Surfing in Hong Kong – Full Guide to Spots in and Around the Big City
Surfing in Hong Kong is downright fun. Big Wave Bay, Shek O, and beaches in nature parks some two hours from the metropolis have waves for all levels, right on the doorstep of one of Asia’s most enthralling megatowns.
An introduction to surfing in Hong Kong
There aren’t many cities in the world where you can dine on ginger-laced dim sum, wander exotic wet markets, and surf glassy waves under the shadow of shimmering skyscrapers.
Well…that’s Hong Kong. This mechanized megalopolis is a love-it-or-hate-it sorta’ place.
Some will balk at the prices, the endless traffic jams, the people-chaffed streets. Others simply adore the energy; the rhythms of a city where billionaires ride shotgun on junk boats and sea gypsies live side by side with suited bankers.
When it comes to the surf, it’s hardly Indo but it’s not all that bad either.
Hong Kong comprises over 200 islands and islets. They speckle the end of the Pearl River Delta and the northern quarters of the South China Sea.
Crucially, the isles that face east glare right into two gaps between the Philippines and Taiwan that opens swell channels to the mighty Pacific Ocean. When the right monsoon swings around, that means long-distance groundswells can work their way in and get the beaches pumping.
The shape and angle of the sands here, along with the tricky swell fetch between various other landmasses, means that Hong Kong will never be a surf paradise. But a good day on Big Wave Bay is a fantastically fun thing, with punchy, bowly waves for everyone and all.
Let’s check it out…
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in Asia
Hong Kong’s surf at a glance
The good:
The bad:
What will I find in this guide to surfing in Hong Kong?
How to get to Hong Kong?
That should be easy!
Hong Kong is home to one of the busiest airports in the whole of Asia. Long-haul fliers go here from Europe and the US, plus Cathay Pacific (one of the highest-rated airlines on the planet) is based in Hong Kong.
Search Kiwi for flights – they have an algo that strings together various connections on different carriers and things to get you the best price.
Once you’re on the ground in Hong Kong, forget a car. It’s all about public transport. The city’s uber-efficient MTR system can take you to most major stops, linking up to local buses that run routes to most of the surf beaches listed below.
There are also ferries out to most islands that have breaks. The hub for the boats is below Man Po Street beside Central on Hong Kong Island and schedules are pretty regular for most places.
Surf spots in Hong Kong
If you draw a line from the eastern edges of the Hong Kong archipelago, you’ll notice is shoots right across the top of the South China Sea and straight through the Luzon Strait north of the Philippines. There’s also another glaring gap to the northeast, through the Taiwan Strait.
Both of those can send good groundswell waves down during the NE monsoon period, which hits plenty of the outer, eastern beaches of the SAR.
We’re basically talking anywhere between the Sai Kung Peninsula in the Sai Kung East Country Park and Shek O on Hong Kong Island, though the south-facing bays of Lantau and Lamma can also steal some swells when rare S pulses push through.
Let’s break it down island by island, spot by spot…
Surf spots on Lantau Island
Lantau Island only gets mentioned here because it has a touch of southern exposure. Some days in the summer might be okay here when there’s a S windswell, and the bays are generally best for complete beginners and learners.
(If you do come Lantau way, be sure to take some time to hike the incredible trail under the cable car up to the Big Buddha for spectacular views and even more spectacular veggie food in the local temple).
Tai Long Wan (Big Wave Bay Lantau)
Don’t confuse this one with Big Wave Bay over on Hong Kong Island. If you do, you’ll likely be disappointed. Lantau’s Big Wave faces a bit south and a bit west, which isn’t great on the swell front.
You’ll be relying on stray windswell pushes from the S in the summer, which are usually messy and mushy in equal measure. There can sometimes be a funish wave here if you bring lots of volume (preferably of the foam kind). And the beach itself is pretty.
Pui O
The pretty stretch of sand at Pui O is most famous for its backdrop of lush mountains and resident water buffalo. Come here for evening sunsets and BBQs on the beach. Don’t come searching for the best waves in Hong Kong.
There are occasional ankle grazers that might be decent if you’re a total beginner or a grom, or a family with some boards for the little ones to play on. It’s rarely above knee-high and clean here though.
Surf spots on Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is the most iconic island in the archipelago. It’s where you’ll find the bright lights and buzzing expat bars of Central, the lookouts of Victoria Peak, and the hustle and bustle of Wan Chai district.
It’s also where you get the first seriously decent surf spots in the territory, though you’ll have to leave behind the main areas and venture east or south to get to them…
Shek O
Locals in Hong Kong will often point you in the direction of Shek O when you ask for a surf spot. But take it with a pinch of salt. They often mean to say Big Wave Bay (see below) but the names are often used interchangeably, so lots of traveling surfers end up on this beach just to the south.
It’s not the end of the world, since the spot does pick up swell. Sadly, that swell has to navigate the big offshore rock of Ng Fan Chau to make it into the beach. Plus, the slightly SE orientation means that the best E monsoon swells don’t really work all that well.
