Archery, go-karting, high elements, and more — here are some fun things to do in Skudai, a less crowded neighbourhood in JB!
Like most Singaporeans, I love going to Johor Bahru for a quick weekend getaway with my kakis. And although JB Sentral is the popular location for the majority, it is usually a little too crowded for my liking.
That’s when I discovered Skudai, a quieter neighbourhood just a 20 to 30-minute drive away from the checkpoint. From archery to high elements, go-karting, and more, Skudai is a great alternative to JB Sentral. Plus, most activities are centred around Paradigm Mall and Sutera Mall, making it easy to navigate. 😁
If you feel the same way about the crowds, why not check out these 11 exciting things to do in Skudai on your next trip to JB? Best part is that they’re all under S$20!
1) Escape JB
Did you know you can go down an airborne slide, be catapulted into the air, and trapeze like Zendaya in a mall?!
Escape JB is a new adventure park in Paradigm Mall, and it’s definitely built for the lion-hearted! It has three separate stations spread across levels UG, 2, and 3.
The Trampoline and Aerobat station is located at Level UG opposite KKV, where you can attempt a backflip at the mega trampolines, followed by a knee-hang trick on the trapeze! Fret not, the friendly staff will be there to guide you.
At Level 2 near Yun Nam, spot the Slingshot and Coco Climb stations. The Slingshot was our favourite station as it catapulted us into the air, giving us a sense of momentary weightlessness. As for Coco Climb, try your hand (literally) at climbing a coconut tree in a mall.
The highlight of Escape JB is none other than the Banana Flip, aka the big yellow slide! The three-storey slide starts at Level 3 near A&W and flings you into the air, ending on a net at Level UG. Get ready for the vertical drop!
To help reduce friction on the ride, the staff will put you in a suit and spray you with water. We recommend wearing waterproof clothing or bringing a change of clothes for this station, as you will most likely get wet.
With the day pass, you’ll get unlimited re-entry to all stations for the day.
*Pro-tip: Book your tickets to Escape JB as early as possible to enjoy the cheapest rates! Adult tickets are priced at RM48 if booked more than two months in advance, but the same ticket will cost RM68 if booked on the day of entry. Tickets are only sold online through the Escape JB website.
Entrance fee: From RM48/pax (~S$14) for a full-day unlimited re-entry pass
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
Address: Paradigm Mall, Skudai Hwy, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia (three stations spread across levels UG, 2, and 3)
How to get there: 20min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
2) Roll On Roller Rink
Go back in time and immerse yourself in nostalgic pop music while roller-skating at Roll On. This indoor roller-skating rink offers a 2-hour skating session for just RM35 per person.
Besides blasting hits from the past, the rink is also decked out in retro American decor and neon lights to help you capture your perfect retro flash pictures. We felt like we were transported to a disco scene from the 1980s!
Me and my turtle protection pad.
Here, you can choose between roller-skates and roller-blades. I found the former to be more stable, while the latter could glide faster.
If this is your first time roller-skating, fret not, as the rink is super beginner-friendly, with a dedicated training area that has handlebars to hold onto. They also rent out adorable protection pads for RM10 to make falling less scary and more stylish!
*Note: Complimentary storage lockers are provided with a deposit of RM10/locker.
Cost: From RM35/pax (~S$10) for 2hrs inclusive of skate rental
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
Address: 5F-01, Paradigm Mall, Jln Mewah Ria 2, Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 20min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
3) Blue Ice Skating Rink
Located in Paradigm Mall, Blue Ice Skating Rink is the first and largest ice skating rink in Johor, with ample space for you to glide around and show off your “best” Yuna Kim moves!
The skating aids were tempting for us beginners.
There are free lockers to store your belongings, and skating aids can be rented for ~S$9/hour for those who require a bit more confidence on the ice (aka us). As beginners at ice skating, we appreciated how spacious the rink was for practising and having the barricades to hold onto!
Each session lasts 2 hours, and we saved ~S$2/pax by booking tickets through Klook instead of onsite.
