One of the very Instagramy rocks on the Hong Kong coastline. Relatively easy or difficult to reach depending on your preferences & the tide.

See full screen & the Garmin track.

The public transportation to the start is limited and Google Maps does not guide you to the best option. Take the MTR to Po Lam and head down to the Public Transportation Interchange, which is under the MTR station. Find the 16 minibus. The only one going to Po Toi O. You could try to take it next to Hang Hau (as Google Map suggests), but frequently it will be full on good weather days. Get down on the stop closest to the Clear Water Bay Golf and Country Club. Remember to shout the driver that you want to go down there or you might need to walk up from Po Toi O. 1 minute walking towards the Club and next to the outer parking the stairs down to the Temple.

Start just next to the pier.

Video of my full outing.

First tricky scramble or just getting your outsoles wet here.

Hikers have set up a path even higher with a downclimb with a dodgy rope that you can see above if you zoom in enough. Both are completely unnecessary. At mid-tide and with some small waves

I was able to pass under just getting my shoes’ outsole wet 🤷‍♂️ A bit later you have more cliffs where to scramble on just before arriving at the Beak.

You can get on the beak itself through its back. Be careful… My guess is that soon someone, not well prepared, will have an accident there. High enough to be dangerous.

Once you pass the Beak the coasteering gets really easy and therefore quite some people come from this side instead (explained later). A bid sandy area later. Nice cove but for all the plastic trash behind.

A bit further West there is a landslide zone, with relatively new broken rocks. Easy to pass under. More pebble/sandy areas and then I crossed to the islet. I see it has different names: Ta Miu Chau 大廟洲 = Big Temple island or Joss House Islet in Openstreetmaps.

I got wet waist-deep to pass there. The islet itself is pretty cute and the tiny beach in front would be quite nice but for being next to the landfill…

The hike back was… messy. I could see some ropes and the signs of a previous path. But very faint. Eventually, I decided to go North in a straight line to find the path marked on Openstreetmaps. I kind of found it but it was not much of an improvement. Several ribbons around to make it clear that people had been there before, but quite bushy. Not thorny anywhere, but happy to be fully covered. There was just only one fork heading up to Tin Ha Shan. Instead, I continued under and went back towards the hiking path just above the coastline of the Beak to do a full loop. Easy to spot in this drone picture.

I checked also the paths heading down to the sea level. On the map, I have marked green the easiest to approach the Beak. As per my Google search, it seems that most hikers use that path, like in this post. Go down through a mini bamboo forest, with ribbons and even some “handrail” ropes. Just next to the shoreline a small man-made pool. Turn East and in no time you arrive at the Beak. If you continue just a little further you arrive at the path out through the red marker. Way more tricky. Tons of loose rocks on top of a small cliff that you need to climb. The climb itself is not too difficult, but a bit high, and the rope I found there is quite dodgy again. Once you pass that area, easy to hike on.

A few pics for the record. In order but for the first one. Including the mentioned rope climb/descents.

My recommendation, once I have checked all this area. Go wet coasteering under. Exit through the green path. If you are OK with the idea I would suggest going to the islet, cute, but coasteering back to green. Only do the full loop if you really like bushwalking. I do have buddies who enjoy it. If so, you could go longer and hike back to the civilization through High Junk peak paths.

Everything you should know before coasteering.