Many of us might have had fun-filled days at indoor playgrounds back in the day, gliding through the slides and crawling through tunnels. But as we all know, the inner kid may quieten but never really go away. If you’re itching to hop on your next adrenaline adventure, head down to the newly opened Adventure HQ at HomeTeamNS Khatib, the largest of its kind in Singapore.
Not your usual children’s playground, this 2,800SQM attraction comes with a record-setting 14M high slide, artificial caves and even plenty of free-fall challenges to let loose the daredevil within.
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Walking through the entrance, the first thing you’ll see is the fireman slide. 14M long or 4.5 stories high, this now trumps Changi Airport’s TheSlide @T3, taking on the title of the tallest indoor slide in Singapore.
Expect things to be a notch above the usual indoor playground affair with a speedy slide that takes you down a twisting tube. A trip down to the bottom can be as quick as mere 3 seconds! And that, is one downward spiral we don’t mind in our lives.
Pro-tip: Wear pants or leggings made of smooth materials like polyester to protect your legs from slide burn. It’ll also make you zip down faster!
The slide is a lot less scary than it looks, so if you’re planning to conquer this with your kids, you need not hesitate. Alternatively, there are also less intimidating 6M and 8M-long slides to warm up with.
Perfect for non-stop thrill, the Urban Climb Zone has 24 themed activities to try, with challenges both adrenaline-inducing and competitive.
According to my colleague, we each looked like a large tuna fish dangling from a line, just like at Tsukiji Fish Market.
There’s nothing that sends adrenaline rushing through our veins as much as a vertical drop. And that’s exactly what the Parabolic Slide will give you, arguably one of the most exciting activities here.
It was a unique experience for us, to don a bright red protective suit and let our limp selves be hoisted up 8M up into the air.
Hold on tight for as long as you can – once you reach the top, the pulley will come to a stop. It may be scary to release your grip as there’s nothing between you and a 90-degree drop.
Pro-tip: Give your arms a good stretch before trying this – holding on is harder than it looks.
If you think work-life balance is tough, try balancing your way up the Skyscraper and its 16 pillars patterned to look like CBD buildings. Although the pillars look chunky and presumably easy to stand on, there’s one caveat: the higher you go, the wobblier each pillar gets.
Once you get to the end, there’s also only one way down, and that’s leaping off the highest pillar. Easy… peasy?
Pro-tip: Chant to yourself, “fear is weakness leaving the body”.
I distinctly remember trying this exact obstacle during my Primary 5 outdoor adventure camp, only missing the mark, and never having the chance to try it again – until now. Put your gutsiness to the test once again at the Jump In The Air.
Unlike camps, this one has an adjustable handle distance so you can move it closer or further away from you, depending on how far you’re willing to take that leap of faith.
Race your friends up this wall
For a good ol’ race, let your competitive side take over at the vertical race wall, featuring two identical climbing routes, programmed each with a timer and buzzer. While we were there the standing record time was set by their instructor Fauzan, at 3.91 seconds – if beat that, be sure you let him know!
For more climbs with a twist, other themed walls in the area include a dynamic vertical wall with rotatable gears, and a route with roundish, bubble-like holds.
The closest cave experience Singaporeans are privy to may be over at Kuala Lumpur’s Batu Caves, but our island home is now also home to its own realistic caving experience with the Adventure HQ’s Fossil Labyrinth.
Glowing ball pit in one of the tunnels
Wander through their 165M-long stretch of artificial caves complete with stalactites, stalagmites, low hanging ceiling and stumps. Modelled after actual caves, there are also tunnels in here and you’ll have to get down on your hands and knees to explore.
Go in a team of up to five and navigate the cave in complete darkness if you dare. Otherwise, you can also request for the lighting to be set dim or at full brightness. Helmets, elbow and knee guard will be provided for protection.
On par with many rock climbing gyms in Singapore, the facility is also home to the classic boulders and high walls – six of which are 9M high, and two 14M high. Complete with automatic belay systems, these routes are solo climber-friendly as they don’t require another person to belay you from the ground.
Sports shoes are allowed on the walls but seasoned climbers can also bring along their own climbing shoes and liquid chalk to scale the walls proper.
Suitable for all ages, the Ninja Course is a great place to try all those challenges you’ve been seeing on TV. Instead of just living the experience from behind the screen, put your own agility and flexibility to the test with features like a Ninja Warrior-inspired warped wall and netted jump hang.
Try either of their two courses – one more challenging on the upper body and another on the lower. Both come with an automatic timer and a buzzer at the end to slap triumphantly once you complete the course.
Enjoy the view of Adventure HQ & the surrounding greenery from above
We’re no stranger to high-element courses in Singapore, but a new route is always more than welcome, with fresh obstacles to challenge any fear of heights. Experience 16 obstacles in the 15M-high Sky Venture spread across two storeys.
While the continuous belay system wasn’t as smooth as we’d have liked, we’re all for the obstacles here, with easier segments strategically mixed in between tougher ones. How challenging the next task is up to your best guess.
Pro-tip: The tyre segment is, according to the instructor, the hardest to get across. If you’re struggling, grip the suspension ropes as high as possible!
If you fall off, the easiest way to get back up is to hoist yourself up using the rope attached to your harness, to get your legs back on the course.
Kids are bound to love the Adventure Trail, a high element course with a network of netted tunnels and boxy platforms to scamper around. Think it as a modern treehouse or an Among Us map IRL – wherever your imagination takes you.
Traverse the different floors of Adventure HQ, with stairs, elevators or the highly-aesthetic Cloud Climbs. These are also integrated into the Adventure Trail, forming a shortcut entry or quick exit if you’d like to hop off to another attraction.
Image adapted from: Adventure HQ
Most true-blue Singaporeans will be familiar with USS’ roller coasters. In this 21st century indoor playground, try an indoor aerial glider, in essence, a Battlestar Galactica’s Cylon meets a hand glider experience – the first of its kind in Singapore.
Video credit: Adventure HQ
Unfortunately, the ride is only slated to open sometime in 2021 but for those looking forward, hang in there. Once open, the ride will have you hanging on to handles to manoeuvre along a sloping coaster rail!
For your next weekend adventure, look no further than AdventureHQ at HomeTeamNS Khatib. Not just for NSF, the space is open to anyone from the public to enjoy as well.
Image adapted from: Adventure HQ
Prices begin from $40 for HomeTeamNS staff, $58 for SAFRA and PA members, and $68 for guests for the All-Access Pass which grants you 3.5 hours to try out all the above attractions. Urban Climb, Bouldering and the high Rock Wall are also available as a trio combo package at a cheaper rate, perfect for avid climbers.
Address: 2 Yishun Walk, HomeTeamNS Khatib, Singapore 767944
Opening hours: Tue – Fri 2PM-10PM | Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays: 10AM-10PM (Closed on Mon)
Photography by Tan Wen Lin, edited by Alaric Sim
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