extension to climb on a giant cempedak and jump on huge saga seeds!

Explore Heritage sites at your doorstep

Did you know that Novena got its name from the Church of Saint Alphonsus, or Novena Church as it is more popularly known?

Established in 1935 by the Redemptorists, a Catholic order dedicated to serving the poor and the abandoned, Novena Church was famed for its Saturday novenas services which began in January 1949. A novena, which means “nine” in Latin, is a devotion carried out over nine days or weeks. Due to the popularity of this devotion, the surrounding area and nearby MRT station later acquired the name Novena.

Another heritage building of historical significance is Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, which is also a few minutes' walk away from Peak Residence. This was the former headquarters of the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance (also known as the Tong Meng Hui) in Southeast Asia and was gazetted as a National Monument in 1994.

Indulge in Gastronomical Delights

It is a good thing that there is no lack of nature parks and heritage trails near Peak Residence because you are going to need all that exercise once you discover all the good food that surrounds the development! 😁

Photos taken from respective eateries' websites

Even if we discount the numerous eateries located within the nearby shopping malls like Velocity @ Novena Square, Square 2 and United Square, there are plenty of food options in the Novena neighbourhood, from restaurants to cafes (ice cream treat for the kids at Udders Cafe, anyone?)... including great coffee, like The Clue-less Goat and Craftsmen Specialty Coffee.

Photos taken from respective eateries' websites

Spoilt for Shopping options, at your doorstep

(and that's before you even reach Orchard Road)

When it comes to shopping, there is definitely no lack of options near Peak Residence. For parents, the most kid-friendly mall has got to be United Square with its range of retail shops that are curated for families with kids. Parents will be able to all their kid-related shopping done at one location, whether it is clothes, nutrition, books, stationery or leisure.

For everything else including groceries and even banking needs, you can head to Velocity @ Novena Square and Square 2 which are a few minutes' walk away from Peak Residence.

And in the event that you are in a ferocious shopping mood, the entire Orchard Road shopping belt is simply a 10-minute drive away.

Education options galore

For families with school-going children, Peak Residence is within 1km of Anglo-Chinese School (Primary), St. Joseph's Institution Junior, and CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh). Other schools in the vicinity (1km - 2km) include Anglo-Chinese School (Junior), Singapore Chinese Girls' Primary School, Farrer Park Primary School, Hong Wen School, Pei Chun Public School, Kheng Cheng School and Marymount Convent School.

For parents looking to enrol their kids in enrichment classes, look no further than United Square, Goldhill Plaza and Square 2. Besides the usual academic enrichment options, there are also other forms of classes ranging from music and art to even Taekwondo. Here are some of them:

UNITED SQUARE

- Aspire Hub Education

- Aureus Academy

- HiArt

- Hua Language Centre

- I Can Read

- Kindermusik With Love Studios

- Lorna Whiston Schools

- Mandeville Conservatory of Music

- The Ballet & Music Company

- The Learning Lab

- The Physics Cafe

- Thomson Kids

GOLDHILL PLAZA

- I Can Read Learning Centre

- Myhometutor Campus@goldhill

- Tony Buzan Learning Centre Pte Ltd

- Concept Math Education Centre Pte Ltd

- Zhou's Chinese Culture Studio

- Taeseong Taekwondo Novena

SQUARE 2:

- Prelude Music Studio

- MatplusLit

In fact, I think if a child were to reside at Peak Residence as an infant, its central location will have got the child's education covered from pre-school, to primary school, to secondary school, to Junior College and eventually university at SMU! EVERYTHING will be within a 10-minute drive from Peak Residence. Just think of the convenience and the time saved spent on travelling! 😁

Accessibility at its best

By now, I think you should understand why I said that Peak Residence's location is its strongest selling point.

Click to enlarge

Even if you do not drive, Peak Residence is just 10 minutes away from Novena MRT station by foot while Orchard MRT station is two stops away. The interchanges City Hall, Raffles Place, and Dhoby Ghaut stations are less than 10 minutes away by train. and much of town is also easily accessible by a comprehensive bus network as well.

