It’s hot – we didn’t need broken historical records or government warnings to know that. Though this heat renders the thought of doing anything but lounging by a pool almost unbearable, there’s only so much time you can spend around a stationary body of water full of other semi-naked human bodies. To help you beat the summer heat, here are alternative activities to keep you feeling refreshed and of course, avoid heatstroke.
1. Glamping
Escaping Hong Kong for the weekend is a luxury we all crave, but isn’t even better to avoid airport crowds, long security lines, and cramped planes altogether? With Holimood, an online platform connecting you with local property owners, a staycation is only a click away. (Think Airbnb, except they have their own cool, off-the-beaten track properties like caravans and inflatable bubbles!)
Taking your camping game to another level. Photo: Holimood
Cool options like uber-comfortable tents (yay, glamping!) and “eco-spheres” mean that you can get away from the throngs of people, connect with nature, and still stay fairly comfortable and mozzy-free, as they’re all fully equipped with air-cons.
Star gazing has never been so easy. Photo: Holimood
What: “Glamping” tents (more info)
Where: Lower Cheung Sha, South Lantau Road, Lantau Island (Google Maps)
Cost: Prices range from HKD1,280 to HKD3,350 for five to ten people per night
What: Caravans (more info)
Where: Tong Fuk Village, Lantau Island (Google Maps)
Cost: Prices range from HKD1,200 to HKD2,000 for four to six people per night
What: Ecospheres (more info)
Where: Fung Ka Wei, 30 Tin Tsz Road, Tin Shui Wai (Google Maps)
Cost: Prices range from HKD1,000 to HKD1,300 for two to three people per night
2. Pool Soccer
Gather your friends and challenge them for a tournament! Source: BALL ROOM
It’s time to upgrade your billiards game with pool soccer, which entails kicking around giant pool (soccer) balls instead of instead of poking at balls with sticks on top of tables. With two different locations, BALL ROOM aims to bring innovative sports to Hong Kong, offering other wacky sports like four-way air hockey and more normal ones like shuffle board and darts.
What: Pool soccer (more info)
Where:
Flat C1, 12/F, Wing Hing Industrial Building, 14 Hing Yip Street, Kwun Tong (Google Maps)
Flat 417, 4/F, Elite Industrial Centre, 883 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Lai Chi Kok (Google Maps)
Cost: Access to all facilities for HKD35 an hour, except for pool soccer (HKD150 an hour)
3. Bubble Soccer
On the topic of giant balls (hehe), Hyperspace is another great location to hide from the face-melting temperatures and throw balls at your friends’ (or foes’) faces without legal repercussions.
Source: Hyperspace
Like BALL ROOM, Hyperspace provides a large venue with several unusual activities such as bubble soccer, archery tag, quidditch (paging all HP fans!), neon football, dodgeball and life-size Jenga.
You’ll be sure to stand out. Source: Hyperspace
Where: 5/F, Remex Center, 42 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen (Google Maps)
Cost: Games such as bubble soccer, archery tag and neon dodgeball cost HKD2,500 for the first hour and HKD1,500 for every hour afterwards for 8 people. Party packages for up to 40 people costs HKD3,000 for the first hour
4. Running Games
A sneak peek into the Bio-Hazard room. Video: Running Games
Inspired by the hit Korean variety show Running Man, Hong Kong has created their own source of crazy entertainment with Running Games, which embodies adult imagination at its finest by having you solve interactive puzzles. With games like Magician Chessboard, which require you to “escape from the traps and dangers in order to gain the magical power”, you have to get your brain in gear to be able to complete missions that are far from easy. Or will you be defeating zombies in search of an anti-virus? Or perhaps shipwrecked in the Bermuda Triangle?
What: Running games (more info)
Where: 7/F Block C, Chung Hing Industrial Mansions, 25-27 Tai Yau Street, San Po Kong, Kowloon (Google Maps)
Cost: HKD300 per person (for a minimum of six people), HKD220 (for a group of eight), HKD200 for students
5. Go-karting
Vrrooooooom! Source: HK Car Trader
For those who reminisce about the good ol’ days when go-karting was actually a thing in Hong Kong, you will be over the moon when you hear the good news that it’s making a comeback. The bad news is that it’s only available from July 15 to August 7, so don’t miss this rare opportunity at Hong Kong’s only electric go-kart facility. With these German-made go-karts looking like they’re straight out of a Transformer movie, whoever has the record for the fastest lap time will also take home the grand prize of two Grand Stand tickets to the FIA Formula E Hong Kong ePrix in October.
