World's most secret
adventure land?

Hong Kong's hiking, climbing, beaches & watersports: hidden gems.

Pack your tramping boots, watersports boards and other sports gear when you’re heading to Hong Kong.

That might sound strange advice for Kiwi thrill-seekers, given the city’s image as a concrete jungle of skyscrapers, luxury shopping and nightlife, but the destination has breath-taking, one-of-a-kind outdoor activities in and around its high lands and islands.

Of Hong Kong’s diverse 1108sq km landscape, almost three-quarters is countryside, including 24 country parks covered by a criss-crossing network of dedicated hiking routes. The trails pass through areas of outstanding natural beauty, including beaches, rocky coastlines, dense woodland and rolling mountains rising nearly 1000m.

New Zealand visitors can tramp through lush green forests, kayak in deep blue waters, go canyoning or climb rocky crags, snorkel above multi-coloured coral reefs and enjoy many more adventure activities.

For adrenaline junkies, a popular port of call is just outside the city at Sai Kung, arguably the most beautiful part of Hong Kong and home to the UNESCO Global Geopark, a spectacular region created by volcanic eruptions 140 million years ago and now the base for many mountain, jungle and water sports.

But there are plenty of other spots to enjoy time out from the city’s buzz and bustle – many of them surprisingly close to the heart of downtown Hong Kong.

On the Ground

Hiking

Hong Kong’s four long-distance hiking routes stretch over a combined distance of almost 300km:

MacLehose Trail (100km) from Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung to Tuen Mun in the New Territories
Wilson Trail (78km) from Stanley Gap Road in Stanley, on Hong Kong Island, to Nam Chung in the New Territories
Hong Kong Trail (50km) from The Peak to Tai Long Wan on Hong Kong Island
Lantau Trail (70km), a loop course which starts and ends in Mui Wo.

For the visitor, each of these trails can be accessed using public transport and, for the most part, this is not the hard-out, bush-bashing experience of Kiwi tramping folklore. However, Hong Kong’s great walk, the MacLehose Trail, is in a class of its own.

The trail weaves its way around the Sai Kung peninsula and the district’s border with Sha Tin until it meets the mountains separating Kowloon and the New Territories. It continues along the mountain range, ascending to the highest point in Hong Kong, Tai Mo Shan (957m), then winds down to Tuen Mun at the western end of the New Territories.

Not to be undertaken lightly, it’s an unforgiving route through some of Hong Kong’s highest peaks and most stunning landscapes. Beautiful beaches and coastlines, urban views over Kowloon, ridges, peaks, forests, jungles, reservoirs, grassland, wildflowers - and monkeys.

Rising 7000m in elevation gain – close to hiking from sea level to the summit of Everest – the super-fit could knock the MacLehose Trail off in three days, though 6-7 days would make for a more leisurely walk. The trail is divided into several sections; time-pressed trampers could take on one or more of those.

The Hong Kong Trail, near The Peak, Central and Western districts is generally considered a challenging route, taking about 15 hours to complete. It’s a popular area for backpacking, birding and camping. The most famous section is the Dragon’s Back (8.5km, 3hr), ranked among Asia’s top urban hikes, with scenic views of the mountains, forests and white sands of Big Wave Bay beach and Shek O beach – a great place to end the walk with a swim.

The Lantau Trail to the second-highest point in Hong Kong is one of the most challenging routes; the payoff is the views, especially if you take a sunrise tour, and the astonishing statue of The Big Buddha.

Outlying Peng Chau island, 4km from Hong Kong, used to be considered a hidden gem. Tourists have discovered this unspoiled wilderness where no cars are allowed; get away from the crowds by hiking to the top of Finger Hill or the island’s historical sites trail.

Some of the UNESCO Geopark’s most intriguing sites and sights are covered in an easy guided walk from the High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung East Country Park, including the magnificent volcanic column wall, views of the reservoir lake, sea and surrounding islands, and along a lush green pathway to Sheng Yiu Hakka Village Museum, a small, carefully preserved village typical of the area in bygone times.

Trail running

Trail running is a big deal here. The countryside trails are a safe environment with relatively gentle slopes and no dramatic changes in elevation. All are well maintained and easy to follow, thanks to regular signposts and distance markers along the routes, with stations for making emergency calls.

Trail running attracted attention with the 1986 launch of the annual Oxfam Trailwalker charity team event along the MacLehose Trail. Prestigious events are staged in the city with many overseas competitors keen to pick up points on the international circuit as well as savouring the memorable countryside.

In addition to a good, worn-in pair of trail shoes with a suitable grip for tough terrain, locals recommend keeping an eye on the weather as conditions and temperatures change rapidly. Bring clothing to stay warm and protected from sun, wind and rain, and enough water and fuel, including energy bars, to avoid dehydration or other problems.

