Kawasan Falls canyoneering with family

Kawasan Falls canyoneering with family was the best activity from our Cebu trip. Read our 2019 Dec Cebu Family itinerary here.

No matter which angle you look, Jumping is SCARY!

10 years old girl leaping 10m!
10 years old girl leaping 10 metres!

Water hiking (canyoneering) involves a lot of jumping and the risks are definitely higher.  We are not saying this activity is suitable for everyone.

But if you and your family is game, this is our guide to visiting Kawasan Falls. Even non-swimmers can join in the canyoneering fun!

If the kids can JUMP, it would be embarrassing if I could not follow haha. You jump, I jump!

Just count 1,2,3 JUMP. Otherwise your legs will freeze :p

Photos cannot capture our fun morning. Do checkout our Kawasan Falls Canyoneering with family video ! (4K YouTube link)

First, everyone has to report to Kawasan Canyoneering office.
Payment, briefing, and gather our safety gears and one small waterproof bag.

The life jacket has a pouch for a water bottle and your spectacles. Besides your phone (waterproof) and GoPro, everything else will be kept in locker. Do keep your towel and spare clothes in the locker too.

You do not need anything else. And you are not allowed to bring your own 5l or 10l waterproof bags.

Transport will bring you to the assembly point.
You can decide to take the zipline, or trek 45min to the trailhead.

Take the Zipline, because Fun is guaranteed!

This is not your usual zipline, you will literally experience a Flying sensation YEAH!

This hut is the “trailhead”. From here, everyone will walk 20 minutes downslope to the water.

It took us 40min as the Mrs struggled with the slope and steep steps.

You will hear water splashes and screams (thrills!) before you even spot the water.

WOW the water is really emerald blue!

Expect human jams during weekends.

Warmup jump, 4m.

This is the easiest cliff jump, subsequent leaps will be higher!
Feels like reliving our childhood dreams.

Surreal surroundings as we walk through the waterway and valleys. The cliffs and walls are spectacular. Love the sun rays filtering in through the tree foliage.

The Blue water is refreshingly cold!

8m looks tall

..but you will land within 2 seconds! It is still intimidating standing at the edge 😛

We had tons of nice family photos at Kawasan Falls too.

   

We had fun role-playing Sparta kicks too!
Our guides are good, professional and yet super caring.

They really take care of everyone, and they like to sing too 🙂

This scenic dam is famous for posing at Kawasan Falls. Funny, why others POSED so nice but me #notSexy

Unglam photo can only blame model, not props, camera or photographer :p

More family photos.

Amazing, there is a BBQ in the middle of Kawasan Falls too! Guides can pay in advance for you.

Seen this photo before? Why always the same person eating huh?

8m jump after hot dogs!

From the top, the river below seems a bit narrow. I always hesitated before leaping, but kids just JUMP! Quite the dare devils.

Jumping is optional, but NO Need to tell the kids or spouse :p

The water and surroundings are so unreal. Greens, blues and sunlight shining through.

Super Instagramable. Simply magical!

Helmets and life jackets all the way. Canyoneering is not a walk in the park, slips and falls can happen, safety first.

10m platform is the halfway point

We have to run and take off. Just keep your legs close, otherwise good luck to your groin.

Once you leapt off and see the Drop below, you will get a “WTH” moment ! Too late for regrets haha

10m platform at Kawasan Falls
10m platform at Kawasan Falls

Boon Yee (12 years old) leading the jumps. He can go to Commando course next time and enjoy all the free adrenaline.

Our family’s adventure appetite has Level Up, and I am so proud that we can enjoy adventures together as a family.

Kids jumping at Kawasan Falls
Kids jumping at Kawasan Falls

Preparation tips for your reference

If time permits, do some staircase training. Kawasan Falls canyoneering is doable for anyone with reasonable fitness. Your calf and thigh will get a lot of workouts.

Your shoes will be wet all the way. We had some experience canyoneering in Johor (Pelepah waterfall), and the kids adjusted well.

The final leapt, 15m

Others mention it is 12m. Nevermind, it feels like 20m from the top! Only No1 and No3 completed this jump, Daddy chicken out.

Crazy crowd, all waiting to do the last jump!
So proud of the kids, my bum was still sore from the 10m landing.

Walking back towards the “main” entrance. If you are only at Kawasan Falls for photos, do take note there is a small entrance fee of 40 pesos.

* Take note there are two entrances to the Blue waterfalls

Our package is inclusive of transfer to and fro from Kawasan Falls (from Moalboal), and a lunch.

The chicken thigh is not bad, maybe we were hungry too 🙂

From Social Media, you should know there are two ways to appreciate Kawasan Falls, Canyoneering or just waterfall photo.

We would strongly recommend trekking 3 to 4hours and do Kawasan Falls canyoneering! You will be rewarded with 7 cliff jumps!

Kawasan Falls canyoneering with family
Kawasan Falls canyoneering with family

During our research, we could easily find 50 tour agencies offering Kawasan Falls canyoneering package. But it is rare to find vendors who cater for family and kids.

Kawasan Canyoneering contact:

Website: https://www.kawasancanyoneering.com.ph
Facebook and Instagram

Zipline – 500 pesos per pax
Canyoneering – 1500 pesos per pax

Additional tips for Kawasan Falls Canyoneering:

Go for the Badian Zipline (Superman!)  The kids and spouse will thank you for it

– Jumping is optional, there are alternate paths to walk down. Do confirm with your agency beforehand.

-Safety is a top concern for us. Accidents had happened before, follow guides’ instructions and do not anyhow jump

-The trek will take 2 to 3 hours, expect longer weekend queues

– Book your Kawasan Falls slots earlier, this adventure is very popular!