When you do get sets here they’re often pretty dumpy. Good for whitewash riding and boogie boarding.
Big Wave Bay
The real Big Wave Bay of Hong Kong is this lovely beach at the north end of the Shek O peninsula. It’s pretty much the hub of the HKG surfing scene, home to the best schools and rental spots in the territory.
We’d sum it up like this: If in doubt, come here to surf.
When the best NE-E swells punch through the Luzon Strait, Big Wave always gets some action. The sets can hold surprisingly well, since there’s a bit of N protection and the swell needs to refract a bit to break into the sand. It’s always bigger on the south side of the beach, but the paddle out there is a little further.
Can hold maybe eight foot before closing out, but is best at 4-6 foot with little wind, when you can get mushburger A-frames that are super fun on something nice and long.
The rips at the extremities of the beach are killer so steer clear of those. The other hazard is sure to be flying boards – lots of people come here. Dawnies are the best solution to that.
Surf spots on the Sai Kung Peninsula
The Sai Kung Peninsula is the final piece of the Hong Kong surfing jigsaw.
We warn ya’: It’s remote. The east-facing surf beaches here are as much as 1.5-2 hours from Central.
The way to get to them? First a bus/taxi/metro-bus combo to Sai Kung Town, then a minibus or a taxi on to Sai Wan Ting, then a 30-minute hike downhill to the beaches. OR you can do a bus-boat taxi combo, though they’ll only run if the swell is small and that kinda defeats the point if you’re looking to surf.
The point is, the beaches listed below offer the BEST surf in Hong Kong but they are a proverbial ballache to get to. Definitely consider camping or staying a night nearby to make the most of it.
On the upside, the distance from the city means that the waves here are almost NEVER busy and the beaches really are undeveloped and beautiful. You’ll hardly believe you’re still in on eof the biggest cities in Asia.
Sai Wan Beach
If we had to put our finger the highest-quality surf beach in HKG, Sai Wan would be it.
Facing neatly NE, it hoovers up all the groundswell from N to almost SE. It’s also gorgeous, with white sands, a wiggling river cutting through the middle, and a backing of jungle-dressed hills. On top of that, the tides here form some of the best banks in China, which can give everything from fat pulsy waves to semi-hollow down-the-line surf depending on the season.
There are a few very good surf rentals and surf schools on Sai Wan these days. Look for them in the small village on the southern side of the beach.
Ham Tin Beach
Beautiful Ham Tin Beach is a great option when there’s a big element of N in the swell – usually during the height of the NE monsoon in January or February.
A huge rocky headland provides plenty of protection in that direction and it will force the sets to wrap in, losing a bit of size and power as they go. The lefts can be cracking at the top end of the bay, but the beach also has a tendency to get dumpy on a full tide.
Where to stay (when surfing) in Hong Kong?
The way we see it, you have two options: Stay in downtown Hong Kong to take in the sights, sounds, smells and amazements of this metropolis. Or, choose to stay near one of the surf beaches so you can get a dawnie under your belt and then travel out to the city whenever you like.
What’s nice about Hong Kong is that the latter option offers a taste of real beach life. Areas like Shek O and Big Wave Bay don’t feel like a massive megacity at all. They’re more like mini fishing towns with mini-fishing-town vibes, only they’re still 30 mins on the bus-metro from the bright lights of Victoria Harbor.
Personally, we usually come to Hong Kong for the city first and the surf second. What’s more, key spots like Big Wave are easy enough to get to in a single morning and you can rent a board right there on the beach.
That’s the main reason we’d plump for inner city options first. Plus, if you want that chilled beach life then there’s better surf and surf hotels to be had elsewhere in Asia (Lombok, Lanka).
Anyhow here are our top hotel picks…
- Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong – If you want the proper jet-setter feels of Hong Kong then the Four Seasons can’t be beaten. It’s serious luxury in a prime location (not just for seeing the city but also for surfing, since the ferries go from right out front). Rooftop pool, exquisite cocktail lounges, marble ensuites – you name it, it’s got it!
- Check Inn Hong Kong – This hostel has a great location in the heart of Wan Chai and it’s known for its social atmosphere. If you’re really on a budget (as many are in this super expensive city) then it’s worth considering as a fallback option that’s both affordable and comfy.
- EAST Hong Kong – A verrry nice midrange option (at least it’s midrange by HKG standards!) that puts you within easy reach of the MRT and buses to Big Wave Bay, this hotel has a pool, a rooftop lounge with a spectacular view, and it’s own fitness center.
When to surf in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong’s surf season relies on the NE monsoon, which tends to hit the archipelago around the early weeks of October and then winds up by around the end of February. Peak months with around 70-90% surf consistency are November and December, while May to August is the worst time of year.
The holy grail here is any E or NE swell. That’s kicking either with typhoons in the early autumn or with the monsoon systems that pass through Taiwan between November and January. They’ll send steady swells across through the straits to Hong Kong in the winter, though quality varies a lot because of other variables – wind direction especially, which is best dealt with by getting in early, when you’re most likely to get W offshores.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!