The city’s ding-ding trams have been in operation for more than a century. Photo / 123rf
Anyone who’s anyone knows that 2025 is the year of the Hong Kong sojourn. Whether you’re looking for a destination that boasts it all, or you’re keen to break up your long-haul adventure by having a holiday within a holiday, HK has it all, writes Ewan McDonald
You’ve done Australia and the Pacific islands and you’d like to spread your wings – well, the airline’s wings. Or you just don’t feel like hauling yourself the long way around the planet this time.
READ MORE: From Steamy Dim Sum To Sumptuous Fine Dining
So, you’re looking for somewhere that’s exotic, just a little different than the neighbours. Somewhere you’ll experience a different culture or shows, hear different languages but can get by with English, try gobsmacking food, get around easily. Oh, and some first-rate shopping wouldn’t go amiss, either.
Hong Kong, we’re looking at you.
Less than 12 hours flying time from Auckland or Christchurch – and Wellington when that new runway is commissioned – Kiwis used to regard the territory as a 24- or 36-hour stopover on the way to Europe.
Not anymore. Hong Kong is a world city and a discerning traveller’s destination in its own right. Here’s why you should be visiting this buzzing, dynamic, historic – and fun – town. In this surprisingly green gateway to Asia, the islands, parks and mountains are worth exploring, too.
And if you do want to kick on to Europe or elsewhere, there’s a pretty good airline operating out of Hong Kong that will be only too happy to take you.
In a couple of hundred words? Impossible to capture Hong Kong’s melting pot of culture and communities, ancient and modern, curated and chaotic, so let’s focus on some of the greatest hits.
From the historic, the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. Also known as Tian Tan Buddha, the 34m-high statue is made from more than 200 bronze pieces and took 12 years to complete; to get up close, you’ll have to climb 268 steps. The monastery is a significant Buddhist centre. Wong Tai Sin temple houses three religions - Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism – inside its golden-roofed, red-pillared, brightly coloured walls.
Time to chill? Lantau Island, nested at the Pearl River mouth, has sandy beaches, fishing, countryside and beautiful monasteries.
Contemporary inspiration? That’s a no-brainer. The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the world’s largest cultural projects, blending art, open space, hotel, office and residential developments and retail, dining and entertainment on reclaimed harbourfront land.
When complete it will provide about 23ha of public open space with 2km of waterfront promenade as a well as a host of arts and cultural facilities that will produce and host world-class exhibitions, performances, and arts and cultural events.
The Arts Pavilion, Art Park, Freespace, Hong Kong Palace Museum, M+ and the Xiqu Centre are open with a breathtaking range of exhibitions and performances from around the world, from the traditional to the popular to the cutting-edge. Or you can just wander around the precinct, enjoy the view and the cafes, and think: “Gee, I wish the Auckland Council had the energy and ambition to create something like this.”
One of the great things about Hong Kong is that, whatever you’re looking for in dining, entertainment, accommodation, the city offers it at every level from ultra high-end to budget.
So it is with shopping: it’s home to luxury malls like IFC, Pacific Place and Elements for brands like Gucci or Chanel, and its street markets are an endless source of entertainment, people-watching and souvenirs.
Best-known sites are the Ladies’ Market, a 1km stretch of Tung Choi St that sells anything for women, including cosmetics, watches, apparel, purses, novelties and homewares (not that we’re saying these are only of interest to women, of course).
As the sun sets, fortune tellers, opera singers and shopkeepers set out their stalls in the seemingly endless labyrinth of Temple Street Night Market, one of the best spots to feel the local vibe. Stanley Market is known for silk textiles, jewellery, furnishings, clothing, unique gifts and excellent food. Goldfish Street does what it says on the bowl: sells goldfish.
For a snapshot of historic Hong Kong, Old Town Central snakes around sloped streets and near-overlooked alleys, easily walkable and crammed with heritage buildings, art galleries and local treats. Pair an egg tart with milk tea.