And if that isn't enough, Peak Residence's accessibility will be further enhanced when the North-South Corridor (NSC) fully opens by 2027. The 22km NSC will be Singapore’s longest Transit Priority Corridor, directly connecting the northern region and the city centre and is expected to cut travel times by up to 25%. On top of this, the corridor will also include cycling routes and pedestrian paths which will up the connectivity even more.

Even better, it was announced recently that Mount Pleasant MRT will be built beneath the Old Police Academy on Thomson Road while a 5,000-unit HDB estate will be built above. With a stronger demand for housing around the area, more amenities will also be in the works in the coming future.

Peak Residence designed for families in mind

Situated on an elevated terrain with unobstructed, 360-degree views of the surrounding scenery, all of Peak Residence's unit are in a north-south orientation. This means that more than half of the units have unobstructed, panoramic views overlooking a tranquil residential enclave. Higher-floor units also enjoy views towards MacRitchie Reservoir Park.

The development consists of one- to four-bedroom configurations with all the living rooms boasting a generous ceiling height of 3.2m. The one-bedroom units start from 528 sq ft, while the two-bedroom units are between 776 sq ft and 808 sq ft.

But for families with kids, the main draw will be the apartments that come with study units which are essentially an extra study area that can be flexibly used as a workspace, entertainment room or bedroom.

The two-bedroom plus study units start from 829 sq ft; three-bedroom plus study units are from 1,066 sq ft to 1,088 sq ft and four-bedroom plus study units are 1,389 sq ft in size.

I visited the showflat at Link@896 and was impressed with the attention to detail when it comes to the furnishings and fittings of the units.

All units are equipped with high-quality finishings and appliances for everyday comfort. For the kitchen area, the stove, oven, fridge, and other kitchen appliances are from luxury kitchen brand V-ZUG, a renowned brand that was recently awarded Best Kitchen Appliances by Tatler Singapore in 2021.

The bathrooms are fitted with sanitary ware from Duravit.

The sizes of the bedrooms are also pretty decent as Tuan Sing Holdings, the developer of Peak Residence, has made it a point for the bedrooms to be able to accommodate a queen-sized bed minimally.

There are also ample facilities for this boutique development of 90 units.

Highlights include a 33m lap pool, jacuzzi, kid's playground, clubhouse and gym, which are located on the Sky Terrace, on the highest floor of the development.

Riding on its strategic location, exceptional accessibility and wide range of facilities, Peak Residence has all the attributes of a home that families with kids are looking for, and more.

Take the first step in securing the dream home for your family HERE.

Peak Residence’s sales gallery is located at Link@896 Mall (#02-01A).

Viewing is by appointment only.

For more information, contact 8338 8280.

The NEW Sentosa Heritage Trail has 3 Routes to Choose From (One includes the Abandoned Fort Serapong!)

 

Sentosa has come a long way since the days of being known as Pulau Blakang Mati (or “Death from the Back Island" in Malay). Instead of today's leisure destination filled with family-friendly attractions, Sentosa was once an ordinary fishing village and a military base. And it is apt that on her 50th birthday this year, that the NEW Sentosa Heritage Trail is launched.

Featuring 30 heritage sites – including the recently gazetted National Monument Fort Siloso – and supplemented by 10 heritage trail markers, the Sentosa Heritage Trail, traces the transformation of the island from a military complex to a leisure destination, uncovers stories of the communities who once lived there, and sheds light on the story of modern Sentosa’s reinvention.

Developed by the National Heritage Board (NHB) in partnership with Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), the Heritage Trail comprises of three thematic, bite-sized routes according to one's interests. Visitors can pick either one, two or all three and go on them in their own time.

So it doesn't matter if you’re an active hiker or not. Simply select the route that you like the most and go explore with the family!

1. FORTS Trail

(4km, 2 hours on foot )

If you want to delve into the war history of Sentosa, then this is the trail to choose!

This route explores the extensive fortifications on Sentosa, including Fort Siloso, Imbiah Battery and Fort Serapong, and how they featured in the defence of colonial Singapore.

Pulau Blakang Mati had been identified as a potential defence outpost since at least the 17th century. However, it was only in the late 1800s that the island was militarised, with artillery batteries, forts, barracks and other infrastructure constructed by the British after they took over Pulau Blakang Mati. 