Cost: From ~S$15/pax via Klook (including socks and gloves)
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM (Sat – Tue), 10AM – 7:30PM (Wed – Fri)
Address: 3F-30, Paradigm Mall, Lbh Skudai, Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
How to get there: 20min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
*Pro-tip: Redeem 5% OFF Klook activities for use later, up to 5x. Just enter code <THETRAVELINTERNKLOOK> at checkout. New users get 10% OFF their first booking. T&Cs apply!
4) Pak Game and Loud Speaker Karaoke
Photo credit: Loud Speaker Karaoke
Play your favourite video games while singing your go-to KTV songs simultaneously at Pak Game and Loud Speaker Karaoke!
Look at our adorable Mario-themed private room!
Pak Game has private rooms equipped with both console games and a karaoke system! It was so fun to switch between playing games, such as Mario Kart and Just Dance, and showing off our Mariah Carey skills.
Did we also mention that they provide free beverages and ice cream for your time there?! We were so spoilt!
For video game lovers, there’s also an option for solely console games from RM30/hr for 2 pax. But if you prefer to focus purely on singing, Loud Speaker Karaoke is right next door. There, you can belt out your favourite tunes for 3 hours for RM10/pax.
Cost: From RM50/hr (~S$15) for a party room (min. 2 pax)
Opening hours: 11AM – 3AM
Address: 135, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/2, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 5min walk from Sutera Mall (Google Maps)
5) LOST in JB: Sutera the Haunted House Escape Room
What better way to bond with your friends than solving puzzles and working together to escape (and survive) a “haunted” locked room?
LOST in JB is a well-known escape room brand in Johor, and their Sutera outlet houses exclusively horror-themed rooms for the brave souls. With engaging story plots of various difficulty levels and live actors, get ready to work your brain and brace your heart for this immersive experience!
We signed up for “Before Midnight“, a room themed after a Chinese funeral parlour — hats off to the live actors who had to bear with our deafening screams.
Every detail in the room (like this coffin) made our hearts race, and it wasn’t easy solving puzzles in that eerie atmosphere. Thankfully, we still managed to make it out alive!
*Pro-tip: Pre-book your time slots online to secure your desired themed room!
Cost: From RM48/pax (~S$14), varies for different themed rooms
Opening hours: 12PM – 10:15PM (Mon – Thu), 11AM – 11:30PM (Fri – Sun)
Address: 30, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/4, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Skudai, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 6min walk from Sutera Mall (Google Maps)
6) RUD Karting Sutera Mall
Conveniently located in the car park of Sutera Mall, take a break from shopping and race your friends down a 400m track on a go-kart at RUD Karting Sutera!
Choose between an electric-powered kart, which is quieter and provides instant acceleration, or a petrol-powered kart for a traditional and faster driving experience.
For those cheering from the side, the RUD Cafe & Bistro is right next to the track, where you can enjoy some small bites and drinks.
Cost: From RM60/pax for an electric kart (~S$18), From RM75/pax for a petrol kart (~S$22); for a 10min session
Opening hours: 11AM – 12AM (Mon – Fri, Sun), 11AM – 2AM (Sat)
Address: L2-648, Sutera Mall, 1, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/4, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Skudai, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 25min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
7) Stars Archery
Star Archery is an ideal starting place for beginners who want to try archery for the first time — tried and tested!
It only costs RM18 for 20 arrows and RM48 for 52 arrows, which is more than enough practice for an amateur. The staff will also kindly teach you how to shoot the arrows.
Initially, we thought that shooting arrows would be a breeze, but we were humbled greatly by the arm soreness that followed our Mulan-wannabe session.
Nevertheless, don’t let that deter you from shooting your shot!
Cost: From RM18 for 20 arrows (~S$5)
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
Address: Lot 3F-28, Level 3, Paradigm Mall, Skudai Hwy, Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
How to get there: 20min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
8) VR+ Zone
For those who want a quick try at virtual reality games, VR+ Zone offers shooting games (from RM40/pax per game) of various genres, such as horror, thriller, and fantasy.
Each VR shooting game caters to two to four players and lasts around 6 to 15 minutes.
The friendly staff will also give a briefing before each game to help you familiarise yourself with the rules and equipment. We played “The Lost Jurassic” shooting game, and it was so immersive that we kept flinching when the dinosaurs attacked us! We had to remind ourselves to fire away!
