One of the easiest access coasteering routes in the Island.
- Beauty/fun: 7/10 Fun scrambling, several cliff jump opportunities, a semi deep cave, waterfalls after rainy days.
- Difficulty (check this link if new here, this is not your standard HK hiking web): 7/10. Mid to good grip rocks, there are a few points where you could be high if staying true to coasteering, although easily avoidable with short swims. Only one clear exit mid-way.
- Over three hours coasteering + another 40 minutes from the MTR till the starting point
- Approx. map
And the Garmin track.
MTR Chai Wan station. Walk towards Siu Sai Wan sports ground and promenade. Cape Collinson path till almost the end of the concrete. And there you will find some ropes guiding you down towards the sea. Just see in the video.
The route is quite straightforward. You will need to swim to start and from there onwards you will be walking on rocks, sand, swim bit more.
There is even a small sea cave, although was not very clean and we did not go much into it.
Two different gear options. Here myself with everything that I could think of on: helmet, goggles, GoPro, full backpack with dry stuff within dry bags (couple of kitchen zipper bags do the trick), camel bag, sleeves, gloves, two layers in my legs to avoid chaffing, I did not have knee pads but yes calf guards… Testing.
Or more simple just with a dry bag and little more.
Gloves are definitely a must but the rest depends a bit more on you.
The route offers a bit of everything. In my case, I am more comfortable climber than him and I was going up and down several small cliffs. He preferred to swim around any significant height. Mid-way you have a perfect spot to take a rest and even escape if necessary with a hiking exit next to a climbing area with bolted routes.
After the prison, you might see (depending on the rain of previous days) this waterfall too.
And end up in Big Wave Bay where to have a shower, dine and take (mini)bus back home.
Everything you should know before coasteering.
Pics of late May 2020, doing it reverse, part of a longer route starting from Shek O (full day Garmin track) and trying to scramble/climb as much as possible.
After the initial flatter part closer to the beach.
Scrambling starts.
and several walls to descend.
Arriving at the waterfall.
That you can carefully cross.
Just in front of the jail. A little after a fun wall to climb.
And start the real cliff jumps.
Back flip? Highly not recommended, unless you really, really know what you are doing.
As mentioned you can be sometimes high. Easily avoidable with short swims.
The deepest cave just
before arriving to the climbing walls.
After the main climbing bolted walls you have
several fun traverse sections. Perfect to practice your skills with water really close in case you fall.
Continue up and jump.
More walls.
Getting closer
to the pebble beach of Ngan Wan.
Last scramble before arriving at
Cape Collison.
From where to take the easy path marked on the map out back to the civilization. Or in my case, run back to the beach.
Update Sept 2021. We coasteered Big Wave to next bay, picked up 30 bags of plastic, brought to starting point and coasteered to Chai Wan. This time me and Diana till the first buildings. It adds barely 30 minutes more of coasteering with one wade and some ancient carvings.
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