You'll have to pack an extra bag on those cheap flights to Hong Kong. This is a prime shopping city for all kinds of treasures - electronics, clothes, jewellery, Chinese handicrafts. If your heart desires it, you'll find it somewhere in Hong Kong.
After the shopping, the fine dining and lively nightlife will absorb any traveller for a short spell. However, it's a misconception that Hong Kong is just a city-break destination, diverting enough for a stopover.
When you've bought up the malls and the markets, discover the rest of the territory. Go to the top of the town. The Peak is HK's top tourist attraction. Take a seat on the tram, which rises to 396 metres above sea level, and gasp at the views of Hong Kong, the high-rises giving way to the sea. Or, catch a ferry from Central Pier 6 over to Lantau, HK's largest island. The Lantau South Country Park contains sylvan glades, hiking trails and beautiful seacapes, all just a 40-minute chug away.
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The climate is subtropical with distinct seasons. The winters are cool and dry and the summers are hot and humid. Summer temperatures can top 31 degrees; winter temps hover around the 10-degree mark. Typhoon season runs from May to November.
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Peak Season:
The high season months are October (Golden Week), November, late January/February (Chinese New Year), April and May (Golden Week).
Off Season:
December through mid-January and June-August (Hong Kong summer - high temperatures and humidity).
Shoulder Season:
Early December and early January are shoulder season times.
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The Airport Express train whizzes visitors into Central in 24 minutes. The train service runs every 12 minutes, from 5.50am to 1.15am, and costs about $100 (HK) (approximately $15 AU).
There are good public bus and shuttle bus services.
Taxis are colour-coded. Urban taxis are red and serve most parts of Hong Kong, New Territories taxis are Green and serve just the New Territories and some road in Lantau, and Lantau taxis are blue and go to all parts of Lantau and the airport. Limousines are also available.
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Hong Kong is a dream to get around. The public transport system (MTR) is superb. The subway is super clean, efficient, safe and extensive - goes from Central and Causeway Bay to the New Territories and Lantau Island. MTR also runs the Airport Express and Light Rail networks that will get you to the airport (Hong Kong International) and almost 70 stops in the North West New Territories. There's also through train services to the major cities of Mainland China.
Buses, including double-deckers, are air-conditioned, reliable and comfortable. The bus route covers nearly all of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. Green minibuses run on specific routes; the Red minibuses' routes are not always fixed. Passengers can hop on and off almost anywhere along the route.
The Octopus prepaid travel card is best-in-class and is accepted at supermarkets, fast-food restaurants and at some vending machines too.
Taxis - metered, air-conditioned and fairly cheap - can be hailed on most streets or booked by phone. Red taxis pick up passengers around most of Hong Kong, except Tung Chung Road and the south side of Lantau Island. Green taxis operate in the rural parts of the New Territories. Blue taxis are available on Lantau Island. All taxis service the airport however.
Ferry is an atmospheric way to travel around Hong Kong. The Star Ferry is the most famous; it travels between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Catch it at the pier in Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom in Kowloon and Central and Wan Chai on HK.
There are also ferries that serve the outlying islands. Take your pick from standard ferries or fast ferries (slightly more expensive than the standard crafts).
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- The "musts": a ride on the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour, a tram ride to The Peak, a visit to the Jade Market (a trap but a hugely entertaining excursion), a drink in the Captain's Bar of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
- Ocean Park on Hong Kong Island leaves Disneyland in the shade, in our opinion. The marine theme park has exciting rides - our favourite is the cable-car ride that travels between the Lowland Gardens and Marine Land - but the stars of Ocean Park are the Asian animals. The Giant Panda Adventure is where you'll see the cute red pandas, and in the HKJC Giant Panda Habitat An An and Jia Jia, the giant pandas, live.
- A short beach break: relax on Cheung Sha Beach, on the south coast of Lantau. To get there, take Ferry No 6 from Central to Mui Wo. It's a 25-minute journey, and the taxi ride to the beach will add just 10 minutes to that.
- Wan Chai is not the sleazy part of town it once was. Now it's one of Hong Kong's edgiest quarters. You'll find some great value if you're prepared to rifle through the piles of clothes in the export shops. It's a good place too to take the pulse of "local" HK. Spring Garden Lane and Wanchai Road are where locals shop for fruit and vegetables.
- The Tian Tan Buddha sits 34 metres high at Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. It's the largest, seated, outdoor Buddha in the world.
- Tap Mun Chau, off the coast of Sai Kung, is a tiny island, home to just 100 or so people these days. The decline in the fishing industry forced many residents to leave the island and seek a living elsewhere. Today, there are a few little eateries dotted about the island. The top of the hill is a popular place to set up camp. The sunsets and night skies are beautiful.
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Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) (
www.hongkongairport.com) The airport is also known as Chek Lap Kok Airport because it was built on Chek Lap Kok, a reclaimed island. HKG is situated 34km northwest of Hong Kong Island.
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No visa is required. Australians can stay for three months from the date of entry.
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