View All
View All
View All
View All
View All
View All
View All
View All
View All
Take a trip to Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park! It’s a fun and educational day out in Sai Kung Country Park. Teach your kids the importance of the ocean at the Hoi Ha Wan WWF Centre or the newly opened Hoi Ha Wan Visitor Centre, and then get back to nature by exploring the calm waters by kayak or snorkel.
Beauty and biodiversity above and below the water are all on offer with a day out at Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park in Sai Kung. Just a 30-minute minibus ride from Sai Kung and you’ll be rewarded with a secluded natural hideaway. Appreciate Hoi Ha Wan marine park from above and below the water with plenty of hiking, kayaking and snorkelling opportunities. It’s sure to become one of your most memorable Hong Kong family day trips!
Jump To:
Hoi Ha Wan Visitor Centre
WWF Marine Life Centre Hoi Ha Wan
Hoi Ha Wan Kayaking
Hoi Ha Wan Snorkelling
Hoi Ha Wan Hiking
Other Things To See In Hoi Ha Wan
Food And Facilities At Hoi Ha Wan
Getting To Hoi Ha Wan
Read More: Sai Kung Neighbourhood Guide For Families
Hoi Ha Visitor Centre
Newly opened, Hoi Ha Wan Visitor Centre is the perfect place to start your day. Learn the importance of this biodiversity hotspot, take a tour underwater using VR goggles, and be entertained and informed by the interactive displays. It’s also worth checking out the self-guided tour map which has loads of interesting information on the area, including details the best snorkel spots to see the corals up close.
Opening Hours: 9:30am to 4pm daily except Tuesdays (closed)
Sassy Mama Tip: There is a water bottle refill station and bathroom facilities available 24 hours
Read More: Hong Kong Junk Boat Trips: Family-Friendly Boat Rentals
WWF Marine Life Centre, Hoi Ha Wan
Get to know more about the 60 coral and 120 fish species that call Hoi Ha Marine Park home. The WWF Marine Life Centre Hoi Ha Wan is well worth the easy 15-minute hike around the headland. Inside you’ll find a small educational display and gift store. It’s well worth planning ahead and booking the family in for the half-day eco-visit. It’s offered in both Cantonese and English and includes a classroom workshop explaining the importance of the marine park and a chance to use scientific equipment like microscopes and the real highlight, a glass-bottom boat ride to view the corals followed by a guided mangrove walk.
Sassy Mama Tip: Another spot with clean bathrooms and water refill stations
Read More: Your Family-Friendly Neighbourhood Guide To Peng Chau
Hoi Ha Wan Kayaking
The sheltered waters of Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park are perfect for first-time paddlers. Rent single or double kayaks ($150/ $250 per day) or try your hand at stand-up paddle boarding ($250). Need a bit more guidance? Book a kayak tour with Wild Hong Kong instead.
Read More: The Most Kid-Friendly Swimming Pools In Hong Kong
Hoi Ha Wan Snorkelling
Undoubtedly the best way to truly experience the marine biodiversity of 60 coral and 120 fish species up close is by snorkelling in the sheltered bay. There are coral communities throughout Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park, but some of the most accessible are found close to shore by entering the water near the Hoi Ha Pier (about a five-minute walk from the village). Don’t forget your mask, snorkel and fins, or hire a set in the village (around $40).
Read More: Best Beaches In Hong Kong To Visit With Your Family
Hoi Ha Wan Hiking
Sai Kung Country Park is full of amazing hiking trails that pass through Hoi Ha village and the marine park. One of the most scenic has got to be the coastal walk to Tai Tan (approx 6.8km or 2.5 hours). This moderate walk hugs the shore and offers some of the best uninterrupted sea and forest views in Hong Kong. Plus, you’ll pass hidden beaches begging for a dip. If you don’t want to commit to the full adventure, or you’ve got kids whose little legs won’t quite make it, it’s an easy 20-minute walk to the secluded Wan Tsai Beach where you can cool off with a swim.
Read More: Hiking Hong Kong With Kids: Best Hikes For Families
Other Things To See In Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park
Hoi Ha Lime Kilns
As you follow the Tai Tan Country Trail you’ll pass a little slice of history. Hoi Ha was the ideal spot for local villagers to collect shells and corals to make lime for use in agriculture and construction. It was a thriving industry in Sai Kung and the lime kilns in Hoi Ha were in use up until the 1930s.
Hoi Ha Beach And Mangroves
Excite your little eco-explorers by checking out the sandy estuaries. Freshwater streams mix with seawater to provide a rich mangrove ecosystem that acts as a nursery for fish, corals and other sea life. Keep your eye out for crabs, unique shells and water birds that all call this area home.
Read More: Kids’ Activities: Things To Do With Kids In Hong Kong This Month
Food And Facilities At Hoi Ha Wan
In Hoi Ha village you’ll find a few local cafés serving basic snacks and drinks. If you have kids who are picky eaters, best to pack a picnic! These cafés also rent out lockers, kayaks, snorkel gear, life jackets and beach umbrellas.
Read More: Hong Kong Dim Sum Restaurants: Our Favourite Yum Cha Spots To Visit With Kids
Getting To Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park
No private vehicles are allowed into Sai Kung Country Park without a permit, so you’ll either need to take a minibus or green taxi to Hoi Ha village.
Take New Territories GMB Minibus Route 7 from the main bus terminus at Sai Kung Pier. The first minibus leaves at 7:55am and there are departures every 30 minutes (every 20 minutes on Sunday and public holidays). The last departure from Hoi Ha village is 6:55pm (6:45pm on Sundays and public holidays). Full fare from Sai Kung to Hoi Ha village is $13.10 and the journey takes around 30 minutes.
You can also take a New Territories green taxi to Hoi Ha village. The fare from Sai Kung town is approximately $120 and the journey takes around 25 minutes.
Read More: 101 Things To Do In Hong Kong With Kids
