GBA Lifestyle News
With school holidays and cooler weather on the horizon, it’s all systems go for venturing into the great outdoors. Whether you’ve got Black Ops training or are the type to bring a curling iron to camp, we’ve got you covered, so gear up!
It’s choose your own adventure at Sai Yuen Camping and Adventure Camp. Whether it’s star-gazing from a Geodesic dome, going back to nature in a Native American-style teepee, living the nomadic life in a Mongolian ger (yurt), or taking a DIY spin and pitching your own tent, there’s plenty of space to cater to every taste. The 11-acre campsite is located on the southwestern tip of Cheung Chau, and offers loads of activities like tree top canopy walks, abseiling, archery and a petting pen. Plus, all tents are equipped with air conditioning, indoor lighting, mosquito nets and private bathrooms just in case you aren’t ready to really “tough it out”.
Saiyuen, Cheung Chau, DD CC Lot 12, Click here for details
It’s all about #vanlife at Park Nature, where accommodation is a fleet of kitted-out caravans. Located at the foot of Kai Kung Leng Hill, with sweeping views of the entire Yuen Long district, Park Nature is a great outpost for outdoor activities like hiking on Kai Kung Leng, Nam Sang Wai Wetlands, mountain biking through numerous trails, and hobby farming. There’s even a pet salon on site to get Fluffy picture-perfect, and a Thai restaurant and barbecue pit to ward off hunger.
Fung Kat Heung, Yuen Long, Click here for details
Located a stone throw’s from Pui O Beach on Lantau Island, Galaxy Garden offers a stargazing experience with semi-transparent bubble tents set against a mountain backdrop that offers peaceful tranquility. Fruit trees and other unique foliage dot the property. Each tent is equipped with air-conditioning, although showers and toilets are separate facilities within the camp. There’s also a barbecue area on site, and the campsite is an easy walk to the beach as well as nearby wet lands.
Pui O, Lantau Island, Click here for details
Life’s a beach at this campsite along Lantau Island’s longest shoreline. Welcome Beach sits on 30,000 square meters of land on picturesque Cheung Sha beach, with easy access to water sports and restaurants along the coast. Fully equipped RVs with private bathrooms, living area and bedrooms give the impression of life on the road. Parked in a loop around a grassy field, guests can literally step off the RVs and onto the beach with their morning coffees. Guests also get a 30 percent discount when booking water-sports activities from nearby vendors, and the campsite can be booked out for private events and parties.
57 South Lantau Road, Lantau Island, Click here for details
Ever dream about going wherever your wheels take you? Now, driving enthusiasts can camp in the great outdoors on top of their beloved vehicles. Explore and park next to tucked away alcoves to bed down for the night in your very own roof top tent. Options are also available for rear canopies, tables, and furnaces. There’s a host of vehicles to choose from, ranging from Toyota, Volvo, BMW and Audi. Just remember, you must have a valid driver license and are responsible for any campsite fees depending on where you choose to park.
Click here for details.
If you’ve been inspired by Bear Grylls and want to go at it alone, then the world is your oyster, so to speak. You can pretty much pitch a tent in many of Hong Kong’s country parks and get a front row seat at Nature’s displays. Here are some of our recommendations:
Located off the northern peninsula of Sai Kung, this remote island is a very popular site for wild camping, meaning there are no camping facilities on offer. There’s no official campsite, so pitch your tent wherever you fancy. There is a flat grassy area that’s popular with campers, although on weekends and public holidays this area gets very crowded, so if you are after peace and tranquillity, then you better wander off a bit on the beaten path. Because of brush fire risks, there are also no campfires allowed, so make sure to bring provisions that do not require heat! Also, watch out for the feral cows! Moooooo….
How to find it: Take a bus or green taxi to Wong Shek Pier in Sai Kung and take the ferry to Tap Mun. Click here for ferry schedule.
Tucked away in Sai Kung Country Park, Long Ke Wan is one of our favorite beaches thanks to its fine, sandy white beaches and crystal clear blue waters. Its relative remoteness provides a quieter refuge than many other campsites. There are some simple barbecue pits and dry toilets onsite, but the resources are so limited that we suggest bringing everything you need, and you can always use drift wood for chairs and tables. The beach also borders Long Ke Training Centre, a drug rehabilitation facility established in 1981. There is quite a steep mountain trail to get to the campsite, so be prepared to do some hauling of camp gear! But the view and tranquility is well worth it.
How to find it: Once you arrive at Sai Kung Town, take a green taxi into Sai Kung Country Park (no private vehicles allowed unless you have a permit) and alight at East Dam at High Island Reservoir. Walk along section one of the MacLehose Trail to Long Ke Wan.
Wake up to sunrise on the beach from your own tent. Pui O Beach has several camp bays, complete with barbecue pits (free of charge) as well as public toilets and changing rooms. There are also restaurants and shops that sell all the necessities, saving you time and effort from lugging it all up with your camp gear. And if you have issues setting up camp, then you have plenty of glamping back-ups available nearby.
How to find it: Take the ferry from Central to Mui Wo, then take bus 1 or 4 to Tong Fuk. Or take the MTR to Tung Chung and take a taxi or bus to Pui O Town. Then it’s about a 30 minute walk to the campsite.
