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Header image courtesy of The Murray Hong Kong
Aside from the obvious parks, hikes, and smatterings of beaches, it’s not easy to find dog-friendly activities in Hong Kong. Luckily, the Localiiz team—or rather, our office mascot, Lola—has come to the rescue to bring you 10 novel things to do with your pups and pooches in and around Hong Kong. Check them out!
Just last week, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced a move towards more pet-inclusive areas, opening up an additional 60 pet-friendly parks, bringing much joy to pet-owners across Hong Kong.
You can now enjoy a picnic on the lawn of the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park or Victoria Park, take a stroll all along the Central and Western District Promenade, or enjoy the coming and going's of boats from the Aberdeen Promenade and Ap Lei Chau Park with your pooch in tow! Win!
Check out the various pet-inclusive parks and areas here
Take your adventures to the sea with your pup down at Stanley Main Beach! Right next to the Hong Kong Sea School, there are several spots right on the beach where you can rent out stand-up paddleboards or kayaks by the hour for just $80—or three hours for $200, such as at Hiwindlover Water Sports Centre.
Looking to take your adventures a little further out into the wild? You can also rent kayaks and paddleboards from Long Coast Seasports in Lantau, or if you prefer not to go as far a field as an outlying island, Blue Sky Sports Centre on Sha Ha Beach, along with several other vendors in Sai Kung, around Pak Kap Wan and Hoi Ha Wan offer rentals by the hour or day. Plus, it’s just a 20-minute minibus or taxi ride from Sai Kung Ferry Pier.
Blue Sky Sports Centre, Sha Ha Beach, Sai Kung | (+852) 9235 7842
Hiwindlover Water Sports Centre, Stanley Main Beach | (+852) 6226 5390
Long Coast Seasports, 29 Lower Cheung Sha Village, Lantau
Formerly known as Ham Tin Tai Long Speedboat on Facebook, founder Alison renamed her services in loving memory of her dog, Lik, who passed away as a result of cancer. For a small fee, Alison and LIK Speed Boat Service will take you and your pups to remote beaches in Sai Kung with crystal clear waters for a fun doggie day out. She also occasionally hosts special trips for handicapped dogs, too.
To frolic in the sand with your pup, be sure to reserve your spot in advance! To hire the entire boat, a trip to one of Hong Kong’s beautiful untouched islands for two to three hours could cost up to $2,000—which is just $200 per person if you can organise a group of 10 explorers! Need some fellow explorers? Join Exploring Hong Kong with Dogs to find other keen explorers and their pups for a fun adventure!
LIK Speed Boat Service, Sai Kung | (+852) 6210 8776
Want to find a way to beat the summer heat without having to hike hours to someplace miles away, or have sand wind up in every nook and cranny? Well you're in luck as there are quite a few doggie pools and play areas for our four-legged friends to cool off in, such as Dog Dog Come Wonderland, Pet Oasis HK and Petworld Resort.
Not only is a dip in the pool a great way to cool off, but a great way to build up your furiends stamina and cardiovascular system!
If you fancy joining in on the fun as well, Happy Park 開心樂園, is an inflatable water park where owners and their pooch can cool off and slip and slide their way into some splish-splashing fun, and will definitely get your heart rate up!
Dog Dog Come Wonderland, 6 Tseng Lan Shue, Clear Water Bay | (+852) 2262 4199
Happy Park 開心樂園, No 351 Shui Mei Tsuen, Kam Tin, Yuen Long | (+852) 5502 6106
Pet Oasis HK, Hing Fu St, Tuen Mun | (+852) 2456 1966
Petworld Resort, No. 351, Shui Mei Tsuen, Kam Tin, Yuen Long | (+852) 2470 6928
Although dogs are prohibited from entering most food premises by law in Hong Kong, there are a number of pet-friendly coffee shops and restaurants with al-fresco seating for you to enjoy a chilled coffee date or meal with your dog.
Some pet-friendly establishments, do allow you to take refuge indoors with your pup, occasionally offering doggie menus for your four legged friends, such as Route 99 in Tseung Kwan O or Sip Song out by Repulse Bay, to name a few.
If you are in town and looking for a pitstop for a nice chilled drink and connect with other dog owners, BYOP is tucked away on a quiet street of Central, and offers a great spot to top up on refreshments, let the dogs run around and perhaps pick up some essentials.
