Living in Hong Kong is a wonderful thing as we are surrounded by nature and our children can escape the busy city life by jumping into a minibus for the next big outdoor adventure. And cascading waterfalls are no exception in this great city! There are plenty of picturesque sites to see, have fun chasing Hong Kong's family-friendly waterfalls!
One of HK's best secret, Ma Dai is situated in Ma On Shan Country Park. Although it's a relatively short hike to get to, it's best to take the other kids. To get there, take the MTR to Tai Shui Hang, take exit B and follow Hang Tak street on your left. The trail commences towards the stream is on your left-hand side that leads to a dam. End the end of this trail turn left again where you'll see another dam and a bridge, cross that bridge and turn left and you'll have found this water haven.
Ma Dai Stream, Click here for more detailed instructions.
This one is definitely for the older teens and experienced hikers, but well worth the trip. If you're in it mainly for the waterfall then it's recommended to this fairly long and tricky hike (wear good boots, as the trail is wet) in reverse. Once arrived there are fair few beautiful waterfalls and pools where you and the fam bam can cool down in. It's a little complicated to get there so follow the below instructions closely.
Lotus Stream, Click here for detailed instructions.
Why hike to one when you can see several falls in one outing. Get your little ones into slip-proof shoes and their swimmers before heading on this outing - they’ll get wet before even arriving at the clear pool and waterfalls at this Fanling wonder. From the MTR station take bus 78K to Nam Chung and walk 35 minutes along Luk Keng Road to the stream before following it to the falls.
Ping Nam Waterfall, Click here for more detailed directions.
It’s no wonder that Tai Mei Tuk is a family retreat on weekends and now there’s one more reason: Brides Pool and Mirror Pool - two beautiful, pristine falls within a short hike. If you don’t want to hike, on Sundays and public holidays, there’s the 275R bus that takes visitors directly to the pool from Tai Po Market East Rail Line station.
Brides Pool & Mirror Pool, Click here for more detailed directions.
The ingredients to a successful family day out is a good mix of different activities and a simple meal to fuel up at the end of all the fun. Head to Kadoorie Farm and spend the day picking fruits or hanging out with the animals, before diving into the Great Falls to cool down. There’s also a lovely cafe for the whole family bunch to enjoy afterward. Call ahead for parking directions.
Kadoorie Farm, Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong, +852 2483 7200, [email protected], www.kfbg.org.hk.
Part of Tai Mo Shan Country Park, this waterfall is accessible from Tai Wo MTR station. Simply take the 64K KMB bus from the station and follow signs along a 90-minute hike through nature trails. There are four falls at the end of the trail, ranging from smaller, scattering waterfalls to a large one that cascades from a high peak. There’re also pretty panoramas along the trail as well making the journey just as fun as the destination.
Ng Tung Chai, Click here for more detailed directions.
This is where you should bring older children or at least ones that are strong enough swimmers or divers to jump off a two-story waterfall as many have done here. Have fun but play it safe! From Sai Kung town, take a cab to Sai Wan Pavilion and follow the trail to Sai Wan beach. When you see a milepost by a bridge that says KK 291795, the stream is just beside that bridge.
Sheung Luk Stream, Click here for more detailed directions.
As if Tai Tam couldn’t get any prettier, they’ve also got an unofficial waterfall amid lush, woodlands close to the reservoir. Bring your kiddos with you - this one is a breezy walk. To get there, head North-West along the Hong Kong trail from the Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir dam. Cross a bridge with a handrail and next to the wooden bridge, there’s a rough path and a tiny stream to the left.
Tai Tam Mound Waterfall, Click here for more detailed instructions.
Find this hidden gem inside the Wah Fu Estate in Pok Fu Lam. The cascade, which drops vertically from a very high vantage point, is easily reachable by bus 40, 40M, 30X and 4 from Central. You won’t have the hassle of rounding up your wee ones and getting them to trek out to the middle of nowhere for this close encounter with nature.
Pok Ful Lam, Click here for more detailed instructions.
Unless your family is really, really outdoorsy, we don’t recommend this to be your first outing, and it’s not one for the faint of heart. The trek requires you to do a bit of rock climbing and scaling, or to get wet as there are several portions where you’ll have to tread in light water. But once there, the scenery is incredible, and it’s doable in a couple of hours hiking from Tung Chung MTR station.
Wong Lung Hang, Click here for more detailed instructions.
Hop on the ferry to Mui Wo and spend the day in Lantau, which is fast becoming our favorite spot for quick and easy weekends out of the city. Once off the ferry, follow the path to the beach and walk along that trail. Take the bridge over the creek and walk past Chinese houses until you get to a narrow footpath and follow it to the falls.
Silvermine Waterfalls, Click here for more detailed instructions.
Our hand-picked resources to help get you to the waterfalls:
* Hike Hong Kong - complete with photos and step-by-step directions to get you to and back from the waterfalls.
* TrailWatch - Hong Kong-based hiking and conservation app to help you track or plan routes and distances.
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