Stream Trekking in North Point. Sir Cecil's Ride stream (Upper only)

Duration: 

(~5 kilometers)
2.5 hours

Difficulty: 3/10. Easiest stream trek. Ignore the post stream-trek part of the trek as you could easily get lost and it is not all that pleasant; just retrace your steps. 

Cel phone coverage: Mostly everywhere

Water needs: 1 liter

Appreciation: 5/10. It is not a great stream but it is a very easy one. If you have not done stream-trekking before and you want to try, that one is a good choice.

Transportation: North Point MTR exit B1, return the same way.

Why it's worth it:

Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/586426770

---------------------------------------

Right out of the NorthPoint MTR station exit B1, head left

Go up the stairs towards 'Aroma Walk' 

A few flight of stairs, nothing to kill anyone

At the top of the stairs, take a left

5 minutes in, you'll get here, head up!

Left

Flight of stairs at the end of the alley. Afterwards, pretty much just keep following the path...

... until you reach those stairs on the left. Take them, then immediately left at the top

Keep going until the bridge and the Tai Tam Country Park sign. You have arrived at the stream's entrance

Go in

Quite easy

This is probably the hardest part, which is much easier than it looks on the picture.
You can also bypass it on the right

The stream is about 1 km long. You'll reach a point where it is all flat and a few paths lead different ways. I suggest you just retrace your steps (you can take the path back down, along the stream). Easy enough? Now, you're ready for longer, slightly harder but nicer streams!

Stanley to Quarry Bay via Tai Tam and Mount Parker

Duration: 

(13 kilometers)
4 hours

Difficulty: 5/10. Quite easy and shaded throughout. Elevation gain is very progressive. A nice walk on a hot summer day or at anytime you want to go for a nice easy walk. Still 13k so if you never hiked, might be long-ish

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 1.5 liter

Appreciation: 7/10. Bring your swimming attire as there's a nice little detour to the Tai Tam mound waterfall (9/10 with the waterfall break).

Transportation: Get to Stanley Plaza via various buses (6, 6X, etc). Ends at Quarry Bay MTR

Why it's worth it:

Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/578413567

---------------------------------------

Exit at the Stanley Plaza bus stop and trace back from where the bus came from (Carmel Road).

After about 250m, you'll have a path on the right through the woods. Take it.

Just out of the woods and at the junction, head left on Repulse Bay Road. Stay on the sidewalk on the left as there's no sidewalk on the right and it could be dangerous

Look for the bus stop on the right, a few hundred meters in. Cross the road and take the stairs.

Our fashionable model Anthony shows us the stairs. He sports a pre-33 degrees/85% humidity hike smile! At the top of the stairs, head left on the water catchment path (The Twins Catchwater).

After about 1.5/2 km on the catchwater, you'll get here, at the intersection of the Wilson trail. Cross the bridge and head left towards Tai Tam reservoir.

Junction at the reservoir, head left on Tai Tam Reservoir Road.

Walk on Tai Tam Reservoir Road until you reach a path on your right (Hong Kong Trail Section 6). That's the little refreshing detour.

Walk until you see a small wooden bridge. There's somewhat of a path on the right going down in the bushes (on the right side from where you came from, left side from the bridge). Go down that path. Be careful. Then at the bottom, the waterfall is on the left.

Clear water for a swim. Nice area for a picnic. Once you are done, trace your steps back to the road

At the road, head right. You can follow either MT Parker Road or Hong Kong trail Section 6, they get to the same place.

If you followed HK Trail Section 6, head right at the junction on the island

Top of Mt Parker. Head right. Go all the way down on Mt Parker Rd to King's Road in Quarry Bay. Turn left on King's Road and the Quarry Bay MTR is about 200m onto King's Road

Kowloon Peak (through Nan Lian Garden) (Fei Ngo Shan - 飛鵝山)

Duration: 

(5.5 kilometers)
2.5 hours

Difficulty: 10/10 if on a really hot summer day. 8/10 otherwise because of the bushwhacking and steep steps. 575m elevation gain. You can do it the other way; taking minibus #1 from Choi Hung, getting off at Fei Gno Shan Road and climbing up from the East-side which has stairs, then it would be a 6/10.

Cel phone coverage: Everywhere

Water needs: 1 liter

Appreciation: 7/10. Nice views of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, but not much different from Lion Rock. However, Nan Lian garden is beautiful and worth spending time at.

Transportation: Start at Diamond Hill MTR station exit C. You can walk back to Choi Hung MTR, or take minibus 1 on Clear Water Bay Road.

Why it's worth it:

Garmin: http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/566102777

---------------------------------------

Off of Diamond Hill MTR exit C, head left towards Nan Liang Garden

Nan Liang Garden

Very pretty

Exit Nan Liang on the North, on Fung Tak Road, then take Chi Lin drive straight ahead

Go through Hammer Hill Park

Left after the park, onto Hammer Hill Rd

Then after about 100m, right onto Ping Ting Rd at the school

Then, about 70m onto Ping Ting, climb the service stairs to you left

Straight

Stay on the paved steps

Straight and down slightly

Straight at this pavilion; the trail is behind the pavilion

Right at Jat's Incline Rd

40m in, head left; you'll see the steps

These steps...

Quite shaded up to this point

Left. Then you'll eventually get to a "exercise area" where the formal path stops. You'll see the bushwhacking path on the right. Take it and bushwhack your way to the top of Kowloon Peak. It is steep and overgrown. Take a lot of rest if it is really hot and sunny. Drink.

Summit in sight! Get to the tower. When you are done, the path down is pretty much straight from the bushwhacking trail you came from. And there are steps! Much better

You'll eventually get to Fei Ngo Shan Rd, head right. There's a little brook about 10m on the left though, if you want to splash some water on your face/back/any overheating parts...

On the way down, you'll get to see huge mansions. Once you reach Clear Water Bay Rd, you can catch a green minibus to the MTR right there (even though there's no marked stop). Or walk down Clear Water Bay to Choi Hung MTR.