Today's blog post is from a family outing that we went on MONTHS ago. It was my intention to post it soon after but that clearly didn't happen 😬 From a personal perspective, I'd say the theme of 2022 seems to be - so much to do and so little time!
Despite not traveling a whole lot in the past few years, we visit Changi airport very often 😄 It is actually one of our favourite hang out spots because all our shopping needs are met under one roof and it houses several of our go-to restaurants (Shake Shack, A&W, Tonito and Sankranti). Not to mention, the kids love visiting the Jewel Rain Vortex and Canopy Park.
Living in the West, it is a relatively long drive for us but we don't mind it because we invariably have a good time.
Jurassic Mile is Singapore’s new(ish) and largest permanent outdoor display of life-sized dinosaurs located along a section of the recently opened Changi Airport Connector, a 3.5km cycling and jogging path that links Changi Airport to East Coast Park and the Park Connector Network.
Now, let me tell you that our children aren't what you would term 'dinophiles'. They have watched Jurassic Park a few times, have flipped through a couple of children's books on dinosaurs and can identify the easily recognizable (popular) dinosaurs such as T-rex, Velociraptors, Triceratops, Stegosaurus and Brachiosaurus but that's just about it. We took them to Jurassic Mile mainly as a learning experience with the hope of getting them more interested in dinosaurs and the field of palaeontology.
At Jurassic Mile, more than 20 different prehistoric creatures from nine different species stretch over a 1-kilometre of the cycling and jogging path. Expect to see carnivorous and herbivorous species, defensive dinosaurs, as well as those that fly. The tallest dinosaur stands at almost 5 meters high.
We started our morning by visiting Changi Beach Park for a spot of exercise on a blisteringly hot Saturday. We quickly realized that the weather was hardly conducive for exercise (we had no plans of suffering a heat stroke!) so we didn't stick around for long.
We drove to Changi airport Terminal 4 and parked there. From the parking lot, it is a short walk to Jurassic Mile. Fortunately for us, there were not many people so we were able to take a good look around.
The starting point of the Jurassic Mile is this red Pterodactyl.
The path is somewhat narrow and certain stretches of it are lined with dino prints. Cute right?
The first exhibit we came across was the Triceratops. This dinosaur had a parrot-like beak and huge frill at the back of its head. It combined a gentle, plant-eating disposition with three fearsome-looking horns that were probably used both in courtship and keeping hungry tyrannosaurs and raptors at bay.
In addition to a metal fence there is also a net covered roof (to prevent any nasty golf ball incidents) so the pictures unfortunately will look like this. I did however manage to get a few shots by positioning the camera in between the metal bars. Keep in mind that drones are not allowed.
The baby Triceratops is a new addition.
Ankylosaurus was a heavily armoured dinosaur covered with thick and bony plates that were fused to its skull and other body parts. With a club-like bone at the tip of its tail, the Ankylosaurus could damage any attacking predator by swinging it.
And yes, I realize in hindsight that I have not managed to capture the tail which is an important feature of this dinosaur 😛
There is information provided on each dinosaur which makes for interesting reading.
The exhibits started off with non-threatening herbivores but soon moved on to carnivore territory. The dino experience is enhanced with real life themed park background music and the occasional dinosaur’s roar!
Anyone who has watched the movie Jurassic Park and/or Jurassic World will easily recognize the formidable Velociraptors. Aptly named, Velociraptor means "swift or speedy thief".
The girls were excited to see a life-like Tyrannosaurus Rex chewing through the fence and gigantic T-Rex eggs with one having hatched. The T-Rex eggs are not enclosed in a fence and it seemed to me to be a popular photo spot.
The undisputed king of the dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus Rex is well known thanks to popular culture. It also helps to have a really cool name (Greek for "tyrant lizard king").
With an average body of 43 feet long (a typical school bus is 45 feet) and a 5-foot head teeming with razor-sharp teeth, this is not a creature you can forget. Based on its bone structure, it probably weighed about 7.5 tons (adult African elephants average about 6 tons), and despite its size, many paleontologists believe it could efficiently run after prey and certainly outrun a human.
I really liked the Brachiosaurus exhibit. Set against tranquil surroundings of the Tanah Merah golf course, the gentle giant drinking water makes for a soothing sight.
