Quarry Bay (鰂魚涌) to Repulse Bay (淺水灣) via Tai Tam reservoirs (大潭水塘)

Duration:

(10 kilometers)
3 hours

Difficulty: 5/10. 424m elevation gain. Rating 5 instead of 2 because the last 200m is steeper and can be slippery. About 70% shaded.

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere.

Water needs: 1.5 liter

Appreciation: 8/10. Nice after a downpour, creating lots of small waterfalls. Historical site of Tai Tam.

Transportation: Quarry Bay MTR exit A. Return via numerous and frequent buses in Repulse Bay, on Repulse Bay Road.

Why it's worth it:

And, sometimes...
https://youtu.be/DYFe-ejdvJQ

Map & Details: 

https://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/5890815946

Exercise Area: Yes (Quite a few along Mount Parker Green Trail)

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From Quarry Bay MTR exit A, turn right on King's road. 
Then walk for about 250m to Mount Parker road (on your right). 
You can't miss it, there's a big brown sign announcing the Mount Parker Green Trail.
Walk up on Mount Parker road, which will merge into the Green Trail.

This cooked food centre on Mount Parker Road is quite good.

After about an hour (3.5km) on the Mount Parker Green Trail, you will reach the Quarry Pass Pavillion. Take a right towards Tai Tam Tuk reservoir. Still is Mount Parker Green Trail.

Keep going towards the reservoirs.

At the upper Tai Tam dam (1h25. 5.3km), you will be leave Mount Parker Road by crossing the dam, and then heading left right after on Tai Tam reservoir road.

Around 1h45m (6.8km) and immediately after crossing the masonry bridge on Tai Tam reservoir road, take a right, towards the Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir.

Keep on left here...

At the Tai Tam Intermediate Reservoir Dam, you can take 5 minutes to walk to the middle of the dam to take a few pictures. When done, come back and take the dirt path that follows along the South side of the reservoir.

About an hour walk from the Intermediate Reservoir Dam, you will be reaching this point; Tze Kong Bridge (Repulse Bay Gap). Cross the bridge, take an immediate left, then immediate right and down the path with a sign that advise you not to do so... ;-) 
At this point, you are about 200m away from Repulse Bay

Soon enough, you will reach this road (South Bay Close), with the Hong Kong International Primary School on your left. Take the concrete steps down and just follow the road down.

You are almost there, follow the road to the left, then take the next right...

... and there you go: The Pulse, for late lunch or early dinner. Maybe some beach time afterwards. Once you are done, walk along Beach Road and you will see stairs on your right that will take you to Repulse Bay Road where there are tons of buses that will take you back to the city.

Ap Chau and Crooked Island (吉澳) heritage & Geopark walk

Duration:  2km (2h at slow place with picture taking)

Difficulty: 3/10. 

Cel phone coverage: None

Water needs: 1 liter. Not shaded. 

Appreciation: 8/10. Some very nice and unusual views. Ap Chau is visited mostly to take pictures under the rock arch. Crooked Island is more interesting. 

Map & Details: 

Ap Chau / Duck Island

Kat O / Crooked Island

Exercise Area: No

Transportation:  These islands, in the North-Eastern part of Hong Kong, are very remote. There is a single ferry going there and back once a day. The 2 hours boat trip each way is scenic and will have you go by the "famous" Devil's fist rock formation from a distance (Devil's Fist hike). Returns tickets from Ma Liu Shui (Walking distance from University MTR station) are HKD $90. Details are here: https://www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/ferries/kaito_services_map/service_details/index.html#k19. Tickets can be purchased at the Ma Lui Shui pier. It does get really busy on weekends so be early or risk not being able to get tickets!

Why it's worth it:

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This one is an easy walk over 2 small islands. Rely on the maps above for directions. 

University MTR exit A. Exit and go left

Stop by the sign right at the exit on the left

Around and over the highway

Over the highway again, down the stairs on the left, then through. Then go through the parking lot. Once you are through all the roads, head left

There's a makeshift ticket stand under the blue glass awning. That is where you get the tickets.

You will have 1.5 hour at Ap Chau which is plenty to circle it and climb to the viewpoint. 

You have a bit more time in Kat O but the island is larger so, be mindful of time if you do not want to get stuck there overnight!

Additional information: 

https://www.geopark.gov.hk/en_s4f14.htm

https://www.geopark.gov.hk/tourism/ec03.htm

Ma Shi Chau (馬屎洲)

Duration:  8km (3h)

Difficulty: 3/10. Half of it is stone path. The other is flat dirt path and beach. 150m elevation gain.

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 1.5 liter. 20% shaded. 

Appreciation: 9/10. Very nice and unusual views.

Map & Details: 

https://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/5451562924

https://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/5451640585

Exercise Area: No

Transportation:  Tai Po Market MTR station. Take either bus 74K or Green minibus 20k, get off at Sam Mun Tsai Village.

Why it's worth it:

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Green minibus 20K at Tai Po Market MTR station

Sam Mun Tsai village where you will get off the bus. There is a roundabout.
Note the Royal China Aqua Garden restaurant in the back

Just off the bus, back a few meters, there are stairs.
Take them and go left on Sai Mun Tsai road.

After you have exited the village, you will start an easy and short climb on the first hill of the day. Tombs will be on your left and right everywhere... 

... and very nice views.

Left here. 

Left here again. About 15 minutes into your hike.

Tombolo between the two hills.

Head right after the tombolo. There is a path along the shore.

Leave the shore at this point and go back on the path on the left. You will just keep going on the path and along the shore until you reach a very big rock (there's a rope to climb it). That's the viewpoint and the end of the trail. Retrace your steps all the way back to the bus stop.