-Some might bundle Kawasan Canyoneeering (Afternoon 3 hours) with Oslob whale sharks  (Morning 30 minutes) together.  This might be adrenaline overkill, we recommend covering the activities over two days

– Location is just 25km South of Moalboal. Those who visit from Cebu city would need to leave around 3 or 4am to avoid queues

 

More photos are uploaded in our Fanpage albums :
Moalboal Panagsama stay
Whale shark at Oslob
Kawasan Falls
Half Day Cebu City Tour (and nice food Sugbo Mercado)
Danasan Eco Adventure Park
-Free & Easy SM Seaside

Cebu Blog posts:
* Cebu Family Itinerary
Day 2 Oslob with Whale Sharks
Day 3 Kawasan Falls canyoneering with family
Day 4 Free & Easy
Day 5 1/2 day Cebu city tour
Day 6 Danasan Eco Adventure Park (more adventures!)
Day 7 Free and Easy
Day 8 Fly home

 

Do pop by our Instagram Hashtag #SengkangbabiesCebu  and Story for our summary. The links to more photos and other blogs are at the end of page.

Moalmoal attractions

Disclaimer: We have received some discounts from “Kawasan Canyoneering”

All our Hiking trips are listed here https://sengkangbabies.com/tag/hiking

Sembawang Hot Spring experience is Happening

Sembawang Hot Spring experience  (三巴旺温泉公园) was all over the news and social media.

After all, Singapore only has two outdoor hot springs, Sembawang and Tekong Island (and Tekong is off-limits).

Screenshot below from Kelvin. Depicting the LEPAK calm scene before 500 visitors soaked their feet!

三巴旺温泉公园
三巴旺温泉公园

We had blog about our 2015 Sembawang Hot Spring experience from 2015, quite a  novelty (link).  And we are glad the new park is now more family-oriented, offering better experience, yet still Rustic!

What remains the same?

Many folks have remarked that Sembawang Hot Spring Park has retained its unique rustic feel. The locals also got a “Sayang Sembawang” term wow.

From the Gambas Avenue entrance, visitors follow a meandering path to the red brick house.

The air base and canal is still there. The banyan tree and long airborne roots) are still growing.

History of Sembawang Hot Spring.

The iconic red house (and the well) has been preserved.

You will still find “regulars” cycling over to soak their feet, and maybe body too! (There used to be personalised “bathtubs”)

You will notice a multi-tier pond 🙂

Sembawang Hot Spring experience
Sembawang Hot Spring experience

What has changed?

Toilet and cafe, thanks NParks!

Not too long ago, guys could hide & seek behind the trees to urinate, but it was quite unglam. Now, we have fully functioning lavatory, and I am not referring to the portable loos.

Please keep the Spa and Massage services off this area 🙂

Heard this cafe serves local delights and you can buy your eggs here.

Landscaping has undergone serious upgrade too.

Fruit trees and flowers greet visitors along the pathway.
(Those seeking durians need to go deeper into Mandai)

I can already imagine Minister Khaw and team organising “Fruits and Soak” party in the near future.

Nice flowers and I am expecting more colour blooms! Bring back the bees, butterflies and birds.

We noticed the mosquito population has dropped significantly too!

Hot Spring Water is still the highlight

Soak your feet, cook your egg (bring your own pepper and black sauce too).

Thumbs up, the hot spring pond is wheelchair-users inclusive.

The centerpiece would be the cascading pool. It looks classy compared to the taps last time haha.

From the image below, water at the top is 70 degrees and cool to a comfortable 40 degrees at the base (it feels more like 35 degrees).

Image credit Kelvin
Image credit Kelvin

Just take note that everyone in Sembawang and Yishun will be visiting for the first few weekends!

Humble beginnings, with only a few taps (2015 blog post)

Video of Hot Spring compound 2015

The well inside the Red brick house.

Before we proceed further, do take note the free-to-use tubs come in two sizes. Big one for feet, small one for eggs.

It would be weird if you start boiling your eggs in the big tubs, the elderly folks might stare at you (and the egg might taste different due to all the soles !)

Please take care of the park and return the tubs! Do not bring the tubs home ok.

Seasoned Hot spring users will collect the 70 degrees water at the back. (Kids should not play with the hot water here.)

   

After collecting the water, you can sit under the shade and enjoy some Shiok moments.

There are many sign boards around Sembawang Hot Spring Park. We can learn about Geothermal facts or Sembawang Hot Spring’s history.

..or perhaps identify nearby flora and fauna.

Since we did not bring our kiddos along, Kelvin had a go himself.
Verdict: The water here is safe for kids.

With new landscaping too, some natural streams to make the park a bit more like Japan 🙂

Sembawang Hot Spring experience is free for everyone 🙂
By the time we left, there must be at least 200 folks in the park!

三巴旺泡汤  
三巴旺泡汤

SOAK away !

More park features can be found on Nparks Facebook.
Do pop by other Hot Spring, Onsen (and Sento) experiences on our blog.

-2015 Old Sembawang Hot Spring blog
-Cheekiemonkies Review
Ipoh Lost World of Tambun
-Hualien Antong Hot Spring and Onsen after cycling
-Tokyo Sento 泡汤 (more authentic than Onsen)
Yunomori Onsen in Singapore

Additional Tips
-Nearest carpark is Block 114. Walk 10min over
-Sembawang Hot Spring Park is open 7am to 7pm (but I did not spot any gate, yet)
-Bring a towel
-Bring a cap or umbrella (for shade)
-This spot is not an onsen 泡汤, no need to strip naked
-The sulphur smell is less pungent compared to last time
-You can only dip your feet. If you want to splash whole body, use the bucket and laddle

-Many claim hot spring (and its mineral) has much health benefits. Those with underlying medical conditions should consult doctors beforehand

-Remind kids to stay away from the hot water. And maybe not aim their water guns at other users :p