Camping

You don’t have to fork out for a 5-star hotel in Hong Kong. From grassy hillsides to beachfronts, there are plenty of places where you can enjoy a weekend (or longer) in the great outdoors. Old hands recommend making the most of the cooler period between autumn and winter if you’re planning to sleep under the stars.

If you’re after a beautiful sunset, Ham Tin Wan may be the spot. On the eastern side of Sai Kung Country Park, the campsite is on section two of the MacLehose Trail at one of the four main beaches that make up the stunning area of Tai Long Wan. You can rent surfboards from the restaurant.

Tung Ping Chau is home to magnificent natural formations including Kang Lau Shek (Barbican Stone), a tall stack overlooking the sea, and Lung Kok Shui (Dragon descends into the water), a siltstone bed that resembles a dragon’s spine. There’s a seafront campsite; the ferry runs to and from the island only a few times each week.

Lantau has two beautiful sites, Pui O on the beachfront with 54 spots and barbecue pits and the nearby woodland retreat of Nam Shan, with panoramic views of Mui Wo and Pui O Bay.

Other popular campgrounds can be found on:

Tung Lung Chau island, popular with climbers and history buffs
Hok Tau Reservoir, on the slopes of Shek Au Shan, among tall trees and a stone’s throw away from a freshwater stream
Secluded Long Ke Wan beach
Wan Tsai South and Wan Tsai West overlooking extraordinary views of some of the best scenery in Hong Kong. Wan Tsai South has one of the best viewing points over Tai Tan Hoi. Wan Tsai West is adjacent to Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park, Hong Kong’s first and home to over 120 coral fishes. It is also renowned for starry nights, simple pleasant environment and picturesque scenery.

For a more glamorous evening under canvas, Saiyuen glamping site at Cheung Chau island offers Mongolian yurts, tepees, safari-style tents and futuristic stargazing domes as well as a ‘wild camping’ experience (you pitch your own tent). Activities include rock climbing and rope courses.

Cycling

Hong Kong has developed a number of cycle trails allowing riders to get out of the city and into the countryside and coast. Again, the cooler winter months are the best time to explore the routes.

The New Territories Cycle Network opened in 2020. The Tuen Mun to Ma On Shan trail is a 60km, six-hour ride stretching across a region of wetlands, parks and mountains and cultural history. The trail provides safe access to many ancient temples, historic buildings and monuments as well as spectacular views of the Pat Sin Leng mountain range and Tolo Harbour. Its shops, restaurants, shopping malls and vending machines are good for refuelling and stocking up on water and snacks.

For experienced riders, the 25km, 2hr route from The Peak to Shek O is a combination of road biking and the infamous Dragon’s Back. It begins on the roads of Wan Chai and Repulse Bay, climbs the Dragon’s Back, equal parts picturesque and difficult with its many rocks, roots and steps. It then breaks into the southern part of the island with views of unspoiled greenery and seascapes.

Other options on Hong Kong Island include renting a bike at Tai Po waterfront to escape the city and marvel at the 17th century fishermen’s Tai Wong Yeh temple and striking Tsz Shan Monastery’s Guan Yin statue on a leisurely 90min ride to Tai Mei Tuk. Not done yet? Keep going to the dam (9km) or follow the whole 20km track Tai Wai to Tai Mei Tuk.

Probably Hong Kong’s most picturesque route, the Tai Wai/Sha Tin to Tai Po trail, takes you along the Shing Mun river and through the Science Park and Pak Shek Kok Promenade to the Tolo cycling track and Tai Po Waterfront (3hr); the Nam Sang Wai route is 20km, 3hr of easy paths past abandoned farms, fish ponds and lush greenery.

On Lantau, the Chi Ma Wan trail follows the island’s southern coast. With river crossings and steep steps, this 9.5km trail can be a bit challenging, but offers some of the best sea views in all of Hong Kong. For an easier route on Lantau, the scenic 25km, 3hr Mui Wo Loop trail takes you through villages with views over the sea and hills, and several hill climbs along the track, one of which leads up to the Big Buddha.

Families are well catered for a Po Kong Village Park’s 1km elevated track, BMX ramps and a skate park. The flat, 15km Tung Chung to Sunny Bay route is ideal for a family day out – starting from Tung Chung and following the railway track for most of the way to Inspiration Lake, where paddleboats can be rented.

In the water

With more than 700km of coastline, 100 beaches and 260 outlying islands, it’s less than 40 minutes from Central to surf at Big Wave Bay or swim at Repulse and South Bay beaches. Further from the hotspots, the coasts and clear waters of Tai Long Wan, Hap Mun Beach and Tung Ping Chau Island attract snorkellers. Surfers, kayakers and board sports fans are well catered for, too.