If you're curious to learn more, check out our round up of dog-friendly restaurants and cafes by district
Kennedy Town | Sai Ying Pun | Sheung Wan | Central & Mid-levels | Admiralty & Wan Chai | Causeway Bay | Kowloon | East New Territories | West New Territories
Visit a farm? In Hong Kong? One that allows dogs? Yes! Your eyes do not deceive you; out in Sai Kung, Nature’s Harvest is a farm and wellness getaway that welcomes your furry friends! Let your dogs run free on the grass fields, learn about sustainable organic farming, and pet some baby goats! Check out the workshops they have on offer and frolick on nature’s playground.
Nature's Harvest, Pak Shui Wun, Sai Kung | (+852) 5112 9195
Hire yourself a quad bike and explore New Territories via bicycle! There are plenty of rental spots to hire bicycles and quad bikes along Tai Wai and Tai Mei Tuk and can cost around$80 to hire a bicycle or $150 for a quad bike for the day.
Take the cycle paths along the beautiful Pak Shek Kok Promenade to Hong Kong Science Park where you have a selection of restaurants to choose from, with some offering outdoor seating for those of us with dogs! The promenade also has plenty of kiosks and public toilets along the way, so be sure to stop for an ice-cold drink and stay hydrated. Read more on this cycling trail here.
Fancy a day of shopping with your beloved pet in tow? Well, there are actually a few dog-friendly malls around Hong Kong which can make that possible. Some of the rules at these facilities vary, with some allowing dogs to walk within the mall on a leash (such as The Pulse, eMax, or Stanley Plaza) whereas others require that you hire one of their pet strollers before you are allowed to enter (such as Yoho Mall and Harbour North).
Most of these malls offer pet-friendly dining options, whether the arrangement is outdoor seating or that they stay in their strollers. The Mills in Tsuen Wan offer the most pet-friendly dining options, whilst certain restaurants, such as Green Waffle in Yoho Mall, even go as far as offering a special doggy menu of dog waffles and chicken rice!
Check out are article here for more pet-friendly shopping malls.
With more and more pet-friendly staycation offerings cropping up, you can now also enjoy some fine dining with your fur friend (be it dog or cat) at some of Hong Kong’s fanciest hotels. From alfresco dining at The Farmhouse in Hyatt Centric and high tea at The Murray to sampling gourmet pet menus at Rosewood Hong Kong—specially curated by chef Sandro Gamba—there’s something to suit everyone’s tastes.
You can even stuff yourselves silly before checking into one of their pet-friendly rooms where you can take your whole new luxury experience to another level. Aside from receiving a sumptuous bed, toys, and delicious welcome treats for your pet, you may also receive recommendations for local dog-friendly restaurants, bars, and parks in the neighbourhood. The Murray is also known to host weekend afternoon tea specials, such as their Paws for Tea package (or Purr for Tea package for our feline friends) at The Arches on their first-floor patio on special occasions to raise money for local animal charities!
Click here find out more information on other hotels offering pet-friendly staycations.
If you fancy something a little more “low-key” than a hotel but don’t quite fancy slumming it completely, Holimood offers a pet-friendly caravan experience for you and your pooch! Yes, that’s right—you can hire out a four-person caravan and stay at their nature park camping spot in the New Territories and experience that #VanLife without even needing to leave Hong Kong!
Unfortunately, true caravan parks don’t really exist in Hong Kong so you can’t go on a tour across Hong Kong in your mobile home, but their Kam Tin location gets you as close to the real thing as possible, being conveniently located near Kai Kung Leng Country Park and Nam Sang Wai Campsite where you can go hiking and enjoy the sunset or join an eco-tour! Special arrangements can be made for groups of twenty; all you need to do is email Holimood at [email protected] for more information or to arrange your booking.
Holimood Caravan Experience, Fung Kay Yueng, Kam Tin
Stephanie is extremely passionate about all things animal or sports-related. When she’s not at work, she’s out on an adventure with her cheeky pup, Lola, or leading Exploring Dogs hikes to raise funds for the local shelters. You may also find her playing pick-up basketball or on the hunt for a good coffee shop—dog-friendly, of course.
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