1. Pulau Petong
Did you know that snorkel comes from the German word schnorchel, meaning underwater? Did you care? Maybe not, but if you have any interest in snorkeling or schnorcheling, head to Pulau Petong, because everyone — German, linguists, and people who have plastic mask fetishes — knows that this is the best place in Batam to get face to face with fish to fish (did you ever notice that fish have no necks? They’re just faces that become bodies. Weird, huh?).
You’ll see stingrays, clownfish, stingfish, nasi lemak fish, clown rays. If it’s in the water, and look-at-able, you can look at it here. Snorkel on, my friends.
Other activities includes scuba diving, kayaking, banana boat ride & fishing.
Accommodation: 8 cosy private rooms built atop a kelong in between the nearby Twin Islands. A very spartan communal room is available on Petong island, within Petong village for larger groups. Note: it is a Bintan-kelong styled room with bunker beds.
Travelling time from Singapore to destination: Approximately 4 hours
Contact: +62 812 702 7718 Email: reefsadventure@gmail.com
Tour organizer website: http://reefsadventure.com/
( 15 min drive from Harbour Bay Terminal)
Tour office Address : Jl. Laksamana Bintan Komp. Pertokoan Seruni Blok C No.19-22, Sungai Panas, Batam Kota, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444 (open in google map)
2. Cable-Ski Park
Want to get yanked across a lake at high speed by a metal cable, doing tricks and waving to your favourite fish, while your sedentary friends sit on barstools, sipping Mai Tais and taking bets whether you have a job or whether you just live on algae and alcohol? Then Cable-Ski is the cable ski park for you. Well, it’s the cable-ski park for everyone, because they probably couldn’t stay open if you were their only customer.
And you aren’t. And you won’t be. Because they’re packed with people who wakeboard, wakeskate, slalom ski, and do barefoot nude acrobatics while shouting out the names of their favorite teachers from Sec school! Okay, no one is doing that. Yet. But it’s coming. As should you be — coming to Cable-Ski. Because it’s just fun.
They provide complimentary usage of house equipment such as kneeboards, wakeboards, wake skates, double and slalom skis and more importantly is the safety equipment – life vests and helmets. But, if you have your own you can freely bring it over.
Additional amenities are Pool table, trampoline, fussball, lockers (BYO padlock), and their toilets with showers are quite decent. And very affordable full body message service in an open area (see photo at lower left) and WIFI is free!
Rates: 1 Hour Ski Pass: SGD$25 /pax (IDR250,000) | 2 Hour Ski Pass: SGD$40 /pax (IDR400,000)
Half Day Ski Pass (3 – 4hrs): SGD $55 /pax (IDR550,000) | Full Day Ski Pass | (5 – 8hrs): SGD$65 /pax (IDR650,000)
*Payment in cash only *Rates includes usage of house equipments and coaching by in house instructors *There’s no charge for walk in spectators
Web: cable-ski.com Contact: SG +65 9487 5007 Batam | +62 852 7223 9707
Email: reservations@cable-ski.com
Opening Hours : Everyday 9:30am – 6:30pm Daily (Batam Time)
35 min drive from Harbour Bay Terminal
Address: Waterfront City Resort, Tj. Riau, Sekupang, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29425 (open in google map)
3. Batam wakepark
If you’re going to wakeboard, you probably want the best place to wakeboard, right? No one wants to wakeboard in that pond behind that industrial park, the one that’s green and kind of looks like cottage cheese with eyes in it. No one wants to wakeboard in that other lake, the one a little too close for comfort to the industrial pig farm.
No, you want Batam Wake Park, the 5-star park perfect for beginners, non-beginners, and those people who do air tricks because they like to show off their perfect abs and smiling white teeth as they leap through the sky like featherless eagles in Speedos. (Just joking about the Speedos, don’t wake and thong, that’s a solid rule). Batam Wake Park. Bring your lust for adventure. Leave your thong at home.
