Hong Kong is a city of incredible contrasts, where ancient temples are set between glittering skyscrapers, and tranquil hiking trails lie within easy reach of bustling urban neighbourhoods.
It takes a little more than nine hours to fly here from Australia’s East Coast, making it a fantastic choice for a long weekend escape or a stopover en route to Europe, Japan or mainland China. With so much on offer to excite your senses, these are our top highlights and hidden gems to experience during your time in Hong Kong.
There are few cities in the world that make a dramatic first impression the way Hong Kong does. The iconic skyline of towering skyscrapers is framed by the sparkling waters of Victoria Harbour and backed by an endless expanse of lush, forest-clad hills.
You can ride the Peak Tram funicular to the summit of Victoria Peak to soak up incredible views across the city, islands and harbour, then cross the harbour aboard the historic Star Ferry to Kowloon. As evening falls, the waterfront on Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade is the place to be if you want to watch the dazzling nightly show known as the Symphony of Lights.
Once home to Hong Kong’s famous airport runway, Kai Tak has been transformed into one of the city’s newest lifestyle and entertainment precincts. Today, you can catch a major sporting event or concerts at the impressive Kai Tak Sports Park, browse the new dining and shopping precincts, or simply enjoy waterfront views across Victoria Harbour. It’s a fascinating example of how Hong Kong reinvents itself while honouring its past.
Hong Kong has spent centuries cementing its reputation as one of Asia’s great culinary capitals, and although there are plenty of incredible fine-dining experiences to choose from, you will find unforgettable meals to suit every budget if you know where to look.
Start your day the same way the locals do, by sampling street food favourites like egg waffles, pineapple buns and silky milk tea. Traditional dim sum restaurants offer bamboo baskets loaded with steaming dumplings, fluffy barbecue pork buns and delicate rice rolls.
If you really want to treat yourself, you’ll find one of the world’s highest concentrations of Michelin-starred restaurants (a total of 77 as at July 2026) – everything from refined Cantonese cuisine to innovative international dining experiences. One of the city’s greatest pleasures is to simply follow your nose… you never know when you might stumble across your next favourite meal.
Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival: 29 October – 1 November 2026
The Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival is an annual celebration at the end of October of epicurean offerings. Taking place at the Central Harbourfront, it promises great wine and delectable global treats, live performances and a deliciously good time, all set against the breathtaking Victoria Harbour!
Whether you’re travelling with children or looking to embrace your own inner child, Hong Kong packs an impressive number of fun activities and entertainment into an area that is roughly the same as the City of Brisbane. Hong Kong Disneyland claims top spot, delivering that distinctly Disney brand of delight with its themed lands, interactive character experiences and spectacular nighttime entertainment. It’s also one of Disney’s most compact parks, making it easier to navigate thanks to shorter walking distances and smaller crowds.
Across the other side of Hong Kong, a visit to Ocean Park is a must. Along with its thrilling rides and immense aquarium exhibit, it’s also renowned for its marine conservation experiences and memorable animal encounters, including red pandas and giant pandas. Don’t miss the spectacular cable car ride that connects the park’s two main areas, offering sweeping views across the South China Sea.
When you’re looking for some family-friendly downtime, head to Hong Kong’s waterfront precincts in Hong Kong and Kowloon, where you’ll find plenty of open spaces, playgrounds and family-friendly dining options.
Whether you’re in search of luxury brands, quirky souvenirs or the latest tech gadgets, Hong Kong is one of the world’s great shopping destinations. Head to the bustling Temple Street Night Market in Kowloon to browse for snacks and souvenirs and watch street performers and fortune tellers ply their trades. The colourful Ladies’ Market, also in Kowloon, is a fabulous place to shop for fashion, accessories and gifts, while the sophisticated precincts of Central, Admiralty and Causeway Bay are the places to find designer brands and luxury boutiques.
As you wander through each neighbourhood, you’ll find that each one has its own unique character, and soaking up the atmosphere can be just as enjoyable as scoring yourself a great bargain.
Sham Shui Po is renowned for its street food and fabric markets, Tai Kwun (Central) for its heritage police station turned arts and dining precinct, and Kennedy Town for its waterfront cafés and relaxed atmosphere.
For many visitors, the biggest surprise is just how much nature lies on the city’s very doorstep. More than 70 percent of Hong Kong is made up of mountains, parks and protected green spaces, and there are hundreds of kilometres of scenic walking trails, ranging from gentle to challenging, to choose from. The iconic Dragon’s Back is one of our favourites: it’s relatively easy, with sweeping coastal views, and finishes at beautiful Shek O Beach.
If you prefer an even more sedate pace, you can hop aboard a ferry to one of Hong Kong’s outlying islands. Lantau is home to the 34-metre bronze Tian Tan Buddha statue, as well as the charming fishing village of Tai O, where traditional stilt houses line the waterways. The smaller, neighbouring island of Cheung Chau offers seafood restaurants, sandy beaches and a laid-back atmosphere that feels worlds away from the city’s energy. Be sure to keep an eye out for the unique Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (“pink dolphins”) that can sometimes be spotted in the waters around Lantau Island.
Beyond the famous attractions, Hong Kong is packed with wonderfully unexpected surprises. You can ride the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator system through the lively streets of Central and SoHo, stop for a martini or two at one of the city’s hidden speakeasy bars, or browse the city’s most fascinating markets (the Goldfish Market and Yuen Po Street Bird Garden are among our favourites).
You can travel through the city aboard a heritage double-decker “ding ding” tram, soak up the electric atmosphere at Happy Valley Racecourse, or visit one of the beautiful, historic temples that are tucked away between towering office buildings and apartment blocks.
Beyond its reputation as a shopping and dining powerhouse, Hong Kong has become a serious destination for art and culture. The West Kowloon Cultural District combines waterfront gardens, architecture and dining with world-class museums and galleries like the M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum.
Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, set on the Pearl River Delta overlooking the South China Sea. It’s made up of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories and more than 260 outlying islands, and is home to around 7.5 million people.
Do I need a visa?
If you hold a current Australian passport, you don’t need a visa to visit Hong Kong for tourism stays of up to 90 days. Talk to your personal travel manager or visit smarttraveller.com.au for the latest travel advice.
How do I get there/around?
Hong Kong is well connected with Australia, with direct flights from most major Australian cities. Flight time is typically eight to ten hours. Once you’re on the ground, you’ll find that Hong Kong has an incredibly efficient and affordable network of public transport options, including the MTR (Mass Transit Railway), buses, ferries, taxis and trams. The rechargeable Octopus card is the easiest way to pay for public transport and many other purchases including dining and attractions.
When is the best time to visit?
Spring and autumn are the most popular times of year to visit Hong Kong, with mild temperatures and settled weather providing ideal conditions for exploring. The summer months (June to September) can be very hot and humid, and can bring typhoons, but also mean fewer crowds.
Whether you’re planning a foodie escape, a family holiday, a shopping spree or an adventure that combines all this and more, Hong Kong truly has something for everyone. Your personal travel manager can help you create an itinerary that encapsulates its most beloved highlights and hidden gems.
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