Swimming

On Hong Kong Island, Stanley Village draws crowds to its craft market, open-air cafes and promenade. The beach can get crowded, so take a 15-minute walk to the pretty little cove of St Stephen’s Beach.

Some of the best swimming spots are laidback Shek O and Clear Water Bay, popular Repulse Bay (think Auckland’s Mission Bay with a shopping mall, high-end restaurants and cocktail bars) and the more secluded Middle Bay Beach.

Lamma Power Station Beach is a bit of a hidden gem, quite difficult to reach, but a popular holiday getaway spot, while Turtle Cove’s calm waters are - unlike most of the seaside around Hong Kong - nearly transparent. On Lantau Island, Silvermine Bay is a family favourite sandy beach with emerald-green mountains on either side.

Snorkelling

Popular during the hot summer months, the city is home to many sites with calm shallows suitable for beginners. One excellent location is Sharp Island (Kiu Tsui Chau), a short kaito (ferry) ride from Sai Kung in the New Territories. The 2.5km island offers idyllic beaches, stunning geology, panoramic vistas of mountains and islands and — just beneath the waves — a long, unbroken coral reef teeming with marine life off the two beaches, Kiu Tsui and Hap Mun Bay Beach.

Surfing, windsurfing

Hong Kong Island’s two surfing locations, Big Wave Bay and Shek O, have consistent winter swell from November through to March and can handle typhoon swell in the warmer months.

Tai Long Wan in Sai Kung is a beautiful stretch of coast with good waves when the swell and banks are in sync; Lantau Island has two breaks, Pui O and Cheung Sha, which perform well in summery, southwesterly conditions. Windsurfers’ best bets are Cheung Chau and Stanley.

Kayaking, paddling

Although there are several spots to enjoy the sport, the clear, tranquil waters of Sai Kung Peninsula are kayakers’ best friends— safe for beginners and enthralling for the more experienced.

Home to a rich variety of plant and animal life, including mangroves, sponges, corals, and over 300 reef-associated species, many of the bays can be explored from the sea on a stand-up paddleboard. Whichever mode you prefer, paddle into the sea turtle marine reserve or Three Fathoms Cove for a shoreline journey of about 8km and watch fish swimming beneath your feet.

Just 20 minutes from Central, hire a paddle boat at Wong Nai Chung, a tranquil reservoir with lush greens, interesting plants and wildlife. At Cheung Chau, an island 10km southwest of Hong Kong Island, take an evening paddle, leaving the city lights behind to enjoy Cheung Chau's famous night market.

Wakeboarding, wakesurfing

For a more powerful experience, jump on a board, hang on to the rope and let the speedboat do (almost all) the rest. Schools for beginners and opportunities for advanced riders operate out of Tai Po, Science Park, Ap Lei Chau and Tai Tam Tuk.

Adrenaline adventures

Rather like New Zealand, Hong Kong’s landscapes were formed by volcanoes and that means mountains, streams, waterfalls, crags, rock faces – perfect territory for hardcore thrill-seekers who like to climb peaks and jump into fast-flowing waters.

There’s an ever-growing and friendly rock-climbing community to be found scaling the territory’s boulders and cliffs every weekend, as well as a number of adventure tourism guides only too happy to show visitors the ropes and the carabiners of sports like canyoning, abseiling and ziplining.

Tung Lung Chau, a small island just next to Joss House Bay, has climbs for beginners and experts, making it Hong Kong’s most popular climbing spot. Popular crags are Sea Gully and the Technical Wall; routes range from 10m-20m, though some top 70m. Beacon Hill is second in popularity, thanks to its views of Kowloon and comparatively easy access and routes.

Lion Rock, which also has Kowloon views, has been called the best climbing spot in Hong Kong because it has distinct east and west faces so visitors can climb in sun or shade depending on the time of day.

With six main areas, Central Crags is a popular spot right above Central with views of Hong Kong’s most iconic buildings.
Cape Collinson, near Big Wave Bay, has something for pretty much everyone – scenery, a dozen routes that vary in difficulty, and if you’re tired of climbing there’s a beach.

For experienced climbers only: Eagle Crag, at Pui O on Lantau, has 18m-24m routes with decent granite, stunning vistas of waves, and tricky tides.

Canyoning, the exhilarating blend of getting your body through a canyon and down a river by trekking, abseiling, trail running, rock climbing and more is one of Hong Kong’s top adventure sports, practised in a few places like Ping Nam Stream, the region’s most beautiful waterfall. Keen to try? Contact one of the professional adventure tourism companies offering expert guides and safety equipment.