From market stalls to street food vendors to – at last count – 77 Michelin-starred restaurants, Hong Kong has a fair claim to be Asia’s culinary capital, its menu running from traditional Cantonese delicacies to innovative fusion dishes.
Foodies and anyone who likes to eat should seek out the Central Wet Market, an architectural landmark, recently updated into a contemporary three-level destination that’s as much a heritage cultural experience as a dining destination.
If you’ve ever had a night on Auckland’s Dominion Rd, you may think you know all there is to know about Cantonese cuisine: a few mouthfuls of the original flavours of sweet and sour pork, wonton, dim sum, spicy roast goose and fish balls, or any of the endless varieties of egg tart, and you may need to revise your opinion.
Party on … and on. This city is known for what we’ll discreetly call its “vibrant nightlife” and as one of the global hotspots for barflies – Bar Leone ranks #2 in the World’s 100 Best Bars; Coa, Argo and the Savory Project are high on the same drinks list. Bartenders in Hong Kong are known for their expertise and flair, and for pushing boundaries in their creations.
There are several party areas, each with a different personality. Probably the most renowned is Lan Kwai Fong, with more than 90 exclusive (read: expensive) bars and restaurants. Knutsford Terrace has a lengthy stretch of “lively” eateries, open-air locations, bars and after-hour clubs.
SoHo is a daytime spot for antique shops, galleries and boutiques. When the sun sets, the little strip buzzes with glitzy bars and fancy restaurants. Famous for the Ladies’ Market, Tung Choi St is more of a local hangout, lined with bars with dice games and buckets of bottled beer. Mingle with hometown folk while enjoying good-value cocktails.
The big players are Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park. Both have recently upscaled their offerings and there are some other, more out-there options to keep younger visitors away from their screens.
Disneyland retains old-school favourites like Dumbo the Flying Elephant and It’s A Small World but has incorporated immersive experiences such as the newly opened World of Frozen, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! and Iron Man Experience.
The sprawling 90ha Ocean Park allows guests to get close to nature as represented by sharks in a 360-degree aquarium, giant pandas and more, or tech-based thrills like the floorless rollercoaster and virtual reality-equipped turbo-drop ride.
On the Peak – the hill is a family attraction in itself - pop-culture junkies can meet their heroes (Bruce Lee) and heroines (Ariana Grande) at Madame Tussaud’s Hong Kong; board-game fans can roll the dice and start a family argument on the world’s first Monopoly-themed experience, Monopoly Dreams.
As we’ve mentioned, this isn’t just a concrete jungle. Hong Kong Wetland Park in the New Territories boasts a lush 60ha nature reserve teeming with plants and wildlife, including butterflies, mudskippers, fiddler crabs and a famous saltwater croc, Pui Pui, plus local art and interactive games.
It’s more getting up than getting around but riding the Peak Tram to the highest point on Hong Kong Island should be your first port – or station – of call. In recently refurbished carriages, you’ll wind through greenery, be at the same height as skyscrapers, and arrive at an unparalleled panorama.
At ground level, you’ll find frequent and cheap city buses, taxis, the metro and – another attraction in themselves – the Star ferries across the harbour. A favourite: the ding-dings, vintage double-decker trams that have ruled the streets for more than a century.
The best times are spring (March-April) and autumn (October-November). Summer (the bit in the mid-year) is often hot and humid with bonus typhoons; winter, which happens over our summer, is cool and dry.
We could say, “It depends on what you want to see or do,” but because Hong Kong’s public transport is so good and the area so small, that really doesn’t come into it. The major locations are Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories (including islands like Lantau). If you want to be right among the action, choose north Hong Kong Island or Kowloon Peninsula; the islands offer a less frenetic experience.
Kiwi (and many other) passport holders enjoy visa-free entry into Hong Kong for 90 days. Usual rules apply: make sure your passport is valid for at least the next six months and has a blank page. If you travel on another passport, check your national authority’s travel website for official information.
GETTING THERE
Fly non stop from Auckland to Hong Kong International Airport with Cathay Pacific in approx. 11.5 hours.
DETAILS
From skipping the queues to planning your parade spot, here's all you need to know.