clean, the kids always love it and it
suits all ages.”
Pao Yue Kong, Island East and
Chai Wan public pools have fabulous
baby and toddler pools with animal-
themed baby slides, water jets and
fountains. While not all public pools
have these fun facilities, most pools do
have a dedicated diving pool with a
high board, which – even if it makes
parents queasy – is an activity older
kids love.
Most of Hong Kong’s public pools
are outdoor and, therefore, only open
from April to October. But there are
some indoor pools, such as Island East
and Morrison Hill, which open during
the winter months. Before going to
a public pool, do check the LCSD’s
website, as pools operate in “sessions”,
often closing for an hour at lunchtime or
in the early evening, and usually close
for cleaning one day a week. Entry is
free for children under three (or under
96
cm), and $8 to $9 for children aged
three to 13. You can pay with your
Octopus card or with cash, and lockers
require a refundable $5 coin to operate.
Create an adventure
With rules and regulations governing
most open spaces, the opportunities for
adventure can seem limited. But just
being outside can lead to adventure.
Hulda describes an outing at Trio
Beach in Sai Kung when it started to
rain. She recalls, “It got really muddy
and slippery, so it was not safe to walk,
especially with children in our arms.
We ended up sliding down the hills on
our bottoms – more or less – and by
the end of it we were covered in mud.
But we had so much fun!”
Fortunately, children’s imaginations
can also create adventure where adults’
minds fail. Tamara recommends the
Silver Mine Waterfalls and cave in Mui
Wo. “The Silver Mine Waterfall is not
only a sight to be seen, but can also
encourage a child’s imagination: my
three-year-old son likes to pretend he is
on a bear hunt,” Tamara says.
The abandoned Pinewood Battery
Barracks, halfway up the Morning
Trail between Po Shan Road and
the Peak, provides a great place for
adventure. Children can look out
from the old gun emplacements, check
out the bullet holes, and discover the
abandoned rooms and imagine what
they could have been used for. There
is also a flat grassy area for running
around, as well as public toilets.
Hong Kong’s many country trails
can give children a sense of adventure.
Children love running along winding
paths to see what is around the next
corner. Aberdeen Country Park is a
perfect example and can be accessed
fromWan Chai Gap, where there’s
parking and a playground, or from
Aberdeen. The park is criss-crossed
with paths galore, and you will come
across streams and hidden picnic areas.
Children also love feeding the large
goldfish in the reservoir.
Wild at heart
Occasional reports of wild pig and
snake sightings, along with some
unfriendly monkeys, make trekking
off into the woods less kid-friendly
than many parents would like. But
that doesn’t mean you have to do
without animals.
April 2013
43