In notoriously hilly Hong Kong, finding a long flat stretch to take the kids’ scooters (or bikes) can be a challenge. But delve a little deeper into Hong Kong’s parks and peaks and you will find some scooting gems. Here is a round-up of five scooter-friendly walks in Hong Kong – and all have some fabulous views thrown in for mum and dad too.
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Lugard Road
A great spot to head to when you have out-of-town guests in tow, Lugard Road circles the Peak in an approximately 3.5km loop. The views over Hong Kong island and across to Kowloon and the outlying islands are pretty much unbeatable, and there are plenty of eating and drinking options at the end (The Peak Lookout is a personal family favourite). If you have any energy in reserve after your scoot, hike up the hill and let the kids loose in the awesome Mt Austin playground and park.
Deep Water Bay Boardwalk
This stunning seaside boardwalk joins Repulse Bay Beach with Deep Water Bay Beach. It’s only around 2km, so easy to make it a return trip, and you will be rewarded with fabulous out-to-sea vistas, and views of beaches, islands, and the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club with all its sailing boats. There are a couple of beachside refreshment kiosks at Deep Water Bay, and several options in the Pulse at Repulse Bay… and of course you have two beautiful beaches to kick back on after the scoot.
Bowen Road
One of Hong Kong’s best-loved jogging trails, Bowen Road provides around 4km of car-free flatness, ideal for scooting fanatics. Meandering through greenery from Magazine Gap Road to Stubbs Road, the Bowen Road trail gives you up-close views of the Mid-Levels, Wan Chai and Happy Valley along the way, and there is a playground for the littlies. Note that Bowen Road is VERY busy with joggers at the weekend; so if you have a kamikaze scooter-boy like I do, be prepared for a few collisions.
Tai Po Waterfront Park
Tai Po Waterfront Park is a great destination for an energetic family. There are three separate playgrounds, lots of green space for picnics, a kite-flying zone, an insect walk with giant plastic grasshoppers, ladybirds and the like (yes, really), and miles of scoot-able pathways. But the highlight for scooter lovers is the 1.2km waterfront promenade, which is handily divided between a cycle path and a jogging trail (that means scooter trail to you and I), meaning less chance of being taken out by a crazed cyclist.
Tai Tam Reservoir Road
To get away from it all, head to the Tai Tam Reservoirs. Here you can hear the birds sing, take in the views of water and abundant greenery – and best of all, there’s not a skyscraper in sight. Most people will tell you to start this walk from the top, next to Parkview – but unless you are breeding stuntmen, you do not want to go near this with the scooters. Instead, start at the bottom, from Tai Tam Road and follow the Tai Tam Reservoir Road for a blissfully flat 1.5km or so. There is a fabulously spacious picnic spot at the end of this stretch, where you can barbecue, chase a ball and run around before heading back to the main road.
Where are your favourite places to take the scooters in Hong Kong? We are always looking for new scooting inspiration – please let us know in the comments below!