They also have VR escape rooms (RM124/pax), where you’ll need to escape from the virtual worlds of The Lost Pyramid, Alice in Wonderland, Jungle Quest, and more!
Cost: From RM40/pax (~S$12) for 1 VR shooting game (min. 2 players)
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM
Address: 2F-01, Paradigm Mall, Lbh Skudai, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 20min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
9) Utopia Titan X Park
Utopia Titan X Park is a high elements park located on the top floor of Paradigm Mall — featuring a zipline, obstacle courses, slides, pedal go-karts, trampolines, and more!
Our favourite was the Rope obstacle course for the thrill and challenge it brings. It’s suspended two levels above ground and starts off easy with a zipline ride across the park, followed by multiple obstacles made out of wooden blocks and rope.
Relying on our strength and coordination, we completed them all!
Entrance fee: RM58/pax (~S$17) for a day-pass
Opening hours: 11AM – 9PM
Address: 7F-07, Paradigm Mall, Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 20min drive from JB Sentral (Google Maps)
10) TuDuDIY
Photo credit: @tududiy via Instagram
Introducing TuDuDIY, JB’s first and only weightless tufting studio! Traditional tufting guns are usually heavy and tiring to handle, but the special tufting guns used at TuDuDIY allow users to create tufting designs without the arm soreness.
Photo credit: @tududiy via Instagram
Besides weightless tufting, the studio also offers a variety of other workshops, such as beading, charm decorating, and painting. Sounds like the perfect place to have a therapeutic date!
Cost: From RM15/pax (~S$4), prices vary for each workshop
Opening hours: 10:30AM – 10PM (Last entry at 7:30PM)
Address: 36B, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/4, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Skudai, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
How to get there: 7min walk from Sutera Mall (Google Maps)
Bonus: 11) Kangkar Pulai Blue Lake Hike
Not many people know that there is a stunning blue lake right here in JB! But to get there, you’ll need to embark on a relatively manageable 30-minute hike. Good news is that the starting point is just a 25-minute drive from Paradigm Mall.
The hike starts at Taman Awam BBKP car park, with two routes leading up to the viewpoint. There is the challenging route, which features a steep incline and rope assistance to help hikers climb, and the easier but longer route, which has flatter terrain.
We decided to take the challenging route as it’s quicker to the top by 15 minutes, but it was tougher than we had imagined! We were on all fours at certain points to ascend the steep incline. It was definitely a notch harder than your average Bukit Timah hike. But, powered by willpower and excitement, we made it to the viewpoint!
And boy was it worth the sweat — the glistening blue waters reminded us of glacier rivers you’d see in New Zealand.
*Pro-tip: Remember to dress in appropriate hiking shoes and clothing before attempting the trail!
Entrance fee: Free
Starting point: Bandar Baru Kangkar Pulai, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
How to get there: 25min drive from Paradigm Mall (Google Maps)
Getting to Skudai from JB Sentral
Grab: Skudai is a 20 to 30 minute drive from JB Sentral, and you can easily get there via ride-hailing options such as Grab. We found it to be the most convenient and affordable way to get around JB as a group! Our ride from JB Sentral to Paradigm Mall was only RM27 (~S$8) for a group of four.
Public transportation: Alternatively, there are public buses from JB Sentral to Paradigm Mall, where some of the activities mentioned in this article like Escape JB and Roll On are located. Bus tickets cost ~RM2/pax (~S$0.60) and should be paid in cash to the driver when you board. Please consult the driver onboard for the exact fare.
*Note: There are currently no public buses operating from JB Sentral to Sutera Mall.
If you’re looking for other ways to spend your day in Johor, check out these guides:
– 9 Budget-friendly Things to Do in Paradigm Mall, JB from ~S$4 — Karaoke, Baking Workshop, Rock Climbing
– Best Things to Do Near the JB Causeway — JB Sentral, Mount Austin, Skudai
– 2D1N JB Itinerary — The Broke Friends Getaway
– Family-friendly Johor Bahru Guide — 17 Things to Do, Eat and See in JB Beyond Legoland
Do you have any other recommendations for things to do in Skudai? Let us know in the comments below!
