Coasteering in Hong Kong: Where to start your adventure as a beginner

Tai Tam Bay is a picturesque bay in the southeastern part of Hong Kong Island. The bay is surrounded by residential areas, hiking trails, and the Tai Tam Country Park, making it a favoured spot for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Its shoreline is ideal for coasteering due to its rocky terrain, caves, and cliffs, offering an exhilarating and accessible route for the sport. Sharman has noted that the area provides several exciting obstacles to enjoy. There are also two excellent spots for exciting jumps and invigorating plunges into the water, ensuring a thrilling and enjoyable experience. Depending on your speed and ability, the beginner route can take you around three hours to finish. Some may take longer, depending on how fast they swim and scramble or how many stops they make, especially if they stop to take pictures.

Distance: 3km
Time: 3-3.5 hours
Top tip from HKOutsider: This route is best explored during high tide, allowing you to enjoy jumps and deep plunges into the ocean.

Middle Island is located just off the southern shore of Hong Kong Island, between Deepwater Bay and Repulse Bay. While it serves as the exclusive location for the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC), Middle Island also boasts a serene and inviting sandy beach that is open to the public, and despite its small size, it is a fantastic destination for coasteering. In just a quick two-minute boat ride from Deep Water Bay, you can easily reach the island. However, adventure groups typically opt to swim for five minutes, embarking on the coasteering experience as they traverse the water. The island's impressive rock formations and small caves provide an ideal playground for exploration and adrenaline-pumping coasteering. While there are mandatory swims involved, you have the option to swim slightly further to bypass any challenging scrambling sections. This flexibility ensures that adventurers of varying skill levels can fully enjoy the coasteering experience.

Distance: 2.5km
Time: 2.5 hours
Top tip from HKOutsider: Circle the island in a clockwise direction for a more challenging obstacle course. 

Shek O and Big Wave Bay are popular destinations renowned for their beautiful beaches. However, the landscapes surrounding these crowded beaches boast coastal features such as rugged rock formations and small caves, making them an ideal location for coasteering enthusiasts. As you journey along the route, you'll even come across remnants of World War II structures near the golf club. The climbing terrain is moderately gentle, with clearly defined sections for accessing and leaving the water. Navigating the terrain and the water is uncomplicated, but it's crucial to remain mindful of the weather and tide conditions, particularly in the Big Wave Bay area, which is renowned for its surfer-friendly waves.

Distance: 3km
Time: 3 hours
Top tip from HKOutsider: Bring a snorkelling or diving mask if you want to explore underwater. 

Ap Lei Pai is a small, uninhabited island connected to Ap Lei Chau. The island is a popular destination for climbers, hikers, and nature enthusiasts because of its scenic trails. Additionally, it offers excellent opportunities for coasteering due to its diverse coastal landscape, featuring rocky cliffs, sea caves, and pristine beaches that provide ideal spots for plunging into the water. You can take a short kaito ride from the Ap Lei Chau Ferry Pier to reach the island, or you can take Lei Tung Estate Road and begin with a hike. It's important to note that there are no facilities or amenities available on the island, so be sure to bring water, snacks, and any necessary supplies for your visit.

Distance: 4km
Time: 3.5 hours
Top tip from HKOutsider: The area offers numerous hiking trails that provide breathtaking views of the South China Sea and interesting geological formations. Be sure to explore in and out of the coasteering route at different points to fully experience the scenic sites. 

The Southwest Lantau Marine Park is situated in the southwestern coastal waters adjacent to Lantau South. The coastal landscape surrounding the park showcases colourful and distinctive rock formations that create a perfect environment for coasteering. The waves in this area are gentle, making navigation relatively easy, while the fascinating rock formations provide exciting challenges and opportunities for scrambling. As a marine park, Southwest Lantau serves as a habitat for a wide range of marine and coastal species. Coasteering in this area offers a unique opportunity to observe and appreciate the park's ecological diversity.

Distance: 4km
Time: 3.5 hours
Top tip from HKOutsider: This route is quite a distance from the city, so plan to spend the day exploring the countryside, beaches, and unique villages.

Bluff Island, situated in the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, is renowned for its captivating Hexagonal Volcanic Rock Columns. These extraordinary rock formations make it an ideal location for coasteering, offering routes suitable for participants of different skill levels. You can find routes that match your abilities and comfort levels. Expect great spots for scrambling and several cliff-jumping. With comparatively clear water, a lot of fun plunging action can be done here. Access to the island can be obtained either through a private boat or by hiring a speedboat from Sai Kung Pier.

Distance: 2.5km
Time: 2.5 hours
Top tip from HKOutsider: The island's coastal landscape is breathtaking, with stunning views of the ocean, rugged cliffs, and natural rock formations. Make sure to dedicate a day to explore this picturesque island.