Wetlands By The Bay Opens 2028: Kayaks & Family Fun Await

Gardens by the Bay is undergoing a significant makeover. The adored green monster on the waterfront has been a mainstay of Singaporean life since it opened in 2012. However, no prior attempt has ever been made on the magnitude of what is about to happen. Huge news! On March 4, 2026, Alvin Tan, Minister of State for National Development, unveiled Wetlands by the Bay during the Committee of Supply meeting. a brand-new 5-hectare extension that intends to integrate more clever connections across Marina Bay, lively common areas, and immersive nature.

Here’s the thing about Kingfisher Wetlands right now. It’s lovely. Quiet, coastal, a little niche. Nature nerds love it. But it’s never really competed with the drama of the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, or the iconic Supertree Grove. That’s about to change. Construction starts in early 2027. The first new sections expected to open progressively from late 2028. So, BusyKidd summed up all the details for you below.

Here’s what to get excited about:

Expanded Kingfisher Wetlands. The precinct is tripling in size, stretching to around 5 hectares, roughly seven football fields of lush coastal landscape to explore. Over 600 mangrove and coastal plant species will be on show, three times the current collection. And the headline activity? Pedal-kayaking through the wetlands. Yes, really. It’s the kind of hands-on, get-out-there experience that turns a pleasant afternoon into a proper memory.

Boardwalk with cantilevered canopy. Imagine an elevated promenade with expansive views in all directions that floats above the ocean. Gorgeous. Additionally, it connects Gardens by the Bay MRT station directly to Bay South Garden’s key attractions, making the trip feel more like a part of the experience than a nuisance. This is a very valuable feature.

Glade Lawn. A generous 3,500 sqm open green that holds up to 1,000 people. Think outdoor movie nights, community events, lazy Sunday picnics, and the rare joy of doing absolutely nothing in a beautiful place. Singapore needed this.

New Pedestrian Bridge. A sinuous 175-metre bridge will finally connect Bay South Garden to the redeveloping Bay East Garden, due by 2028. No more detours around Marina Barrage. The two sides of the reservoir, stitched together at last.

Worth flagging too: Wetlands by the Bay will be home to a teamLab flagship museum for those sprawling, Instagram-inevitable digital art experiences, plus new dining options to keep you fuelled throughout the day.

These are Bay South Garden’s first significant expansions in more than ten years. The Supertrees are here to stay. The gardens, the conservatories, and everything else that made this destination famous across the world are also not. However, once Wetlands by the Bay opens, there will only be more to enjoy, more things to do, and many more reasons to return.

What You Are Here For

In and around the wetlands, more than 130 bird species have been identified. That amount is close to one-third of all birds in Singapore. For a site this small, that is an impressive figure. As the name implies, the major draw is kingfishers. The Common Kingfisher and White-collared Kingfisher make frequent visits. The diversity increases significantly when migrating birds pass through between September and March.

Aside from birds, plain tiger butterflies fly amongst the mangrove trees all day long, smooth-coated otters appear out of nowhere, and monitor lizards lounge on the banks as if they control the area. Every time they come, your kids will notice something. Part of the attraction is that what precisely varies depends on the time of year, the season, and a certain bit of luck.

You may listen to recorded bird sounds on your phone while strolling along the trail thanks to QR code boards. It seems like a small detail. In actuality, it alters children’s awareness of their surroundings.