Hong Kong Kids Activities
Theme parks such as Ocean Park and Disneyland are always popular choices, particularly if you have bought annual passes, but there is a huge range of alternative outdoor and indoor activities to chose from.
Many of the tourist trips listed elsewhere on this website will be fun for children as well as adults. Excluding those, you might like to consider:
- Public facilities such as parks, beaches, play areas, zoos & gardens, swimming pools and sports centers. Go to the Leisure & Cultural Services website for more information. The best beaches are on Islands such as Lantau where you can visit Lower Cheung Sha, which is a short bus or taxi ride from the ferry terminal at Mui Wo. The Stoep (+852 2980 2699) is popular al fresco restaurant on the beach. See our Beaches & Watersports page for more suggestions.
- Hong Kong museums are of a very high standard and charge negligible admission fees. Visit six of the best with a special, low-cost, weekly Museum Pass. For just HK$30. You can get into the museums of art, heritage, history, space, science and coastal defence. The latter is an unlikely hit with girls as well as boys, of all ages. Refer to the Leisure & Cultural Services website for Museum details.
- Take the family for a seafood meal. Go to Sai Kung and you can also hire a Sampan (photos) for a personal water tour, bartering an hourly rate from one of the operators on the quay. If you go to Aberdeen instead, you could take a restaurant launch to the floating Jumbo restaurant. The Rainbow Seafood Restaurant in Sok Kwo Wan offers a free ferry service from TST and Aberdeen, if you fancy visiting Lamma island. See our transport page if you want to take a public ferry to or from Lamma.
- Take an organized tour of Hong Kong Island, the New Territories, Guangzhou (China) or Macau (famous for Casinos and the Grand Prix). For a waterborne excursion, you could try the Hong Kong Dolphin Watch or take a Chinese Junk Harbour Cruise, which includes Dinner at the Aberdeen Floating 'Jumbo' Restaurant. Refer to our trips page for more information.
- Catch a ferry to one of the outlying islands - Cheng Chau or Mui Wo on Lantau. Bicycle hire (take your passport or residents ID card) is available in both locations and there are villages, village restaurants and beaches to explore. Visit the Tai O village on stilts (photos) or go on a dolphin watching tour.
- Go for a hike (see our hiking page) or take a walking tour of Hong Kong. The Tourist Board offers a free architectural tour introducing visitors to Hong Kong's colonial heritage. Alternatively, take yourself for a walk along one of the Hong Kong Heritage trails or along the Avenue of Stars in TST (see video below), which celebrates the Hong Kong film industry. The MTR suggests a number of short city walks based around their subway stations. See if any of the attractions listed by the tourist board appeals to you.
- Go camping for the week-end. Dad Camp provides all the equipment and has pick-up/drop-off points in Central and Sai Kung. Events such as BBQs, kayaking and hiking are all included. If you prefer to DIY, Hong Kong campsites are free and pitches are allocated on a first-come basis. You can't book in advance and pitches are heavily in demand around holiday week-ends. Buy equipment from RC Outfitters or ProTrek.
- Depending on the age of your child, take out a junk for the day. For a flavour of what is in store, take a look at the Hip Hong Kong video below. You can either get together with other families and hire your own junk, or pay to join the Jaspers junk on a private trip. You can swim from the boat and the Jaspers junk includes food and drink. Children over 8 might prefer a 30 minute blast around the harbor with Seafari.
- Make use of your club membership. Your Hong Kong employer may have corporate membership of one of the many recreation clubs. Also, tenants may be eligible for membership of a residents club. Clubs such as the Discovery Bay Residents Club offer excellent facilities for the whole family.
- Teenagers might enjoy Arttjamming, bowling, airsoft shooting, paintballing, ice skating at Kowloon Tong or City Plaza, the warehouse or going on a course. Courses available include Chocolate Rain, Youth Theatre, Groove Dance, performing arts (tel: +852 2877 2625), Rock Band School, pottery making or send the kids on one of the many summer camps, such as those offered by Ooh La La.
If all else fails, you can go to one of the 57 Jumpin' Gyms, go bowling at Whampoaworld, visit SnoopyLand (New Town Plaza), or Kadoorie Farm.
The book
Adventures with Kids