What: Go-karting (more info)
Where: Lai Yuen Amusement Park, AsiaWorld-Expo, Cheong Wing Road, Chek Lap Kok (Google Maps)
Cost: HKD280 per person
6. Squid Fishing
Homemade calamari. Yum! Photo: Jubilee
If scavenging for clams isn’t for your cup of tea, perhaps squid fishing might do the trick for your DIY seafood craving. The ideal hours for squid fishing after the sun sets and the night sneaks in. Since squids are attracted to light, boats are equipped with giant lamps to lure those suckers in. Local company Jubilee will take you out to sea as well as offer full catering and a fresh fry-up of your harvest.
What: Squid fishing (more info)
Where: Tsim Sha Tsui Pier (Google Maps)
Cost: HKD209 to HKD219 per person, HKD199 to HKD209 per child
7. Trick Eye Museum
Photo: Trick Eye Museum
There’s always more than meets the eye at Hong Kong’s Trick Eye Museum, a self proclaimed leader of the 3D art museum. At Trick Eye Museum, they offer and feature around 50 paintings, painted “on plain surfaces that magically appear to be three-dimensional through the use of optical illusion”. So get your poses and cameras ready as you dangle off a cliff, skydive into the open sea and even sit in the palm of the Big Buddha, whatever your heart desires.
Look Ma, no hands!! Photo: Trick Eye Museum
What: Trick Eye Museum (more info)
Where: Level 3, The Peak Galleria, 118 Peak Road (Google Maps)
Cost: HKD150 for adults, HKD100 for children and seniors
8. Not-just-your-regular-junk trips
Going on a junk is a staple experience in every Hongkonger’s summer routine.
Photo: Hong Kong Yachting
With plenty of boats available for hire, elevate your typical junk experience with Hong Kong Yachting’s Jungle Jane and Tarzan fleets. These unique yachts come with a giant inflatable slide and a floating game of Twister, taking your outing to the next level.
Whatever floats your boat. Photo: Hong Kong Yachting
What: Junk trip (more info)
Cost: HKD490 per person for a group of 55
10. Open Air Cinema
Pass the popcorn over here please. Photo: Hong Kong Open Air Cinema Club
Another way to beat the heat is to distract yourself with featured films over at the Hive’s Open Air Cinema Club. Although it occurs disappointingly infrequently, the Open Air Cinema Club offers an alternative way to enjoy nostalgia-inducing movies to watching illegal torrents while breathing in stale air in your cramped room (don’t think we don’t know)!
What: Open Air Cinema Club (more info)
Where: 21/F The Phoenix Building, 23 Luard Road, Wan Chai (Google Maps)
Cost: HKD120 per ticket
11. Dolphin Watch
Dolphins spotted. Photo: Annette Chan/Coconuts Media
Due to its dwindling population, some people may not know that pink dolphins are one of Hong Kong’s celebrated mascots. These dolphins have become a true rarity because of the unfortunate destruction of their habitat. With the dolphins’ wellbeing their top priority, Hong Kong Dolphin Watch leads tours to educate and guide hopeful residents in spotting these majestic and very pink sea mammals.
What: Dolphin watch (more info)
Where: 1528A Star House, 3 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (Google Maps)
Cost: Prices range from HKD9,000 to HKD14,000 for a group of 56 people
12. Climbing Gyms
Get yo’ climb on. Photo: ATTIC V via Facebook
Release your inner monkey and get climbing in Hong Kong’s indoor climbing gym. Don’t worry if you have the upper arm reach and strength of a baby T-rex: many gyms offer introductory classes to those who want to experience vertigo in a safe setting. The sky (well, the ceiling) is the limit!
What: Indoor climbing gyms (more info)
Where: ATTIC V, 4A Yally Industrial Building, 6 Yip Fat Street, Wong Chuk Hang (Google Maps)
Cost: Prices start at HKD80 for a day pass
13. Bride’s Pool
The wonders of Mother Nature. Photo: Thomas Lu via Wikipedia
“Don’t go chasing waterfalls”, they say. Well here at Coconuts, we tell you to disregard TLC’s timeless lyrics, at least in the literal sense. Located in Tai Mei Tuk in the New Territories, Bride’s Pool and the nearby Mirror Pool represent untouched but accessible Hong Kong nature at its best. Slip in and cool off (though be warned, there will probably be at least half a dozen amateur photographers with their tripods out).
What: Bride’s Pool (more info)
Where: Bride’s Pool Nature Trail, Sheun Wan (Google Maps)
