Summer Fun: 5 HK Water Sports To Try From Night Kayaking To A Fitness Pool Park

Summers in Hong Kong can make you feel sluggish and lazy, what with the constant mid-30s temps and ridiculously high humidity levels… But island life also means long coastlines, endless beaches and beautiful bays: ideal for a more water-based life. Our fair city is also home to tons of bays and beaches. To get you through this sticky summer, we’ve found some of the best water-based activities in the city. Make a splash with these water games or pick up a new favorite hobby.

Water Obstacle Park: Core HK Aquatic Playground

The ultimate water obstacle park located in New Territories, Core is a great way to beat the heat with the whole family. This floating playground is a series of inflatable slides, runways, ladders, trampoline bouncers and more for hours of fun and entertainment.

2 Hung Lam Drive, Tai Po Kau, New Territories, +852 2465 3468, cs@trinergy.hk. Purchase tickets here. 

Underwater Exploring: Snorkeling In Hoi Ha Wan

On the north of Sai Kung Peninsula sits Hoi Ha Wan, one of Hong Kong’s four marine parks. An idyllic bay full of marine sea life and crystal clear waters, it’s the ideal place to do some underwater exploring. Countryside Adventure Tours has a great day excursion showcasing the best of Hoi Ha Wan’s beauty, namely its coral reefs. You’ll have to kayak a bit to get to several of the famed coral colonies (the number of different corals apparently rivals that of the Maldives and the Great Barrier Reef combined!) but you will be amply rewarded with three full hours of uninterrupted snorkeling.

Hoi Ha Village, Sai Kung, +852 6053 6076, info@advenutretours.hk. Click here for more information or send a message on Facebook.

Walking On Water: SUP Boarding In Stanley

For those that want to feel the salt in the air and the sand in their hair, there’s always SUP Boarding. Short for Stand Up Paddle (SUP), this new water sport has become all the rage over the past few years and the folks over at HK Aqua-Bound Centre in Stanley have you covered if you want to get onboard (sorry!). You can go for an hour-long lesson combined with another hour of paddle boarding or you can go with their hourly rental option so it’s very flexible. Though keep in mind, all renters must be able to swim at least 50 meters in the sea.

Stanley Main Beach, +852 8211 3876, aquaboundhk@gmail.com. Click here for more information or send a message on Facebook. 

Nocturnal Adventure: Night Sea Kayaking In Cheung Chau

If the idea of being out in the sun is enough to illicit unwanted perspiration in you, don’t sweat it. A-Team EDventures have just the (sunless) activity for you: a nocturnal kayak through Cheung Chau! Paddle under the night sky on a beautiful island away from the city and if you get lucky, see some bioluminescence (glow-in-the-dark plankton) in all their eerily neon blue glory.

Cheung Chau, New Territories, +852 2560 8838, info@ateamedventures.com. Click here for more information or send a message on Facebook. 

Quicksilver Quest: Learn To Surf At Big Wave Bay

The quintessential summer sport, surfing is not just California dreamers. Learn to surf in Shek O’s Big Wave Bay with the boys from HK Waterman. Both experienced open water enthusiasts, they surf in Big Wave Bay all year round and provide group surf lessons or if you’d prefer, private surf coaching. Be warned though: summers in Hong Kong are plagued by long, flat spells so make sure to check the surf report or give them a shout to find out what the waves are like before you go!

Big Wave Bay Beach, Shek O, +852 6875 0040, send a message on Facebook.

Photo courtesy of Pexels (lead), Core, and BKAdventure.