Beyond the lake, the park consists of a 80 seat F&B area serving up affordable yummy meals and snacks, deck chairs are strategically placed around the park to fulfill your lounging needs between riding sessions, massage treatment cabanas to sooth tired muscles after a good ride, a fully stocked Pro Shop to cater to all your boarding needs and of course, bright clean changing rooms with shower facilities so you leave as fresh as when you arrived! Parking and wifi is provided free, for all guests of Batam Wake Park.
Rates: 2 Hour incl Park Board / wakeboard IDR 400,000 /pax ( approx SGD 39 )
4 Hour incl Park Board / wakeboard IDR 600,000 /pax ( approx SGD 59 )
Full Day incl Park Board / wakeboard IDR 700,000 /pax ( approx SGD 69 )
Web: www.batamwakepark.com Contact: +62 812 6899 7171 Email: contact@batamwakepark.com
Opening Hours : Everyday 9am – 6pm Daily (Batam Time) Tuesday closed.
20 min drive from Harbour Bay Terminal
Address: Bengkong Laut, Bengkong, Batam City, Riau Islands 29444 (open in google map)
4. Mata Kucing Forest
How much forest do you need? I mean, in general? Give me a round estimate. How about 200 acres? Would that be enough for you to stretch your hamstrings, hike some zaggy trails, commune or blow kisses to monkeys, gibbons, and monkeygibbons? Then you should bop to Mata Kucing Forest, and get your rain forest on. Oh, you won’t come unless there are tropical plants? Fine. They have billions. And you have to walk a rope bridge over waters filled with massive Arowana fish? You’re pretty picky, but that doesn’t matter, because they have that, too. And more. As your guide will show you.
This place is also known as a mini zoo. However, the sensation is not the same with any other zoos, since this mini zoo is much more natural.
Other activities that can be enjoyed by visitors are flying fox, hiking or hill trekking, and swimming surrounded by many trees hence makes you feel like swimming in the middle of a forest.
Rates: Rp. 10,000/person, Rp. 5,000/kid, Rp. 2,000/car, Rp. 1,000/motorcycle cash payment only. For a tour guide reservation, it is suggested to make a prior arrangement with them at least 3 days before the arrival date.
Web: www.facebook.com/Hutan-Wisata-Matakucing-879119235499938/
Contact: +62 778 7033555, +62 813 64644193 . Email: contact@batamwakepark.com
Opening Hours : Everyday 8.30am – 6pm Daily (Batam Time) Sunday and public holidays, 8am-6pm
35 min drive from Harbour Bay Terminal
Address: Jl. Taman Bukit Golf, Tj. Riau,, Kibing, Sekupang, Batam City, Riau Islands 29424 (open in google map)
5. Waterfall in the forest( Telaga Bidadari Waterfall)
In the rainy season, when it rains (and it does that a lot, hence rainy “season”), you can’t just sit at home, looking out the window, afraid you’ll melt. What you can do is head to Waterfall in the Forest, to the absolute sparkling experience of the magic that water becomes when it flows around a green world, sliding into shallow streams, working through fallen trees, and spilling over rock ledges.
If you don’t like waterfalls, what do you like? Don’t answer that, because if you have an answer to it, we don’t really want to hear it. We want to walk, and listen to the sound of water, rushing, rolling, cascading. You hush. We have a water symphony going on here.
Rates: Free Web: nil Contact: +62 778 7033555, +62 813 64644193
How to get there: Getting there: Park at Dormitori Batamindo Block R in the Industrial Park, and head towards village gate Selayang. Head towards the market, and a path continues along the parapet. Cross the bridge, walk along the road in the village, and turn left at the small T-junction towards the bush. Follow the path until you reach a wall at the edge of the forest. Turn left, hike up the hill, and you will see a river. Follow the river upstream.
