Tiny cute islands in the far North. Once impossible to reach but with a boat or your own kayaks. Way more accessible now for good & bad.
- Beauty/fun: 5.5/10 clearer water, a few good scrambling points, varied colored rocks. Small islands requiring long logistics.
- Difficulty (check this link if new here, this is not your standard HK hiking web): 4/10 well protected from swell and partly wind. There are a few scrambling (even high traverses) possible, but you can easily avoid them. Small islands. It can be a long day considering the logistics to start and finish.
- The map (how to download to your phone offline maps)
See full screen & the Garmin track.
Once upon a time a few ventured to all this area close to Shenzhen. I was “the crazy one” trail running and swimming to see the islands. Later ferries started heading to Crook Island and others. Now there are kayaks available for rental too. Still relatively quiet, but soon to have bigger crowds. There might be even Government plans to promote outdoor activities there.
University MTR station, walk to Ma Liu Shui pier, ferry to Lai Chi Wo, and concrete hike to Sam A. There we had our kayak ready for pick up. Super convenient. Just WhatsApp him (+852 5938 6360) a day before, PayMe, and very decent sea kayaks with skirts and everything ready to pick up in the spot (single $400/day, double $500). Sit-on tops are available too ($250 for a single, $350 for a double). Get everything ready and kayaking time in the calmest sea possible.
Video of the full route.
Our first destination was Mini Port 😄 The real name is Pak Sha Chau 白沙洲 Round Island. But it is not round and there is another better-known island with the same name (in English) where we had coasteered. It kinda looks like Port Island, similar rock color and a few structures. But a lot smaller. Therefore our nickname.
We landed in this tiny sandy area.
Not the easiest, as you can watch in the video, with the sit in kayak. From there we coasteered clockwise.
Best scrambling on the Northern side. On the South side the slope decreased and you can hike up the hill to see the views around. Cute but way less impressive than the real Port.
Video with drone footage
Get on the kayak and to the second stop of the day: 洋洲 Yeung Chau.
A lot easier landing spot and scrambling too. Even if it is significantly bigger than the previous we did it all faster. Nice color rock and clear water sections. With views on the North of the tiny 黃泥洲 Wong Nai Chau where we had swum in our Kat O to Crescent outing.
Third stop on 虎王洲 Fu Wong Chau.
Prettier than almost any part of the Double Haven coastline. But a bit worse than the previous two. Above all because of the amount of trash on it.
Early January, early sunset, nice colors when we headed to the starting point to leave the kayak. The ferry departs at 15:30 from Lai Chi Wo. Therefore it was not an option for us. Instead we hiked for around 1 hour (a bit of jogging included) to Wu Kau Tang Bus Terminus. But there are only buses there on Sundays and public holidays. Next mini bus more than an hour later. Taxi out.
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