8 March 2016 - Despite being one of the most densely populated cities in the world, living in Hong Kong does not need to be spent amongst the crowds. A multitude of leisure activities allow residents to conveniently unwind in natural surroundings, and pursue hobbies and passions that are often surprising to long-term and short-term residents alike.
If you are keen on outdoor activities, Discovery Bay is one of the best areas to stay in Hong Kong, offering a huge variety of options that can be enjoyed right at your doorstep. In this article, one of our resident property agents, Nina Schulte-Mattler, shares her suggested Top 5 favorite outdoor pursuits in and around DB.
1. Watersports
Tucked away at the northern end of Tai Pak Beach is the Lantau Boat Club which offers outrigger paddling and seasonal dragon boat training on weekends and during the week.
Sailboats, mostly multi-halls, parked nearby are privately owned and sailors are always on the lookout for enthusiasts to join their crew, particularly on race days, which are spread throughout the year.
Head down there on a breezy day and you should have no trouble finding a keen sailor to provide you with all the information you require.
Should you be interested in sailing on bigger boats, check out the "Discovery Bay Yacht Club" - which includes larger sailing boats and yachts moored in Nim Shue Wan Bay or docked at the Discovery Bay Marina Club.
2. Hiking
There are many ways to venture up the beautiful hills of Lantau, but the most popular route for families with small children is the hike from DB to Mui Wo.
Start on the path at Nim Shue Wan Bay, pass by "Grandpa's" organic garden and follow the route up along the Trappist Monastery all the way to the pagoda at the top of the hill. From there, head downhill towards Mui Wo Beach. On weekends, after a play on the beach and/or a meal in one of Mui Wo's local restaurants, you can easily catch the Kai To ferry back to DB.
For the grown-ups, another, more challenging hiking option to Mui Wo is via "Lo Fu Tau" (Tiger's Head). After an initial, steep climb up to the highest hill located at the back of Midvale Village, the trail passes along the hill’s ridges, offering fantastic views and interesting rock formations to absorb along the way.
3. Golfing
Nestled up the hills around the reservoir, the Discovery Bay Golf Club offers a variety of challenges to golfers of all skill levels.
While residents of nearby “Bijou Hamlet Village” are automatically nominated as members, other golf buffs would either need to purchase a membership or join a member as a guest at specific times only. Please note that as with many recreation clubs in HK, the DB golf club does not issue any new memberships. Memberships can, however, be purchased and transferred from existing members.
For details please refer to http://www.dbgc.hk/icms/template?series=196.
4. Remote Control Aircraft Flying
The perfect hobby for boys with toys and dads! A small but steadily growing group of "enthusiastic model aircraft engineers and pilots" gather on bright and sometimes breezy days up at the lookout point to fly their self-built remote control aircrafts and gliders. The conditions are often ideal with dads and kids alike able to fly their creations directly off the hill, allowing for eye level flying and gliding.
What you see up there is quite impressive and the result of many hours of male bonding DIY sessions at home. Models come in every shape and size. Just turn up at the lookout in DB on any weekend and you are sure to find a group of model plane aficionados eager to welcome you into the fold!
5. Cycling
An all year round activity that can be enjoyed by all age groups and all levels, most of Discovery Bay Road is bordered by a bike path that allows even the younger DB residents to cycle to and from their playgroups and schools.
The more serious, Lycra clad road cyclists head up the hillsides to race and train right here in DB, or alternatively take their bikes through the tunnel with options to cycle on the service road towards Sunny Bay and Disneyland or towards Tung Chung and the airport.
If you are looking to join and train with a group, contact the Lantau Buffaloes, a multi sports club, which schedules regular training sessions and races. Or if you are more into social riding for a charitable cause, Life Cycle is a fantastic organization combining fundraising with two to three annual cycle trips to nearby China, Cambodia or Vietnam.
And that’s not all! For more activities, clubs and other very useful information about our unique community please refer to our DB guide.
Hope to see you all out there!