50 min drive from Harbour Bay Terminal
Address: Tiban Lama, Sekupang, Batam City, Riau Islands 29424 (open in google map)
5. Drak Bike Park
Drak Bike Park isn’t just an awesome bike park, it’s a collection of really hard consonants that are just fun to say (go ahead, say it, give your tongue a treat).
Drak Bike is also the best place in the world to meet Stewart Ong. Much better than places where Stewart Ong isn’t. Because where he is, and where he’s been for 20 years, is at this park, carving out a massive network of trails, and playing the ultimate host for bikers looking for both day and overnight bike adventures.
Farmtrails, lake shore trails, inital d drifting, well-maintained and wild, Drak Bike has it all. And Stewart knows every inch. As will you. One inch at a time.
Cost varies, depending on the number of riders and how long you stay. For large groups, the cost is about SGD$80 per rider for a day, and includes park entry fee, guide, all meals and drinks. The ferry ticket costs SGD$50, and you have to pay another SGD$10 for bike handling. For overnight stays and longer, it’s more cost effective as you only pay for the ferry once. Contact Stewart or Drak Bike Club for details and cost.
How to book: Contact Ong via Facebook to book a tour at Drak Bike Park. He requires a minimum group of 6 riders for each tour.
Price: SGD 160/person which includes the ferry ticket, VIP checkout at Batam, land transport to Drak Bike Park, and food and support for the entire day. Bike rental is available too.
Website: www.facebook.com/drakbikepark/ Phone : +62 812-7034-014 Email : aaluki@gmail.com
45 min drive from Harbour Bay Terminal
Address bike park: Kabil, Nongsa, Kabil, Nongsa, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29433 (open in google map)
6. Golden City Complex
The only thing I enjoy more than Go-Karts is Bro-Karts, where bro’s get in Go-Karts and yell to each other, “Bro, we’re in Go-Karts, this is awesome!” You don’t have to bro to go, though, and if you want to go, go. Way better than playing Mario Kart.
Go-Kart at Golden City, the oldest and famous-est sport arena complex in Batam. With ATV off-roading, paintballing for ballers, and pretty much every other sport and game in which you indulge.
Golden City is gold for the bold. And the bro’s. And should you not care a whiff about any of that, you can go right to one of the best restaurants in all of Batam, the Golden Prawn. Dee-lisch. The perfect follow up to speed and adventure.
In addition, there is also a Golden Factory outlet for some shopping and dining.
Go Kart Rates: 10 Minutes ride IDR 140,000 /pax ( approx SGD 14 ) Paintball: Rp 250.000 and get 60 bullets.
*no prior booking requires for Gokart and Paintball
Website: http://www.goldencitybatam.com Phone : +62 778 771 7777
Email : gmsecretary@hotelgoldenview.com
Opening Hours : Mon – Fri 8am – 5pm | Sat – Sun 8am – 9pm
15 min drive from Harbour Bay Terminal
Address: Bengkong Laut, Bengkong, Tj. Buntung, Bengkong, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29444 (open in google map)
7. Turi Beach
Last but not least, Turi Beach, a one stop fun shop for all sorts of adventure. Its located further away from the city center, ans they offers all sort of land and sea activities. See the video above.
Rates: TBC. Website: https://www.turibeach.com Phone : refer to their web site Email : refer to their web site
Opening Hours : refer to their web site
50 min drive from Harbour Bay Terminal
Address: Jalan Hang Lekiu, Nongsa, Sambau, Nongsa, Sambau, Nongsa, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29465 (open in google map)
Conclusion
Okay, there, the adventure of reading about Batam adventures is over. Are you wrung out? Out of breath? If so, you need to get out more. Which, if you didn’t get the message from everything you just read, is the message in everything you just read. Batam is rich in adrenaline. You can be, too.
Thank you so much for your reply. After reading your post, I m so excited to bring the family there. It looks so fun and am looking forward to making the trip. Thanks again for all the tips. I truly enjoy reading your blog 😉