Shek O Beach: Your Ultimate Family-Friendly Guide To Shek O (2024)

Shek O Beach is perfect for a day out with the family! — a picturesque beach adventure that’s just a mere 30 minutes from the skyscrapers of Hong Kong.

Shek O Beach, facing the South China Sea and surrounded by Shek O Country Park, is one of the most scenic beaches on Hong Kong Island and is perfect to spend a day with the family! Cradled between two mountains and literally meaning ‘rocky bay’, Shek O is a popular and family-friendly destination offering clear and calm waters for everyone to enjoy. A welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong, head out to Shek O and explore all it has to offer.

Read More: Best Beaches In Hong Kong To Visit With The Family

How To Get To Shek O Beach

The easiest way to access Shek O Beach is via MTR to Shau Kei Wan on the Island line. Exit via A3 from the station and catch bus number 9 at the bus terminus. Alternatively, take a taxi from Shau Kei Wan station directly to Shek O Beach.

On weekends and public holidays, Citybus operates an express bus number X9 from Shek O directly back to North Point, Causeway Bay and Central in the afternoon. In 30 minutes you can be back in the centre of Hong Kong!

Sassy Mama Tip: Grab a window seat on the right side of the bus for amazing views!

If you are driving, make sure to get there early, especially on weekends. Parking is limited and located right at the beach.

Things To Do With Family At Shek O Beach

Family morning at Shek O Beach — Allow the sun and sea to wash away the weekday woes

Pack the beach towels, swimmers and sun protection and head out for a morning at the beach. Shek O offers gentle waves, so it’s a popular weekend destination for families. Get there early, stake your spot (you can rent umbrellas and sun lounging chairs) and relax on the glorious, soft white sand while the kids splash about.

Read More: Where To Buy Kids Swimwear In Hong Kong – Swimsuits For Baby And Up

Hiking with the kids at Shek O Country Park — Stunning views of unique geological features

There are two hiking trails recommended for kids in the Shek O Country Park. Pottinger Peak Country Trail is an easy 2km, 1.5-hour walk with views south to Big Wave Bay and Shek O or east towards Clearwater Bay. A moderate but paved, and therefore stroller-friendly route, is the D’Aguilar Peninsula path (7km) from Shek O Beach to Cape D’Aguilar Lighthouse. The well-known Dragon’s Back hike is also a popular option, though better for older children.

Read More: Stroller-Friendly Hikes Hong Kong – Easy Hiking Trails And Accessible Walks

Lunch BBQ by Shek O Beach — Perfect for catching up with family and friends

Nothing beats the combination of fresh air, sunshine and good food! Let the kids run free on the beach, discover the playground and try out their skills at the free mini golf course. The adults can take advantage of the 40 free barbeque fire pits available to cook up a lunch feast (available on a first-come-first-served basis) located right next to the playground. Don’t forget your BBQ utensils and remember to clean up the BBQ afterwards!

Read More: The Best Outdoor Playgrounds And Parks In Hong Kong

Shek O Village Stroll — A mix of quaint buildings and Chinese history

The brilliantly coloured buildings of Shek O Village are reminiscent of European seaside villages. Explore the Instagram-worthy streets before taking in the historic Tin Hau temple believed to be built in 1891, the memorial archway at the entrance to the town and the recently rebuilt Blue Bridge also known as Lover’s Bridge, popular for wedding shoots.

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Dining At Shek O Beach

While you can always opt for a beachside barbeque, Shek O alos features many Thai restaurants and several other wonderful and affordable options.

Shek O Thai Restaurant – An open-air restaurant featuring Thai and Chinese cuisine. Location Map.
Lulu’s Cafe – Friendly staff, all-day breakfast and great coffee. Location Map
Ming’s Cafe – A Shek O institution with great smoothies and bacon and egg rolls. Location Map
Cococabana – Upmarket, Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with a kids’ menu. Location Map
Daphne – Delicious, high-quality pizza and pasta dishes. Location Map

Read More: Thai Restaurants In Hong Kong – Our Top Thai Food Picks For The Family

Tips For Visiting Shek O Beach With Family

Both Shek O and Big Wave Bay beaches have changing rooms, shower facilities and bathrooms which are all generally neat and clean.
The local shops opposite Shek O Beach have an extensive range of inflatables, beach balls, buckets and spades.
There is no ATM at Shek O Beach or Village so remember to bring cash with you if you intend to hire an umbrella or buy lunch.
Renting an umbrella and two sun-lounger chairs costs about $100 for the day.
Lifeguards are on duty throughout summer (9am to 6pm on weekdays, 8am to 7pm on weekends and public holidays from June to August) but there are no lifeguards during winter (November to March).
Download a taxi app to ensure you can get a taxi when the little ones reach their limit and it’s time to head home quickly.

Main image courtesy of Unsplash, image 1 courtesy of LN9267, CC BY-SA 4.0via Wikimedia Commons, image 2 courtesy of Dirk Ingo Franke, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, image 3 courtesy of Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 4.0via Wikimedia Commons, image 4 courtesy of Cococabana, image 5 courtesy of April Yau.

FAQs

GETTING THERE – MTR Island Line to Shau Kei Wan Station exit A3 then from nearby Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus take number 9 bus* (approx every 15/20 mins) for Shek O. Get off at the junction of Shek O Road with Big Wave Bay Road (at a sharp U-turn) from where it is about 10 minutes walk to Big Wave Bay Village and beach.

From Central, take bus 6, 6x or 260 from Exchange Square (MTR Central Station Exit A / MTR Hong Kong Station Exit B1) to the Repulse Bay Beach bus stop. From Jardine's Bazaar in Causeway Bay, take minibus 40 or 40X to the Repulse Bay Beach bus stop.

The best way to get from Central to Shek O without a car is to bus which takes 21 min and costs $1 - $2. How long does it take to get from Central to Shek O? The bus from [Ctb] Central to [Ctb] Lan Nai Wan, Shek O Road takes 21 min including transfers and departs four times a week.

Hong Kong has no shortage of beautiful beaches, but 10 of them stand above the rest, ranging from popular choices, perfect family beaches to hidden beaches with magnificent views.

Repulse Bay Beach – Easily accessible beach with great beachside restaurants. Lying just up the hill from Stanley, Repulse Bay Beach is a popular choice among weekend beachgoers. The beach here is bigger but still gets pretty crowded as it's one of the most accessible beaches in Hong Kong.

Want to swim in the sea? Hong Kong has a lot of beautiful and easily accessible beaches. Some beaches are popular for various water activities while some are more quiet and good for long-distance training. So how to choose the right beach for your first open water swimming challenge?

The cheapest way to get from Hong Kong to Wong Shek is to Red Minibus and line 94 bus which costs $3 - $5 and takes 1h 28m. What is the fastest way to get from Hong Kong to Wong Shek? The fastest way to get from Hong Kong to Wong Shek is to taxi which takes 35 min and costs $35 - $45.

Just north of Kapaa, you'll find the turn-off for Donkey Beach. There is a small paved parking lot on the right-hand side of the Kuhio Highway that is well signposted. From the parking lot, you'll have to walk down to the beach through a hall of trees on a well-made pathway.

Access to the beach is on-foot. There is a path to Anse Cocos from Grand Anse, and another from Anse Fourmis, so finding the beach shouldn't be too difficult. Closest bike stands and facilities such as a snack bar are at Grand Anse, 30-40 minutes away on-foot.