The trail will take you through the following checkpoints:

● Siloso Point Station (Recommended starting point)

● Fort Siloso Skywalk

Head to Fort Siloso Skywalk and ascend the tower for sweeping views of Keppel Harbour and the straits around Singapore.

● Fort Siloso

Enter Fort Siloso via the Skywalk to explore the only preserved coastal fort in Singapore. Fort Siloso was constructed from 1878 and its artillery emplacements protected the western entrance to Keppel Harbour and the surrounding straits.

● The Fortification of Pulau Blakang Mati

Leave the fort through the Guardroom exit, which was the fort’s original entry point. Here, you will find a trail marker detailing the fortification of Pulau Blakang Mati. In the 1800s, the British constructed Fort Siloso, Imbiah Battery, Fort Serapong, Fort Connaught, as well as a battery at Berhala Reping and other military infrastructure.

● Siloso Pier

Continue down Siloso Road to reach Siloso Pier, a lesser-known gem on the island. Here, you’ll find a trail marker exploring the history of this pier and others on Sentosa. Siloso Pier was constructed from 1878 to service the nearby fort, and is located near the western end of the island known as Sarang Rimau (“tiger’s den” in Malay). Before roads were laid on the island, the pier was essential for the construction of Fort Siloso.

In fact, one can still see the remnants of the pier at low tide!

● Imbiah Battery

Access the Mount Imbiah Nature Trail via Siloso Road, and take an uphill stroll towards the former Imbiah Battery, which is next to Mega Adventure Park.

In the early 20th century, Imbiah Battery housed an infantry fortification and a battery with a 9.2-inch breech loading gun. The battery became non-operational in the 1930s, after gun upgrades at Fort Connaught rendered it obsolete. Today, a Battery Command Post, Position Finding Cells and gun emplacements remain, and you can learn more about Imbiah Battery through the information boards here.

● Fort Serapong (Optional)

Now this is the most interesting of the lot even though it is located on the other extreme side of the island from Fort Siloso.

Situated a short walk from Sentosa Cove, Fort Serapong lies on the summit of Mount Serapong which is the highest point on the island. The hill afforded a vantage point for artillery batteries. In fact, check out the awesome view once you climb to the top of the hill!

And contrary to belief that the area is off-limits, you can actually visit Fort Serapong! All you have to do is to stay on the road always and do not stray off into the forest.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are TWO parts to Fort Serapong - one part is along the road where everyone can access.

You will be able to view some of the abandoned buildings at certain points along the road like the Spur Battery ruins below.

BUT PLEASE DO NOT STRAY OFF THE ROAD AND ENTER THE BUILDINGS AS THEY MAY SUDDENLY COLLAPSE DUE TO OLD AGE. 

You can learn more about the guns and history of Fort Serapong through information boards along the way.

Further up, you will come across a former bathhouse which was built in 1936 (spot the sign in the photo?).

Right beside it, is a row of well-preserved buildings which were once soldiers' barracks. Now, they serve as storerooms for SDC.

As you walk up the inclined road, you will finally reach the end of the tarmac road. 

This is the other part of fort Serapong which lies INSIDE the forest, where other buildings and casemates can be found. The forested area is OUT OF BOUNDS to the public and can only be accessed in the presence of a verified guide under Sentosa. You can sign up for a Fort Serapong Trail tour HERE.

If you are thinking of visiting Fort Serapong, the best way to access it is from Sentosa Cove Village. It is about a 5-min walk from there to the base of Fort Serapong.

2. KAMPONGS AND BARRACKS Trail

(3km, 2 hours on foot and with public transport)

From the Orang Laut and kampong settlers to British Army personnel, a diverse range of people and communities have called Pulau Blakang Mati home. This route explores the lives and livelihoods of the people of Blakang Mati, as well as their living spaces that included kampongs, barracks, and luxurious bungalows.

The trail will take you through the following checkpoints:

● Sentosa Gateway boardwalk – People of the Straits trail marker (Recommended starting

point)

● Former recreation ground and barracks

Photo Credit: National Heritage Board

Cross Beach View Road to Oasia Resort Sentosa, which contains a former recreation ground and barracks. Between 1878 and 1967, Blakang Mati served as a defence outpost of the British Empire, and housed military personnel including British, Indian and Australian soldiers in barracks and quarters located around the island. Here you will find a trail marker describing how these soldiers lived and worked on Blakang Mati.

● Barracks at the former parade ground

Take the stairs to the left of the hotel building and follow the sheltered walkway to explore barracks at the former parade ground behind Oasia Resort. This area, now part of the Barracks Lawn, was used for training, parades and military ceremonies. 

The barracks around it have been conserved and redeveloped into hotels and restaurants, including The Barracks Hotel and Mess Hall.

Compare how it looked back then and how it looks now!

Look out for boot scrapers used by soldiers that remain in front of the barracks (Mess Hall), which were used to scap off mud from the boots before the soldiers entered the buildings.

● Former Royal Engineers’ Yard

Exit the Barracks Lawn via Gunner Lane and make a right turn at Artillery Avenue. Along this road, you will find a building that formerly served as the Royal Engineers’ Yard, with information boards detailing its history.

● Former Officers’ Mess and Quarters

Photo Credit: National Heritage Board

Continue along Artillery Avenue until you reach the trail marker for the former Officers’ Mess and quarters, which is now part of Capella Hotel. The hotel development includes colonial bungalows that previously housed officers, including two buildings that now form the hotel’s grand façade, as well as two manor-like bungalows that were reserved for senior officers.

● Former military hospital

Photo Credit: National Heritage Board

To reach the final stop on this route, head back to Artillery Avenue and take buses A or C to Imbiah Lookout. Head past Sentosa Cable Car Station to arrive at the former military hospital, which now houses Madame Tussauds Singapore. This building was completed in the 1890s and served as the military hospital for British troops. During the Japanese Occupation (1942-1945), the hospital was used as barracks by Japanese troops.

3. MEMORIES OF SENTOSA Trail

(2.5km, 1 hour on foot)

Since the 1970s and following its reinvention as a leisure destination, Sentosa has continually refreshed its attractions to adjust to shifting visitor preferences over the decades. A number of former attractions including the Musical Fountain and the monorail helped define Sentosa in the 1980s and 1990s, and still feature significantly in the social memories of Singaporeans. This trail revisits some of these locations and the memories associated with them.

 

The trail will take you through the following checkpoints:

● Siloso Point Station (Recommended starting point)

● Siloso Beach

From the station, head down the stairs to Siloso Beach, one of three beaches with swimming lagoons created by Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) during the 1970s and 1980s.

● Former Sentosa Monorail

Head towards Siloso Beach Walk, and you will come across the entrance to Mount Imbiah Nature Trail on your left. Here you will find a section of the former Sentosa Monorail tracks, as well as a trail marker detailing its history.

The monorail service operated from 1982 to 2005 and served both as an attraction and as transport on the island. A 30-minute ride around the island afforded scenic views of the island’s varied environments and locations, spanning forests, beaches and the sea as well as man-made attractions.

Head into the nature trail and follow the monorail tracks overhead. Cross Imbiah Walk and then make a right turn when you reach the T-junction further ahead. Exit the nature trail at Imbiah Lookout and cross Imbiah Road, before taking the sheltered walkway towards Sentosa Cable Car Station.

● Singapore Cable Car

Installed in 1974, the Singapore Cable Car is a gondola lift system connecting mainland Singapore and Sentosa, and quickly became popular for offering panoramic views of the island and surrounding waterways.

● Former military hospital

From Sentosa Station, take a short stroll towards Madame Tussauds Singapore. This conserved building was a former military hospital for British troops.

● The Musical Fountain, the Ferry Terminal and the Fountain Gardens

To get to the final stop, follow the signs to Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), which is also in the direction of Imbiah Station. Head down the escalators and you’ll find a trail marker for three well-loved attractions that formerly stood in this area from the 1980s: the Musical Fountain, the Ferry Terminal and the Fountain Gardens.

The Musical Fountain drew crowds for its music and laser light shows, and was also a popular concert venue. Completed in 1987, the Ferry Terminal allowed for vessels carrying a larger number of visitors on each trip, while the Fountain Gardens was a scenic thoroughfare designed in the style of 18th century European gardens.

ALL READY TO GO ON THE TRAILS?

DOWNLOAD a copy of the Sentosa Heritage Trail map onto your phone first! 

For more information, visit HERE.