When you think of a Brachiosaurus the image that comes to mind is a dinosaur the size of a four-story building stretching up its long neck to rip off pine needles and leaves that few other dinos can reach. This massive plant-eater that weighed more than 28 tons (about as heavy as four African elephants) is one of the biggest animals that has ever walked the planet.
We were able to take our time and appreciate all the exhibits. We took lots of pictures (which should be obvious to you by now 😄).
The girls were struck by the vivid appearance of the Stegosaurus. These peaceful plant-eaters had distinctive plates that on average were 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Some believe this dinosaur's spiky plates could have been brightly colored and could move, and the spikes on the tail may have actually been horizontal instead of vertical, which would help ward off predators.
Although the coloration of each and every dinosaur is not known, research into melanosomes could uncover this question in due time.
We came across a dinosaur that I was completely unaware of so I got to learn something too 😊
The Parasaurolophus (I admit that I still struggle to pronounce the name right) was a plant-eating dinosaur with a fancy crest on its head. This dinosaur was thought to stands up on its two hind feet, lifts its head taking a big gulp of air and release a honking alarm call similar to an elephant trumpeting. This was to alert the other Parasaurolophus dinosaurs that a predator is nearby.
We then came across the Apatosaurus, a plant-eating member of the Sauropod clade much like the Brachiosaurus. This dinosaur was characterized by a long neck and tail and a relatively smaller head.
These dinos are so long that you need a wide lens camera to capture them in all their glory.
As you reach the end of the path, there is information regarding the facilities located nearby.
One can rest & recharge at HUB & SPOKE Changi Airport, an outdoor fitness and recreational space complete with showers, bicycle rental and parking as well as dining options.
Terminals 1 to 4 of Jewel Changi airport offer a variety of shopping and dining options (I can attest to that).
Also, the Changi Airport Connector map can help you out to get your bearings right.
You know you have reached the end of the Jurassic Mile when you see the green Pterodactyl.
There are new additions to the dinosaur lineup but note that they are all not located at Jurassic Mile. One can stumble across them at various points on the 3.5km Changi park Connector.
It took us around 40 mins to reach the end of the path and another 20 mins to head back in the reverse direction to where we started. After being out in the sun for an hour, we were eager to get into the cool comfort of an air conditioned space. We headed to Jewel Changi where we enjoyed a hearty lunch, did some shopping and then got back home. All in all, it was a fun family outing.
If you happen to be at Changi airport for whatever reason, and have young children who are interested in dinosaurs, I recommend that you bring them here. Don't expect too much though - some dinosaur exhibits are good while others are underwhelming. It doesn't take very long to view the exhibits (probably an hour) and it isn't too long a walk for children aged 4 and above. The best time would be in the evening when the weather would be more bearable. Also, remember that this is a jogging and cycling trail so going at a time when crowds are less would be ideal especially if you would like to take lots of photos. For this reason, weekdays are preferable to weekends.
Jurassic Mile
How to Get There:
By private transport
You may drop off at the Terminal 4 Arrival Pick up point or park at Car park 4A and follow the signs to Jurassic Mile. Alternatively, park at Hub & Spoke Car Park at Terminal 2 and take a 2km walk or cycle to Jurassic Mile. Bicycles can be rented from the HUB & SPOKE pit stop opposite the Hub & Spoke Car Park.
By public bus
You may drop off at the Terminal 4 bus stop and follow the signs to Jurassic Mile.
By MRT
Alight at Changi Airport MRT Station and follow on-ground signs towards Terminal 2, then onwards to HUB & SPOKE.
You may then take a 2km walk or cycle to Jurassic Mile. Bicycles can be rented from the HUB & SPOKE pit stop outside Terminal 2.
By Foot/Cycle
Walk, jog, or cycle in from East Coast Park. Whilst at East Coast Park, proceed eastwards towards the National Service Resort & Country Club (NSRCC) and the MOE Changi Coast Outdoor Adventure Learning Centre (MOE OALC). Upon passing MOE OALC entrance, you will see on-ground signs towards Jurassic Mile.
Operating Hours:
24 Hours
Admission:
Free
What you will need:
Sunscreen, a hat, an umbrella and plenty of water
Have you been to Jurassic Mile? What did you think of it? Leave a comment to let me know.
Cheers,
Megha
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