Beach Trips with Kids: The Top 10 Hong Kong Beaches
Do you want to find somewhere quiet and secluded to find some peace, or do you want to take the family and let the children splash about in the sea and make sandcastles? Hong Kong has a wonderful selection of beaches, some with more facilities than others, and some with waves good enough for surfing, while others have gentle ripples that lap the shore.
We love nothing more than finding a new great beach to try but sometimes the old favourites are the best. Here’s our list of the ones we prefer, including those perfect for a last minute day out, and some that require a little more effort.
Cheung Sha Beaches – Upper and Lower, Lantau – accessed by taking a ferry from Central to Mui Wo and then a bus, 1, 2 or 4. The longest stretches of beach in HK with good swimming and if you’d rather not take a picnic, food is available from The Stoep where you will probably need to book in the summer and High Tide, a Thai restaurant which is relaxed and will generally find space for you. See our Lantau guide here for more on the beaches, bars and restaurants on Lantau.
South Bay Beach – pack the kids and a picnic, jump in a taxi and enjoy calm seas, shady patches and a family friendly beach. No facilities except for toilets so come prepared.
Big Wave Bay – as the name suggests, this is a surfers beach but also the hangout of many local families escaping the usually busier neighbouring Shek O beach. There are a few little cafés and shops selling beach stuff and refreshments. Take a minibus from Shau Kei Wan or taxi as parking is very limited.
Hung Shing Yeh, Lamma – a 30 minute walk from the ferry pier at Yung Shue Wan, this is a clean beach with shallow water for a considerable distance so great for kids. Good facilities including a few eateries – we recommend The Concerto Inn for varied Asian and western dishes. The only downside is the view of the Lamma Power Station, but still worth a trip.
Silvermine Beach, Mui Wo Lantau – very relaxed, with crystal clear water, cafés and bars. Take the ferry to Mui Wo and it’s to the right hand side of the ferry pier. See our Lantau guide here for more on the beaches, bars and restaurants on Lantau.
Shek O Beach – head to Shek O and feel like Hong Kong is a dim and distant memory. The sleepy little village with quaint houses also has a fabulous beach and is a popular weekend spot. Waves can be quite big at times so not great for little kids, but clean sand and good facilities make it a popular option – parking can be a nightmare though so public transport is the easiest option – take a minibus from Shau Kei Wan. Good food options include Black Sheep and Shek O Chinese and Thai Restaurant.
Tai Long Wan – the most pristine white sands surrounded by green peaks await you if you hike the 90 minute trail! These are four of the most beautiful beaches in Hong Kong and there are good facilities which attract campers and surfers. Take the NR29 minibus from Sai Kung to Sai Wan Pavilion and then pick up the MacLehose Trail.
Sharp Island – Idyllic beach with clear water, quite popular and accessed by kaido from Sai Kung Bus Terminal. At low tide, a tombolo appears, connecting the island with Kiu Tau – a neighbouring island and at this time you can walk between the two islands.
Repulse Bay Beach – easily accessible from Central, this large and well manicured beach is a popular spot for sunbathing and swimming. It’s also on many bus tour routes so be prepared to share the beach with plenty of mainland tourists papping and trying to take photos of blonde haired kids!
__________________________________________________________________
About the Author: Mawgan Batt is the Director of HKHub.com. She says “When I moved to Hong Kong, I was overwhelmed by the pace of life and the density of the city. I didn’t know where to find the best shops, bars, restaurants and things for my children and initially relied on word of mouth to find my feet. This made me realise the need for a website that pulled together all the fantastic things on offer all in one place and so The HK Hub was born! Compiling the information has been an amazing experience and I’ve explored Hong Kong to bring you the highlights.”
__________________________________________________________________
petit bazaar has a range of beach items for any family trip out. Visit www.petit-bazaar.com to browse online or check out our stores at 9 Gough Street, 80 Queens Road East, Wan Chai, or 9 Market Road Stanley.
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!