NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Travel

Hong Kong sleepover: A family friendly layover

By Alexia Santamaria
Spy.co.nz·
23 Mar, 2019 09:00 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Skyline in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. Photo / Getty Images

Skyline in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. Photo / Getty Images

A big bustling city can still be a friendly place for the family to stop over, writes Alexia Santamaria.

When flying to the Northern Hemisphere with kids in tow, there are plenty of places to break up the long, long, time in that big metal tube. Hong Kong is an excellent choice as it's incredibly easy to see many of the highlights in a relatively short space of time. Even better, the public transport is frequent and efficient, and there's something for everyone on the food front.

Though you could easily fill up a week in Hong Kong, a 48 or 72-hour stopover would give you a pretty good idea of what this vibrant, fun city is all about. Here's a family friendly itinerary I've tried, that works pretty well.

Big Buddha, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Photo / Getty Images
Big Buddha, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Photo / Getty Images

DAY ONE

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Peak
Depending on what time you arrive, it's good to work out when in your stay you can take a trip up Victoria Peak (the highest point on Hong Kong Island). Yes, it's full of tourists but for good reason; the views over the shimmering cityscape of skyscrapers, beautiful harbour and out to the rolling hills of the New Territories are breathtaking. To avoid the queues, take a taxi up and the famous Peak Tram down and also make sure you check on the cloud cover as it can affect your views. Sunset is particularly stunning from this viewpoint, but it's worth going up at any time of the day.

Ding Ding trams
If you're hungry or keen to shop, the best way to get to food or retail therapy is like the locals do, on a Ding Ding tram. You'll love riding these colourful double-decker trams as much as the kids, and sitting at the top is a great way to view the chaotic, vibrant energy that is Hong Kong — without being right in it. Take a tram to Times Square for shopping and stop at any of the local eateries on the way — you can't go too far without stumbling on a dim sum joint, a bakery selling egg tarts, or a restaurant with Hong Kong's famous roast duck, pork and goose glistening on hooks in the window. Most malls — there are a lot — will have pretty decent food courts to please any fussy eaters in your entourage.

Markets
If you're up to it, you might want to check out a market or two in the afternoon; or leave it till the evening if you need to head back to your hotel for a rest. You'll find wet markets all over the city — a great insight into how locals buy their fresh food — but there are also all kinds of quirky specialty ones too: one for electronics, one for jade products, even one exclusively for goldfish. Kids will love the Ladies Market (think leather goods, pottery, souvenirs, branded caps and shirts, cutesy toys, accessories and so much more) — it's a fun lesson in bargaining for them too. Temple Street Markets are a perfect evening one-stop-shop; you can eat there, shop for almost anything you can imagine — and several things you can't — and be entertained by traditional opera singers and fortune tellers.

Star Ferry
An evening must-do is a trip on the Star Ferry on beautiful Victoria Harbour. It's not a long trip — 10 minutes one way — but it gives you a great view of one of the most spectacular skylines in the world. And if you time it right, you can catch the Symphony of Lights show, where searchlights, LED screens, lasers and other beams from Hong Kong's towering skyscrapers perform to a soundtrack by the Hong Kong Philharmonic (you can also view this from the shore — it's well worth seeing either way). The Star Ferries go every eight minutes from Hong Kong to Kowloon, and vice versa.

DAY TWO

If you're only on a two-day stopover you can actually check in to your departing flight at Hong Kong Train Station. This means your baggage can go on to the airport and you can head to Lantau Island to see Big Buddha. He really is very big, at a towering 23 metres, and bound to impress the kids — as will the panoramic cable car ride across to the island (book a Crystal Cabin with a glass floor if no one's afraid of heights). If your flight time permits, you can take a bus further to see traditional fishing villages and you may even be lucky enough to spot one of the famous pink dolphins. If huge statues and temples aren't your kids' thing, the same train line towards the cable car also stops at Hong Kong Disneyland, obviously a crowd-pleaser.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Victoria Peak, Hong Kong. Photo / Getty Images
Victoria Peak, Hong Kong. Photo / Getty Images

DAY THREE

If you have an extra day you can relax the itinerary a bit and spend more time eating at a leisurely pace or mooching round the malls and markets. And if you get sick of the city, it's only a very affordable, 15-minute taxi ride out to the closest beach or gorgeous hikes in the lush
green hills.

Discover more

Travel

Elon Musk's SpaceX promises Sydney to London in an hour

22 Mar 01:30 AM
Travel

Kiwis to require Europe ETIAS 'visa', from 2021

22 Mar 02:23 AM
New Zealand

Fog delays, cancels flights at Auckland airport

22 Mar 05:44 PM
Travel

Watch: Stricken cruise ship passengers in terrifying ordeal - 1300 evacuations

23 Mar 06:28 PM
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Travel

Travel

'Covered with bites': Auckland hostel issued cleansing order for bedbugs

04 Jul 05:00 PM
Travel

Cemeteries worth making a stop at in Europe

03 Jul 08:00 AM
Travel

Husband’s oversight grounds Auckland woman’s 60th Hawaii holiday – but he still goes

03 Jul 06:30 AM

One pass, ten snowy adventures

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Travel

'Covered with bites': Auckland hostel issued cleansing order for bedbugs

'Covered with bites': Auckland hostel issued cleansing order for bedbugs

04 Jul 05:00 PM

An enforcement officer confirmed the presence of bedbugs at the accommodation.

Cemeteries worth making a stop at in Europe

Cemeteries worth making a stop at in Europe

03 Jul 08:00 AM
Husband’s oversight grounds Auckland woman’s 60th Hawaii holiday – but he still goes

Husband’s oversight grounds Auckland woman’s 60th Hawaii holiday – but he still goes

03 Jul 06:30 AM
The Kiwi still teaching Aussies to wave after 30 years

The Kiwi still teaching Aussies to wave after 30 years

03 Jul 05:31 AM
Your Fiordland experience, levelled up
sponsored

Your Fiordland experience, levelled up

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP