​Bride’s Pool & Mirror Pool
These beautiful pools are very accessible; both can be sighted with little walking involved. Legend has it that en route to her wedding; a bride fell into the river above and was carried down the waterfall. With that said, these shallow pools do not possess any cliff jumping opportunities and are defined by a picture perfect cascade that drops into the Bride’s Pool. Combine a visit to the falls with some time spent enjoying the nearby village of Tai Mei Tuk. Grab a bite at one of the many restaurants around or dabble in some water sports to make for the perfect day out!

​Getting there: Take the MTR East Rail to Tai Po Market Station and board the 20C minibus to Tai Mei Tuk. From there one will have to walk for a further hour or catch a $40 taxi to the Bride’s Pool car park. However, on Sundays and public holidays you can take the 257R KMB bus from Tai Po Market all the way to the Bride’s Pool.
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Man Cheung Po
Venture out to the far southeastern bounds of HK and Lantau Island to discover a beautiful vista. Less than four kilometers from the Tai O bus stop you can find 200 meters of layered tumbling waterfalls overlooking the South China Sea. If that isn’t enough, couple the adventure with a day exploring Tai O fishing village and keep an eye out for the famous pink dolphins off the coast. Be warned that it is prohibited to swim in the infinity pool on the river, although continue upstream or downstream and there are plenty of rock pools to make your own.

​Getting there: Hop on the MTR to Tung Chung or the Ferry to Mui Wo. From there, grab the number 11 or number 1 bus respectively, to the Tai O. Follow the pier near the bus stop, continuing along the shorefront path. About 3km into the walk you will see a sign on your left for Man Cheung Po, don’t take it. Instead simply stay on the coastal path until a set of stairs on the left comes into view; this is the way up the valley to the rock pools. The whole route from Tai O should take around an hour each way to complete.
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Sheung Luk Stream
The Sheung Luk Stream in Sai Kung Country Park is quickly becoming one of the more popular summer spots to take a refreshing dip. Although the lower waterfall of Sheung Luk Stream is not the most picturesque waterfall going around, it is a lot of fun and serves as suitable refreshment after a day spent at the beach. This hangout spot has deep pools for swimming and cliff jumps of differing heights from little ledges to 7meter drops.

Getting there: From Sai Kung, take the 29R village bus or taxi to Sai Wan Pavilion. Walk for an hour to reach Sai Wan and then a further 10 minutes upstream from Sai Wan beach to reach the pools.
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​Much of the route to and from is simply a segment the MacLehose Trail stage 2, however the meat of this sandwich deviates away to tackle Sharp Peak itself. Getting there can take some time from HK Island and Kowloon (particularly on weekends & Public Holidays), but it is a relatively hassle-free trip. Having reached Sai Kung, grab a cab out to either Pak Tam Au or Sai Wan Pavilion for around $100. Alternatively, one can take the 29R village bus from SK Town Centre to Sai Wan Pavilion or Hoi Ha Minibus and various KMB routes to reach Pak Tam Au.

​If starting at Pak Tam Au (easiest way), walk for an hour along the Maclehose Trail up to the top of the pass just after distance marker M040 where you then need to make a left turn onto a smaller trail. If coming from Sai Wan way, you’ll need to first reach Ham Tin Wan, then at the top of the pass out of Tai Long Wan, turn right instead of left to reach this trail. From there the ribbon trail works its way along a gentle ridgeline, transporting you through some light forests before breaking out into shrubbery, followed by open grassland. From here the way up is clearly evident as the gradient dramatically steps up a gear and Sharp Peak gets ‘sharp’.

The natural rock formations in the area south of Sharp Peak are very special and if you have a little extra time. Exploring the adjacent HK Geopark makes for a fun detour hiking over to the East Dam if you are very fit, or by sea (if there are speedboats operating) out of Tai Long Wan.
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All in all, this is arguably Hong Kong’s most prestigious summit to have bagged. It may not be quite as high as Tai Mo Shan, or as technical as some other hills; but for its remoteness and beauty, Sharp Peak is a true HK heavyweight. For anyone who enjoys a physical challenge and packing in lots of sights, these routes make for an incredible day out. 

​Littered with sculpted granite outcrops and sparse tree cover to obscure the horizon, hiking here is never dull with near constant ocean vistas to stimulate the senses. Located on the southeasternmost tip of Hong Kong Island, Cape Dag was named after British Major General George Charles D’Aguilar and was made the only Marine Reserve in Hong Kong in 1996. For the most part, Cape D’Aguilar remains hidden from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong Island.

​The lighthouse and marine reserve are right at the end of the road on a rocky promontory and easily located; one of the most scenic places in Hong Kong with views out across the Pacific, dotted by various islands forming the Po Toi and Wanshan archipelagos. Once nearby, be sure to scope out the rock formations containing two outstanding features; the ‘Thunder Cave’ rock arch and double ended ‘Thunder Cave’. For more demanding options, give the ribbon marked trail to the abandoned Cape D’Aguilar Battery or a hike up D’Aguilar Peak a go. Passing back through the village having worked up an appetite, there is a little joint called ‘Shun Kee Store’ where you can grab a bowl of noodles and cold drink if desired.

Returning to the city is equally simple as finding your way in. In addition to taking the bus or driving, there are plenty of taxis on Shek O Road to flag down. If not ready to dart straight back to the city, one can also head down to Shek O to cool off with a refreshing drink and dip at the beach.