Five secret islands in HK: Perfect day trips for relaxing getaway (with transportation tips)

If you want to enjoy a peaceful and quiet holiday in Hong Kong, why stay in the bustling city when you can take a boat to the picturesque islands for a day trip? Experience the slow-paced lifestyle of the outlying islands. Besides the well-known islands like Cheung Chau, Lamma Island, and Tai O, several emerging hidden gems attract visitors. Let's follow the recommendations from the Hong Kong Tourism Board and explore these islands!

Po Toi Island: must-see ancient and natural wonders

Po Toi Island is the southernmost island in Hong Kong, known for its sparse population and stunning blue coastline, making it a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle. The island's geology is primarily granite, and nature lovers can hike on Po Toi Island, enjoying the sea breeze while taking photos of its unique rock formations. Po Toi is famous for its seaweed production, and several local shops and restaurants offer delicious dishes featuring this ingredient—be sure to try them during your visit!

Transportation Tips:

- Take a ferry from Aberdeen Pier (operates only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays), with a journey time of about 1 hour.

- Alternatively, take a ferry from Stanley Blake Pier (operates only on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays), with a journey time of about 30 minutes. Check the schedule before departure, as services are less frequent.

Tung Ping Chau: explore astonishing geological wonders of Hong Kong's most remote island

A ferry ride across Mirs Bay takes you to Hong Kong's easternmost island, Tung Ping Chau, which forms the tip of a unique geological formation that is part of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark. Here, the sea and time have carved and moulded rocks into other-worldly shapes and precise geometric patterns, a temple stands beside buildings devoured by trees, and turquoise waters shelter dozens of coral species. After centuries of habitation, the island's unique heritage entices visitors back to marvel at its many natural wonders.

Transportation Tips:

From MTR University Station, take bus 272K and get off at the first stop at Ma Liu Shui Public Pier for the ferry to Tung Ping Chau; or you can take a five-minute taxi ride from the station to the pier. Ferries operate only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The ferry takes about 1.5 hours.

Tap Mun (Grass Island): hike through rustic fishing villages and visit a 400-year-old temple

Tap Mun, located in the northeastern part of Hong Kong in the Tai Po District, offers expansive sea views and lush green pastures. It's a perfect spot for camping, picnicking, kite-flying, stargazing, and watching sunsets. The island retains its traditional fishing village charm, with the aroma of various seafood wafting through the streets. When you get hungry, don't miss trying the local specialties—sea urchin fried rice and deep-fried squid balls.

Transportation Tips:

Take a taxi from the MTR University Station Exit B to Ma Liu Shui Pier, then transfer to a ferry for a journey of about 1.5 hours. Alternatively, take bus 94 from Sai Kung town center to Wong Shek Pier, then transfer to a ferry for a journey of about 35 minutes.

Yim Tin Tsai: discover secluded island's salt-making past and contemporary arts and culture

Artworks, including a larger-than-life wooden sculpture and a colorful birdhouse tower, greet visitors at the tiny, once-abandoned island of Yim Tin Tsai, near Sai Kung Peninsula. The island, once the site of a Hakka Catholic village, has an almost 300-year history. Today it is home to numerous unique cultural heritage sites, including two UNESCO award-winning attractions — the salt pans (or yim tin, in Cantonese), which inspired its name, and the elegant century-old St Joseph's Chapel. Dozens of artworks, co-created by artists and villagers for the Yim Tin Tsai Arts Festival since 2019, have helped it become a dynamic, open museum and a hotspot for Instagram-worthy photographs.

Transportation Tips:

MTR Choi Hung Station's Exit C2 leads to the stop for minibus 1A, which goes to the terminus near Sai Kung Pier. You can also take bus 92 from MTR Diamond Hill Station, which stops at Sai Kung Bus Terminus near the public pier. You will find Sai Kung's Yim Tin Tsai ticket and reception booth near the minibus terminus, next to the waterfront. The ferry from Sai Kung New Public Pier usually runs from Tuesdays to Sundays, with the first ferry leaving at 10 am. The ride takes about 15 minutes.

Snorkeling off the coast of Sharp Island (Kiu Tsui Chau)

Many Hongkongers go snorkeling in the city's coastal waters during the hot summer months. You needn't be an athlete to enjoy this water sport because the city has many sites with calm shallows suitable for beginners. One excellent location is Sharp Island (or Kiu Tsui Chau), a short kaito (ferry boat) ride from Sai Kung in the New Territories. The island, stretching 2,500 metres from north to south, offers idyllic beaches, stunning geology, panoramic vistas of mountains and islands and — just beneath the waves — a long, unbroken coral reef teeming with colourful marine life.

Transportation Tips:

MTR Choi Hung Station's Exit C2 leads to the 1A minibus stop, which goes to the terminus near Sai Kung Pier. You can also take bus 92 from MTR Diamond Hill Station, which stops at Sai Kung bus terminus near the public pier. On the waterfront and at the Sai Kung New Public Pier, a number of small kaito operators — each with a distinctive flag — offer return trips to Sharp Island. They will drop you off at Kiu Tsui Pier. They will inform you of the return schedule when you buy your ticket. Make sure you keep the ticket for your return — and look out at the pier for your Kaito's flag.

 

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