There are so many excellent things to do with kids in Hong Kong, but let's face it. many of us end up going to the same places over and over. With the long summer holidays rapidly approaching, we asked Amy Overy, Hong Kong expert and founder of Hong Kong Greeters travel agency and mum of two, to share three of her favourite family friendly activities, Over to Amy ...
Hong Kong boasts plenty of fabulous family friendly hiking trails, but now that our kids are getting a little older, we're enjoying some adventurous hikes. Out current favourite is Tai Lam Chung.
It takes in the picturesque Thousand Island Viewpoint, (the reservoirs many 'islands' are in fact that tips of mountains that were submerged when the reservoir was filled up). Then, if you are up for a bit of scramble, you can head onwards to the photogenic Three Diamond Rocks. In fact, the scrambling was our kids’ favourite part, as we made a human chain of adults to help them get to the top. Be warned, this bit can be quite muddy! We’re planning to repeat this hike in the autumn, when leaves of the sweet gum trees turn a vibrant red.
Biking: Adventure Bike Park
Although there are miles of smooth cycle tracks in the New Territories, there aren’t many spaces for tikes on bikes to play safely. Luckily, we discovered the bike park at Shek Mun and it’s one of our secret spots to let off some steam without being run over by serious bikers. Handily, it is connected to the main cycle path and makes a nice stop off on a longer bike ride. If you don’t have your own wheels, we suggest renting from the Sha Tin bike Kiosk and cycle from there.
We like to have a few activities in our pockets for rainy days and are regular visitors to Hong Kong Climbing Park. Based in Sha Tin, it’s conveniently spitting distance from City One MTR station.
All safety equipment is provided and if it’s your first time, some basic training is included. You can start with a little bit of easy bouldering (no rope needed), before moving on to the main climbing walls (rope is definitely needed) and then burn off some serious energy in the Ninja Warrior zone. Even if it's not raining outside, the air-conditioning is ferocious, so it can also give you a great escape and some respite on Hong Kong's hottest days.
Hong Kong Quests:
Our family loves Hong Kong and we love being outdoors. Recently, we’ve combined these passions in the form of our new Hong Kong Quests. These game-based mystery tours will get you out exploring a Hong Kong neighbourhood and are a perfect family friendly activity. As you follow the clues to solve your Quest, you will also learn some cool things about Hong Kong along the way.
Our signature Quest, Hong Kong Heist in Central has already proved popular. Next up is a spooky trail called Creeped Out in Wan Chai, which is due for imminent release. Now, we’re busy testing and finalising our third Quest, Time-Trapped in TST, which should be ready soon.
