Hutan Bandar MBJB on Jalan Tasek Utara, Kolam Ayer, reopened in March 2026 after a RM10.3 million upgrade and welcomed 98,247 visitors between January and June 2026 alone — and the entrance is completely free.
Picture this: it's 7 in the morning, the sun is just starting to warm the canopy, and the air still smells like rain from the night before. You're walking a looping trail through 35 acres of actual forest, inside Johor Bahru city, five minutes from your bed. No queue, no ticket counter, no entrance fee — just trees, birdsong and the occasional jogger overtaking you with alarming speed. That's Hutan Bandar MBJB on a weekday morning, and honestly la, it's one of JB's most underrated spots for guests staying in the city centre.
The park has been around since 1993, managed by Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru (MBJB), but the March 2026 reopening was a whole different level. We're talking a flying fox (zipline), a rope course, a children's water play pool, a pump track, a skatepark, a parkour park, a butterfly garden, canopy walk, suspension bridges and a camping area — all added as part of a renovation project that grew from the originally announced RM10.3 million to over RM13.5 million by completion. Whatever the final bill was, the results are shiok.
Is Hutan Bandar MBJB free to enter?
Yes — the park entrance itself is free for everyone, Malaysians and non-Malaysians alike. You can walk in, jog the trails, use the playgrounds and explore the canopy walk at no charge. The paid attractions are specific add-ons: the flying fox and rope course cost extra (more on that below), and non-Malaysian visitors pay a small fee for the children's water pool. But the core park experience — which is genuinely lovely — costs nothing.
What are the opening hours?
- General park (trails, canopy walk, playgrounds): Daily 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Children's water pool (Laman Air): Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays only, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Flying Fox and Rope Course: Saturdays and Sundays only, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (closed during lunch hour)
- Rock climbing / bouldering: Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays)
- Address: Jalan Tasek Utara, Kolam Ayer, 80100 Johor Bahru, Johor
- Google Maps: Open in Google Maps
- Contact: +60-7-780 3184
- Halal status: Outdoor public park managed by MBJB — no food certification applies to the park itself. The food court area has hawker stalls catering to a predominantly Muslim population; verify individual stall status on-site.
How much does the flying fox (zipline) cost?
The flying fox is the headline attraction and it does cost extra, on top of the free park entry:
- Flying Fox — Malaysians: RM10 per child, RM20 per adult
- Flying Fox — non-Malaysians: RM20 per child, RM30 per adult
- Rope Course — Malaysians: RM5 per child, RM10 per adult
- Rope Course — non-Malaysians: RM10 per child, RM15 per adult
- Children's water pool (Laman Air) — Malaysians: Free
- Children's water pool (Laman Air) — non-Malaysians: RM5 per child, RM10 per adult
Note: at launch throughout Syawal month (late March into April 2026), the flying fox and rope course were offered free on weekends. That promotion has ended, so the above are the current standard rates. Always confirm with MBJB directly before visiting as prices can change.
How far is Hutan Bandar MBJB from KSL D'Esplanade?
From KSL D'Esplanade on Jalan Seladang, Taman Century, Hutan Bandar MBJB is approximately 1.9 km by road — about a 5 to 7 minute Grab ride, or a 20 to 25 minute walk heading northwest if the weather is kind and you feel like a proper warm-up. The park sits near KSL City Mall and Holiday Plaza, so if you're already familiar with the KSL area, you won't be going far at all.
When is the best time to visit?
Here's the honest insider tip: weekday mornings, 7 to 9 AM, are when the park is at its best. Quiet, green, cool-ish (by JB standards), with just joggers and retirees doing their rounds. Absolutely worth it if you're an early riser.
If the flying fox, rope course or children's pool are the reason you're going — you need a Saturday or Sunday, since those attractions only operate on weekends. And if you're bringing young kids to the water pool, arrive before 10 AM: on peak days the Laman Air pool reportedly hits 1,200+ visitors, and it gets crowded fast.
One honest con: weekend afternoons can feel genuinely packed, especially during school holidays. Parking fills up near the Anjung Selera coffee shop entrance and the canopy walk side. If you're coming by Grab it's a non-issue — just easier than circling for a spot.
What's actually inside the park?
More than you'd expect from a free urban park, honestly. The 2026 upgrade added a serious list of facilities alongside the original forest trails:
- Flying fox (zipline) — the weekend draw
- Rope course and parkour park
- Children's water recreation pool (Laman Air)
- Pump track and skatepark
- Butterfly garden
- Canopy walk and suspension bridges
- Expanded playgrounds
- Camping area
- Natural forest trails and jogging paths
- Rock climbing and bouldering wall (Tue–Sun)
- Food court area with hawker stalls
The combination of the food court and free entry makes it a proper half-day outing — walk the trails, let the kids burn energy on the playground, then tapau breakfast from the hawker stalls and head back. Very JB, very shiok.
Planning a trip to Johor Bahru? Book your stay at Southern Homestay — our studio and 2-bedroom units at KSL D'Esplanade are just 1.9 km from Hutan Bandar MBJB on Jalan Tasek Utara, Kolam Ayer. WhatsApp us at +60 12-708 8789 to check availability.