Why Hong Kong Is the Ultimate Family Adventure
Allow us to dispel this well-worn travel myth: kids and big cities don’t mix. Big cities mean big adventures and when boredom bubbles over, their towering size can often be your saviour, with something to satisfy every age and mood. Vibrant Hong Kong is one such place. In addition to the guaranteed-to-please Disneyland Resort, there’s a wealth of sights, sounds and smells to keep even those with the shortest attention spans stimulated. Here are the best things to do with children in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
This is the big one: the Xanadu of kids travel that will instantly induct you into the parental hall of fame. Sprawling over a sizeable section of northeast Lantau Island, the “happiest place on Earth” has the requisites for kids (and kidults) of all ages: thrilling roller-coasters, luridly-coloured rides and beloved characters that roam between attractions. The iconic Disney castle was refreshed in 2020 and now includes the addition of more recent princess stories from Moana to Mulan. By the end of 2023, the park will also unveil the highly anticipated “World of Frozen”; a lifelike rendering of the mythical town of Arendelle, sure to thrill every diminutive Elsa enthusiast.
The theme park is easily accessed by families staying elsewhere in Hong Kong — it’s just a half-hour MTR train ride from Hong Kong International Airport, Kowloon and Hong Kong stations.
Ocean Park Hong Kong
An amalgam of rides, marine animal sanctuaries and aquariums, Ocean Park Hong Kong and Ocean Park Water World thrill and educate in equal measure. There’s a dizzying array of animals to glimpse, from dolphins to pandas, along with a range of colourful roller-coasters that lift into the air and plunge into wild rapids, ideal for groups with kids of varying ages. Although the trip to Southern Hong Kong Island via MTR train takes a couple of changes (two, if travelling from Kowloon, for example), the entire journey takes less than 30 minutes.
Legoland Discovery Centre
Few can resist the allure of Lego and its infinite possibilities, no matter their age. At Legoland Discovery Centre on the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula, the full spectrum of these plastic shapeshifters is realised. Visitors can meander through Miniland (a mesmerising small-scale model of Hong Kong and all its skyscrapers) and, of course, spend hours in DUPLO Farm, a section dedicated to solo brick building for kids aged 2-5.
Hong Kong Science Museum
The oft-uttered phrase “just looking, no touching!” is turned on its head at Hong Kong Science Museum where 70 per cent of the exhibits are hands-on. There are at least 500 separate displays to play with (350 of which are interactive) – spanning mechanics, motion, magnetism and mirrors – all designed with the attention span of little ones in mind. The museum is open every day of the week except for Thursdays.
Peak Tram
An unmissable Hong Kong experience for both kids and parents, the Peak Tram and its journey up Victoria Peak is the city’s leading attraction. Little ones will get a kick from riding the funicular railway and all will marvel at the panoramic views over the skyscraper-strewn city. At the top of the hill, take a turn through the shops or take photos with your favourite superheroes at Madame Tussauds within Peak Tower, a complex that stands an incredible 396 metres above sea level.
Where to stay
Rosewood Hong Kong
Don't you love a hotel that can do double time? At Rosewood Hong Kong, a luxurious high-rise with spectacular harbour views, there are drawcards for both parents and kids. For the former: comfy beds dressed with luxury linens, a full suite of on-site wellness facilities and an infinity pool. And for the latter? Five on-site play areas open from 10am-6pm to distract even the busiest kids, along with a jam-packed schedule of activities for the whole family from cooking classes to zumba.
The Peninsula, Hong Kong
Tsim Sha Tsui's The Peninsula Hong Kong offers undeniably luxurious lodgings for families of all ages and sizes: cooking classes encompassing cupcakes and dumplings, kid-minded menus, ample space to splash in the pool and cosy, child-sized bathrobes for in-room snuggles.
